GENERAL HISTORY. 165 



The session of Thursday afternoon was opened by A. J. Knisely, of Ben- 

 ton Harbor, with a paper on 



MANAGING TENDER FRUITS. 



The paper dealt mainly with small fruits, and was followed by a discussion 

 of modes of protecting blackberries and grapes. 



STRAWBERRY EXPERIMENTS, 



was the subject of a few moments' discussion by Thomas Wilde, of Coopers- 

 ville. 



CONVENIENT IMPLEMENTS 



were next discussed, bringing out nearly as many preferences as there wer 

 speakers. 



A machine for cutting strawberry runners was shown by M. Richardson, 

 of Owosso. 



STIMULATING EARLINESS IN SMALL FRUITS 



was the subject of a short discussion, bringing out the fact that soil, cultiva- 

 tion and aspect all have to do with the matter of earliness ; also, the lake 

 influence delays maturity in localities open to its influence. 



PROTECTION FROM FROST 



being under consideration, stirring the soil in spring was thought to increase 

 the liability to frost. Grapes covered with cotton cloth were said to have 

 suffered more injury from frost than those left exposed. 



CAUSES WHICH AFFECT THE VITALITY OF SEEDS 



was the subject of a short discussion, as was also the topic of "Timber Belts 

 for Protection," which was fully discussed by S. M. Pearsall, of Grand Eap- 

 ids, and several others. 



FOREBT LEGISLATION 



being the next topic, C. J. Monroe and 0. W. Garfield considered the subject 

 somewhat at large, and the difficulty in inducing the mass of landholders to 

 consider the subject was thought to be one of the worst practical difficulties 

 in the way. 



TIME TO CUT TIMBER 



was the subject of a paper by L. D. Watkins, of Manchester. 



On motion of R. D. Graham, the treasurer was authorized to reimburse 

 the Berrien County Horticultural Society the expense of hall rent for this 

 meeting. 



After the report of the committee on resolutions, and its adoption, the 

 meeting was adjourned. 



The State Catalogue of Fruits was revised and republished for the fourth 



