184 GENERAL HISTORY. 



the executive board with power to act. To the executive board we would also refer the 

 matter of devising means of increasing our membership. 



We would recommend the passage of resolutions urging the passage of the Hatch bill 

 by Congress, and likewise the passage of a bill by our State legislature to place the 

 horticultural department of the Agricultural College upon an equal footing with other 

 departments of the college. 



We would refer to the society the suggestion made by Pi-esideut Lyon, that action be 

 taken concerning the destruction of birds for ornamenting women's hats. 



Respectfully submitted. 



S. L. Fuller, 

 C. J. Monroe, 

 L. H. Bailey, Jr., 

 Committee, 



The report was accepted and adopted. 



The standing committee oa new fruits, through their chairman, submitted 

 their annual report, which was accepted and ordered printed with annual 

 volume. 



The topic for discussion now taken up was that of '' Public Parks." 



Thos. D. Gilbert opened the discussion upon the " Public Park as a 

 Humanizing Town Attribute," iu the consideration of which he was fol- 

 lowed by Professor Beal, E. H Scott, A. A. Crozier, and others. 



Professor Jas. Sattcrlee continued the discussion by reading a paper on 

 ^'The Park as an Educator," and the subjecb was pursued farther by Pro- 

 fessor Bailey. 



The discussion of this subject clused with a paper ou *'The Utilization of 

 Fair Grounds for Park Purposes," read by H. C. Sherwood, of Watervliet. 



The afternoon session closed with a paper on " Espalier Training of Fruit 

 Trees," read by George Taylor, of Kalamazoo. 



The closing session on Thursday evening commenced with the report of 

 the committee on sub-tropical fruits, who reported a fine display of oranges, 

 figs, bananas and exotic grapes, by A J. Brown, of Grand Kapids, and bot- 

 tled apricots, cherries, limes, oranges and bananas, by llerrick & Randall, of 

 Grand Rapids. 



The committee on apples and pears reported a creditable exhibit of these 

 fruits, but prematurely ripened, owing to the peculiarity of the season. 

 Pears were exhibited by Victor E. Middleton, also by S. D. Willard, of New 

 York. 



The committee on ornamental plants reported the floral embellishments as 

 unusually good for the occasion. They especially ctimmend the exhibit of 

 chrysanthemums, epiphyllums, lycopodiums and other plants made by Henry 

 Smith The chrysant};cmums especially, show much care in selection and 

 culture. An interesting floral vase, built upon aground of native fern, is ex- 

 hibited by J. A. Hovey; and a basket of well grown chrysanthemums, with 

 trimmings of myrisiphyllum and geranium leaves, by Geo, F. Crabb. 



The Committee on paintings reported three fruit pain*^.iiigs by Flora Ball; 

 one fruit painting by Alice James ; one fruit painting without name ; one 

 fruit painting on oil silk without name ; tw.t flower pieces by Mrs. C. W. Cal- 

 kins; one large painting of a basket of flowers, by Mrs. E. E. Wilson; two 

 flower and sixteen fruit paintings by Mrs. P. Clement Taber. 



The committee to whom were referred the reports of the secretary and 



