140 GENERAL HISTORY. 



planting, method and value of observations to the beginner. This occupied 

 fifty-two pages of the volume for that year, constituting a complete system 

 of concise directions for the use of beginners in nearly all branches of horti- 

 culture. 



During the autumn of 1883 the State Catalogue of Fruits underwent its 

 third revision, and was republislied in the volume for that year with the need- 

 ful modifications of the nomenclature to harmonize it with the newly estab- 

 lished " Kules of Pomology," which changes rendered necessary an almost 

 •entire re-arrangement of lists to restore the alphabetical arrangement. The 

 catalogue occupied fifty-two pages at the close of the volume. 



The State Horticultural Society convened at Lapeer for its winter meeting 

 on February ^Gth and 27th, 1884, upon the invitation of the Lapeer County 

 Horticultural Society. 



The society was welcomed in an appropriate address by Mr. Frank Millis, 

 which was followed by a response from the i^resident. 



Wm. B. Hamilton, M. D., read the first paper of the evening, in which he 

 discussed the questiou: " What Vegetables to Grow, in What Quantities for 

 a Family of Six." He held that the garden, in some sense, indicates the 

 character of its owner. For such a family, its extent should be half an acre 

 — thirteen rods long by six rods wide. It should afford an ample supply for 

 the family with something for the neighbors, and should be used as an arena 

 for healthful exercise with the hoe and rake. 



During the discussion that followed in reply to a question by T. T. Lyon, 

 W. W. Tracy, of Detroit stated that self-blanching celery is not an entire 

 novelty, it having been grown in France for many years. It is a sport from 

 the ordinary sorts, having white stems and leaves. It is beautiful in appear- 

 ance, of fair quality, though lacking the full flavor of other sorts. This flavor 

 can only be fully developed through the influence of chlorophyll, the green 

 coloring matter in the plant. Blanching celery improves not only the appear- 

 ance, but, to some extent, the flavor, and makes it crisp and tender. Even this 

 variety may, therefore, be improved by being earthed up. 



Eev. Jas. Venning, of Lapeer, addressed the meeting on " The Ornamenta- 

 tion of Grounds." The subject w<is treated from the landscape gardening 

 standpoint, and was followed by the secretary and others with illustrations of 

 methods applicable to the case of ordinary farm residences. 



The secretary then read a paper from \Irs. E. M. Lewis, of Madison, Wis- 

 consin (since deceased), entitled, "The Flower Mission," describing the 

 processes and doings of a class of societies organized to send gifts of cut 

 flowers, pot plants, fruits, etc., to the asylums, hospitals and other places 

 where they will be most beneficial. 



On Wednesday morning the first topic was, " Shall we Raise our own Sweet- 

 ening?" on which a paper was read by A. S. Partridge, of Flint, urging the 

 growing of amber cane as the means of producing genuine sucrose and avoid- 

 ing adulteration. 



" How to Protect our Orchards and Gardens from Sneak Thieves," was 

 discussed by W. B. Williams, of Lapeer, his position being that such protec- 

 tion is best secured by efficient enforcement of the laws. Other plans were 

 also discussed, but no opinion was expressed by the meeting. 



John T. Kich followed with the discussion of the subject of ''Fruit Grow- 

 ing as a Part of Mixed Husbandry," the discussion of which consumed the 

 remainder of the forenoon session. 



