GENERAL HISTORY. 167 



HOW TO BUY NURSERY STOCK. 



He gave the caution: " Do not buy of an agent who has some extraordinary 

 new fruit, cnrculio proof, iron clad, and of wonderful size and extra quality, 

 for which, on account of these superior qualities, he is obliged to charge five 

 or six prices." He also advised against buying of a nurseryman simply for 

 the reason that he offers a little under the price of most others, but of whose 

 standing you are ignorant. Of small fruit plants he advised to buy as near 

 home as practicable. 



After s short general discussion of the subject, the president announced the 

 committees for the meeting and the session was adjourned till the next morn- 

 ing. 



The Wednesday morning session was commenced by the reading of a letter 

 addressed by S. S. Bailey, of Grand Rapids, to Commissioner Colman, of the 

 department of agriculture, urging that the department take steps for a thor- 

 ough scientific examination into the nature of the disease of the peach known 

 as yellows, as a step toward a possible remedy. The letter had been en- 

 dorsed by the Grand Eiver Valley Horticultural Society, and that of the 

 State Horticultural Society was also asked and granted. 



T. T. Lyon presented a preamble and resolution, as follows, which, on 

 motion of B. W. Steere, of Adrian, was unanimously adopted: 



Whereas, With the rapid increase and development of the fruit growing interests of 

 our country in their various forms, and with the corresponding increase of the con- 

 sumption of fruits, the pomological interests of our country have assumed a magnitude 

 and importance not heretofore anticipated or provided for ; and, 



Whereas, The success of varieties of fruits usually varies greatly, and to some ex- 

 tent even iinaccountably, with change of locality ; and, 



Whereas, Long periods are usually required for the satisfactory local tfestingof vari- 

 eties, and for this reason extensive interchange of experiments, as well as a wider 

 interacquaitnance with the fruits of different localities, becomes important ; therefore. 



Resolved, That this society deems this department of agricultiu-e of such importance 

 as to warrant, and even demand, the fostering aid of a special branch of the National 

 Department of Agriculture, under the supervision of an expert and capable pomologist, 

 with the facilities and appropriations requisite to the efficient discharge of the duties of 

 such position. 



The secretary then read a letter from Erwin F. Smith, of Ann Arbor, 

 asking that the botanical department of the University be furnished with 

 data regarding the spread of grape rot in the State. 



FERTILIZERS 



came next under consideration, and the discussion ran upon commercial ma- 

 nures, which in very many cases were used in connection with barn-yard 

 manures. Ashes had proved specially effective upon small fruits. 



GREEN MANURING 



was discussed by C. J. Monroe, as practiced at South Haven. 



ENRICHING THE LAWN 



was discussed by Garfield, Hough, Sigler and Steere, bringing out, as the 

 most prominent fact, the great value of wood ashes for this purpose. 



