STATE FAIR OF 1887. 471 



EVENING MEETINGS. 



On Wednesday and Thursday evenings meetings of the society were con- 

 Tened for purposes of discussion. 



The attendance was not large and no papers were read. The following 

 scheme was followed quite closely : 



1. New and Promising Varieties of the Larger Fruits. 



2. Value and Methods of Exhibiting Horticultural Products. 



3. Kenewing Old and Failing Apple Orchards. 



4. Culture, Nomenclature and Varieties of Tomatoes. 



5. Returns from Fruit Plantations — How Soon to Expect Them. 



6. Michigan's Future as a Fruit Growing State. 



7. Cultivation and Drouth. 



8. The Wage-worker's Garden. 



9. Suggestions Concerning Suburban Homes. 



10. Possibilities of our Low Lands for Truck Gardening. 

 The first evening Mr. Lyon gave an account of the meeting of the Ameri- 

 can Pomological society, held the week before in Boston, Massachusetts. It 

 was not a large meeting, but there were in attendance many very noted horti- 

 culturists. Acting President Barry, was absent on account of sickness. 

 There was a large exhibit of frait and plants, under the auspices of the Mas- 

 sachusetts Horticultural society, aside from the American society's exhibit. The 

 papers presented were exceptionally good, nearly all taking the scientific side of 

 Pomology. Resolutions of respect were adopted in memory of Colonel Mar- 

 shall P. Wilder, who had been so long president of the society. 



An excursion was given by the city to Governor's Island and the convention 

 closed with a banquet. 



During the second evening. Prof. Bailey, from the committee on experi- 

 ment station work made the following report, which was adopted : 



Recognizing the great importance of horticultural interests in the State of Michigan 

 and appreciating the demand constantly made by intelligent fruit-growers and garden- 

 ers for experimental aid to their business, we recommend that the State Horticultural 

 Society present to the State Board of Agriculture and others in authority the import- 

 ance and necessity of applying a liberal portion of the funds to accrue from the opera- 

 tion of the Hatch bill to horticultural experiment. As an indication of the experiment 

 needed by practical horticulturists we submit the following synopjis. and suggest that 

 some one or more of the topics indicated may be chosen as a basis of continuous labor 

 in the- forthcoming experiment station : 



I. Experiments in the originization of new varieties of fruits, vegetables and orna- 

 mental plants. 



a. By ordinary seedage. 



h. By selection. 



c. Bj' crossing and hybridizing. 



