142 GENERAL HISTORY. 



A statement of the desires of the Ohio and Indiana Societies to hold, jointly, 

 with this society, a tri-State meeting was made by the secretary, and there- 

 upon he was authorized to promote such purpose and to conclude arrange- 

 ments for carrying the purpose into effect. 



«v.Ia consideration of the increased and increasing amount of labor devolv- 

 ing upon the secretary his salary was, by resolution of the board, increased, 

 to $800 per annum. 



The society having amended its constitution to provide for the election of 

 a member of the executive board as first vice-president, the board elected W. 

 K. Gibson, of Jackson, to that position. By the terms of this amendment 

 the presidents of auxiliary societies are, ex-officio, vice-presidents of the 

 parent society. 



The summer meeting of the State Horticultural Society, for 1884, convened 

 at Bay City, on June 19th and 20th, in acceptance of the invitation of the 

 Bay County Horticultural Society. 



The society was called to order by the president at 2:30 p. m. 



Letters were read by the secretary expressing the desire to realize the pro- 

 posal for a tri-State meeting of the Ohio, Indiana and Michigan State Socie- 

 ties. 



A letter was also read from Professor Manly Miles, then of Massachusetts, 

 but formerly of the Michigan State Agricultural College, stating that he was 

 coming to Michigan soon with a new and very powerful microscope, with the 

 purpose to thoroughly investigate the ''yellows," and requesting the coopera- 

 tion of the society. 



A letter was also read, asking that Michigan horticulturists make an exhi- 

 bition of fruits at the New Orleans Exposition. 



Time was given to hear reports respecting fruit prospects, and a discussion 

 of the currant worm and the modes of destroying it. 



The first paper was read by J. N. Stearns, of Kalamazoo, on "Practical 

 Hints on Strawberry Culture." 



The paper, as well as the subsequent discussion, proceeded upon the basis 

 of matted row culture, and subsequently drifted into the varieties and mode 

 of treatment of other small fruits. 



T. T. Lyon followed upon the topic of ''Science and the Improvement of 

 the Strawberry," discussing the status of the so-called fruit when scientific- 

 ally considered, as well as the principles that should direct in the choice of 

 varieties for cross fertilization. Objection was made to the employment of 

 pistillates as female parents, since the modern rapid production of this re- 

 cently unknown class strongly indicates a tendency to propagate its peculiar 

 defect. 



A short discussion followed, mainly respecting varieties, whereupon the 

 society took a recess till the evening. 



At the opening of the evening session the State society was welcomed to 

 Bay City by Mayor Weadock, which was responded to by the president of the 

 society with a sliort review of the history of progress in the State at large, 

 and in the Saginaw valley and Bay City in particular. 



The first paper of the evening was read by John Irving, a Bay City florist, 

 on "Rose Culture," in which the several classes of roses were spoken of and 

 places assitjned them. A list of varieties was given, with descriptions. These 

 were followed by directions for planting, culture and protection. 



After a short discussion and the announcement of the needful committees 

 a paper was read by Chirence M. Weed, of Lansing, on "The Food of Young 



