GENERAL HISTORY. 185 



treasurer reported that they had examined and compared the same and find 

 them correct. 



The report of the committee respecting the Hatch bill being under consid- 

 eration, it was unanimously 



Resolved, That the Michigan State Horticultural Society, in annual session assembled, 

 •desires to express its hearty sympathy with the provisions of the congressional bill for 

 the establishment and support of State experiment stations in the several States of the 

 Union, known as the " Hatch bill," and urge that the horticulturists of Michigan, as 

 indi\nduals and in assembled associations, exert their influence in behalf of its pas- 

 sage . 



The following was also adopted by a hearty vote: 



Resolved, That the Michigan Horticultural Society ui'ge upon our State Board of Ag- 

 riculture and State Legislature, in providing for the management and maintenance of 

 our State Agricultural College, to deal with the horticultural department liberally, plac- 

 ing it upon a foundation commensurate with the importance of horticulture among the 

 interests of our State. 



The remainder of the session was devoted to a lecture upon " Life on the 

 Farm," by Dr. Manly Miles, of Lansing ; in which he dwelt for some time 

 upon the peculiarities and modes as well as the rapid reproduction of the ex- 

 ceedingly minute organisms recently revealed by the improved powers of the 

 microscope, and among which are to be found the sources of so many of the 

 diseases to which both animals and vegetables are subject; especially those of 

 a contagious character. 



A short time was devoted to questions upon the subject of the lecture, after 

 which Professor Beal of the committee on resolutions reported the follow- 

 ing: 



Resolved, That we tender our thanks to the officers and members of the Grand River 

 "Valley Horticultural Society, for various courtesies extended, for furnishing the use of 

 this fine hall, with adjoining rooms, and for entertaining us in their homes. We thank 

 the members of the press; the officers of the various railroads leading to Gi-and Rapids, 

 the proprietors of the Eagle Hotel for reduced rates. We thank Mr. Edwin Willits, 

 president of our Agricultural College, Dr. C. E. Davison, of Wayland, Dr. Manly Miles, 

 of Lansing, for valuable addresses — not forgetting to do the same for those who are not 

 members, whether citizens of our own or of other States, for then* valuable papers and 

 discussions. We would not forget to return thanks to Geo. Hosford, of Ionia, for his 

 free lunch of Fameuse apples and Concord grapes. Tons this is a new departure, which 

 we feel like encouraging, as it prevents visitors from nibbling at the choice specimens 

 on exhibition. To a few active members who were with the society at its organization, 

 seventeen years ago, the rapid progress of the work in Michigan horticultm-e is strik- 

 ingly apparent. The hard missionaiy work of the members has already borne an 



abundance of fruit in many parts of our great State. 



W. J. Beal, 



E. C. Reid, 



C. A. Sessions, 



Committee, 



The resolution was adopted by a rising vote, after which the society ad- 

 journed sine die. 



On December 16th, 188(5, Honorable Marshall Pinckney Wilder, who had, 

 in September, 1S85, at the biennial meeting [of the American Pomological 



24 



