18 GENERAL HISTORY. 



There are numerous other instances of very large or very old trees which 

 ■will be noticed in connection with the counties in which they occur. 



Probably the earliest horticultural society in Michigan was in March 5 to 

 16, 1841, at Detroit, but being a local organization it will be more fully 

 noticed in the history of Wayne county. 



J. C. Holmes, of Detroit (in Pom. Soc. Report for 1873, p. 345), says: 

 ** On the 9th of September, 1853, a convention of nurserymen from the 

 southern part of Michigan was held at Jonesville. The object of the meeting 

 was to establish as nearly as possible, uniform prices for fruit trees; also for 

 the purpose of discussing such subjects connected with horticulture as might 

 be deemed interesting and beneficial not only to nurserymen, but to the citi- 

 zens of our State. A schedule of prices was reported to the convention and 

 after some discussion adopted. This meeting adjourned to meet at such 

 time and place as the chairman and secretary might appoint." 



" In pursuance of this arraugerneut a convention of nurserymen and fruit 

 growers was called and met at Adrian on the 24th of February, 1854. At 

 this meeting there were present B. W. Steere, Isaac Chase, D. K. Under- 

 wood and B. F. Strong, of Adrian ; Charles E. Perigo, Toledo ; John Mer- 

 ritt, Tecumseh; C. H. Hageman, Blissfield; C. C. Cooley, Hudson; llaynes 

 Johnson, jr., Hillsdale ; Jesse Maxson, Pittsford ; John T. Blois, Jonesville; 

 J. C Holmes, Detroit; and A. K Bentley, Monroe." 



At this meeting a constitution was adopted with the title of Michigan 

 Nurserymen and Fruit Growers' Association. 



For some unexplained reason there seems to have been an omission to elect 

 permanent oflBcers for the Association, which adjourned till June, 1854, but 

 failed to meet at that time. The next meeting was on the occasion of the 

 annual meeting on January 9, 1855, at which time J. C. Holmes, of Detroit, 

 was elected President; J. C. Perigo, Toledo, Ohio, Vice President; and J. 

 T. Blois, Jonesville, Secretary and Treasurer. 



The next annual meeting of the Association was held at Jackson on Janu- 

 ary 8, 1856, when A. C. Hubbard, of Detroit, was elected President, J. T. 

 Blois, of Jonesville, Vice President, and W. K. Gibson, of Jackson, Secre- 

 tary. The meetiuii adjourned to next meet at Jackson on September 2, 



1856, at which time the Association re-assembled and, in the absence of the 

 President, the chair was occupied by Vice President Blois. 



Interesting discussions were had at this as at previous meetings, and a large 

 collection of fruit was exhibited. 



This was the last meeting of the Association, which failed to hold its next 

 annual meeting, and thus became disorganized. 



During the year following the demise of the foregoing Association propo- 

 sitions emanating from various sources appeared, proposing a meeting at 

 Jackson for the formation of a State Horticultural Society on September 8, 



1857. The call was responded to by a very considerable number of horti- 

 culturists from various parts of the State, who organized a meeting and 

 appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws, which were 

 adopted, with the title of "Michigan State Horticultural Society," when H. 

 G. Wells, of Kalamazoo, was elected President ; R. F. Johnstone, Detroit, 

 Secretary ; P. B. Loomis, Jackson, Treasurer; Hiram Walker, Detroit, D. 

 K. Underwood, Adrian, Johu,T. Blois, Jonesville, Linus Cone, Troy, G. W. 

 Nelson, Grand Rapids, William Bort, N)les, Directors. 



