WINTER MEETING. 461 



shown to be very great. Mr. Warder spoke to the point on the food question. 

 He had examined the stomachs of fifty birds, and only during the short pe- 

 riod when the birds are feeding their young did he find insect remains, and 

 these were largely those of harmless or beneficial species. He concludes that 

 the sparrow is of no use as a deslroyer of insect enemies. 



The session closed with an address by Professor W. H. Ryan on " The Prog- 

 ress of Cold Waves." By means of charts he illustrated the progress of the 

 cold wave of January, 1886. The lines of low temperature, as traced on the 

 charts, curved well above our State, and the professor brought out very clearly 

 the wonderful protecting influence of the great lakes upon the climate of Mich- 

 igan. 



So many were obliged to leave Wednesday evening that the Thursday morn- 

 ing session was attended by very few. The paper of the morning was by Pio- 

 fessor F. M. Webster, of Purdue, on " Insects of the Year." 



The secretary read a short paper, by E. Y. Teas, on "Small Fruits in Kent 

 Oounty, England." 



The absence of Professor T. J. Burrill and several others who were upon 

 the program was much regretted. 



President N. Ohmer, of the Ohio Society, and Mr, J. Webster, of the Illi- 

 nois Society, were present and took part in the discussions. 



The attendance was generally good, and a commendable degree of interest 

 in the papers and discussions was manifest. 



Following this report Secretary Garfield gave the following brief account 

 of the meeting of the 



WISCONSIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



To the Michigan State Horticultural Society : 



The Wisconsin Horticultural Society is made up of very bright men and 

 women as they appeared to me. The president, J. M. Smith, who was re- 

 elected with a cheer, is a venerable appearing gentleman, genial, open hearted 

 and open handed, full of enthusiasm, and an admirable presiding officer. I 

 have met a good many secretaries of similar societies, but have never become 

 acquainted with one who comes so near my ideal as Mr. H. C Adams, of the 

 "Wisconsin Society. He not only knows how to do the arduous work that is 

 always heaped upon a secretary, but he is a good farmer and horticulturist 

 with an experience of his own. Such a man knows what to elaborate and 

 Tvhat to elimiaate as he proceeds with the records of a convention. Mr. B. S. 

 Hoxie, the corresponding secretary, strikes one as a substantial man who has 

 opinions of his own that have been carefully crystallized. He expresses him- 

 self cautiously but firmly and to the point. J. S. Stickney, of Waunatosa, is 

 full of good nature. There is nothing sour about him if he does manufacture 

 pickles, and he is reckoned as a corner stone of the society. I met so many 

 men that I have heard of and corresponded with that I cannot name them all. 

 A. G. Tuttle, A. L. Hatch, J. 0. Plumb, Geo. J. Kellogg, Peffer, and Phoenix 

 were there; all of them men who have made a reputation as horticulturists. 

 I would like to tell you just what I think of them all, but fear you will think 

 they treated me too well for my own good if I do. 



Their meetings have less formality than ours, and in one way especially I 

 Ihink this is commendable, a speaker expects to be interrupted and invited 



