26 GENERAL HISTORY. 



awarded in premiums. The awards having exceeded that sum, $50 were 

 now added, for which the thanks of the society were tendered. 



After the transaction of considerable business the society listened to an 

 address by President Thompson ; also to a paper by B. Hathaway, of Cass 

 county. 



The February meeting of the society was held on Tuesday, the 7th, at its 

 rooms at Grand Rapids, with a fine disploy of fruit for so late in the season, 

 also jellies from Mr. Husted, and grapes and wines from E. Bradfield and 

 William Haldane. 



A package of cions of Eussian apples, badly dried, received from the Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture, at Washington, were left in charge of the 

 secretary till time for grafting, but proved too badly dried for recovery. 



The committee on incorporation reported, stating that a special incorpora- 

 tion was beyond the power of the Legislature. They therefore submitted 

 the draft of a bill for a general law for the purpose. The report wms accept- 

 ed and adopted, and the committee was instructed to ask the Legislature to 

 enact a law accordingly. 



The society then listened to an exhaustive paper on grape cultiire by Ed- 

 ward Bradfield, after the discussion of which the meeting adjourned. 



At the March meeting various reports were made as to the prospect for a 

 crop of peaches, but generally to the effect that the buds were yet sound on 

 high locations. 



The president announced the death of Sanford Howard, secretary of the 

 State Board of Agriculture, which occurred at Lansing, on Friday, March 10th. 



Apples and jellies were exhibited by several persons, and discussions were 

 had on grapes and wines, also upon grafting and the influence of the stock 

 upon the graft. 



At the April meeting, which occurred on the 4th at the society's rooms, 

 apples were exhibited by several persons, also Catawba grapes, which had been 

 kept in cork dust. 



A paper was read from Judge Ramsdell, of Traverse City, giving a chapter 

 of his practice and experience in grape culture. 



On May 2d the next meeting occurred at the society's rooms, when the 

 committee on incorporation announced the enactment of the desired law, 

 whereupon tho matter was re-referred to the committee with instructions to 

 report at the next meeting. After some preliminary action looking to the 

 holding of the society's second annual fair during the following September, 

 an adjournment was had till May 16th, at which date the society met to 

 receive the final report of the committee on incorporation and to re-organize 

 under the recent law. 



The committee reported that three weeks' time would be requisite to com- 

 plete the necessary preliminaries to an organization. 



C. L. Whitney, 0. H. Simonds and A. T. Linderman were constituted a 

 committee to take the necessary steps for the perfecting of the organization. 



At the regular meeting on June 5th, 1871, C. L. Whitney, 0. H. Smionds, 

 A. T. Linderman, S. L. Fuller and E. Bradfield were constituted a committee 

 to prepare a constitution and by-laws to be reported at the regular meeting 

 in July. 



Mr. H. Holt exhibited apples yet in good condition and John Suttle 

 made a display of strawberries. Mr. Suttle and Mr. Husted each made a 

 fiue display of peonies and rosea. 



