146 • GENERAL HISTORY. 



Ann Arbor, on the 1st to 3d of December, 1884, with a large attendance, includ- 

 ing delegations from fourteen auxiliary societies. President William Saunders 

 and Secrerary D. W. Beadle were present as representatives of the Ontario 

 Fruit Growers' Association; W. C. Barry, of the Western New York Horti- 

 cultural Society; and L. B. Pierce, of the Ohio Horticultural Society. 



The society was called to order for an evening session on Monday. The 

 exercises were preceded by prayer and some excellent music, after which a 

 very happily conceived welcome was prouoanced by Dr. Henry S. Frieze, of 

 the University, and briefly responded to by the president, to which he ap- 

 pended a short valedictory address, in which mention was made of prominent 

 matters to be considered by the society, among which were the arrani^ements 

 needful to appropriately receive and accommodate the American Pomological 

 Society at its approaching meeting at Grand Eapids. 



In pursuance of previous direction of the Society he named Byron G. Stout, 

 of Poutiac; Henry G. Reynolds, Grand Rapids; A. J. Webber, Ionia; Wm. 

 K. Gibson, Jackson; Wm. L. Webber, East Saginaw; J. G. Ramsdell, Trav- 

 erse City, as a committee to have in charge the preliminary arrangements, 

 and the welcoming of the American Pomological Society to Micliigan. 



Professor J. B. Steere, of Ann Arbor, gave the lecture of the evening on 

 the "Origin of Horticulture," tracing its development jointly with that of 

 the human race from primeval ages downward. 



After the close of the lecture President William Saunders, of Ontario, ex- 

 hibited a head of wheat apparently degenerating to chess, which he had been 

 requested to bring to the meeting for investigation. Also the branch of a 

 T\'agener apple tree, bearing one fruit of the usual color and another consider- 

 ably russeted. The specimens were referred, for examination, to a committee 

 consisting of Professor V. M. Spalding, Professor J. B. Steere, and A. C. 

 Glidden. 



The question — " What shall we do with the English sparrow ? " was replied 

 to bv L. D. Watkins, of Manchester, who, three years previously, had investi- 

 gated the subject, at the request of the Dejiartment of Agriculture. In 

 England, the sparrow had increased in numbers wonderfully in recent times, 

 and has become a serious pest to small fruits. Cherry trees have had to be 

 covered with netting to protect the fruit. Oat and barley fields have become 

 so infested with them that small boys had to be stationed to keep them off. 

 License has been given to shoot them and rewards offered. They originated 

 on the continent and have not been numerous in England until recently. 

 They do not spread through the country rapidly, and, in some parts of Scot- 

 land, I believe, are still unknown. They do not injure wheat much, some- 

 times crushing the berry while young for its juice, and occasionally, by their 

 weight, breaking down the stalk. They have been carried to Iceland, and 

 seem to rhrive well there. 



Emil Baur had found them a serious pest about Ann Arbor, also this was 

 the case in Germany. 



Professor Steere rather liked the suggestion made at a meeting of the local 

 society, that we eat him. We meant to have a great sparrow pot-pie for this 

 State meeting, but the law would not allow us to kill them. 



A recess was taken till the morning. 



At the opening of the Tuesday morning session the delegates were invited 

 by President Angell, to visit the University, which invitation was accepted 

 for Wednesday morning at ten o'clock. 



