WINTER MEETING, 



HELD AT PONTIAC, FEBRUARY Gni, 187 7 



The winter meeting of the State Pomological Society opened in Clinton 

 Hall. Pontiac, on Monday at 2 P. M. The show of apples was especially fine, 

 nearly 400 plates being in place upon the shelves. The hall was tilled up with 

 shelving on the sides and in front of the stage. The show in llowers was some- 

 Avliat deficient, only a few primulas being on exhibition. 



Prof. W. J. Beal, of the Agricultural College, called the meeting to order, 

 and the Secretary read the following letters : 



E. J. Shirtz Avrote from Oceana county that there was a fine prospect for 

 fruit, and at the State Fair for 1877 Oceana county would show peaches and 

 plums that other sections would do more than well to excel. J. Austin Scotf: 

 of Ann Arbor J. AV. Humphrey of Plymouth, Prof. Holmes of Detroit, and 

 Judge Kamsdell of Traverse, all regretted their inability to attend the meeting. 



The following is an extract from a letter written by S. B. Peck, of Muskegon : 



As to the city and township of Muskegon we can say very little that is 

 encouraging on the subject of pomology. Our best fruit lands being on the 

 bluffs of Lake Michigan are yet as the timber thieves left them long years ago, 

 without cultivation or settlement, while the fruit trees which have been planted 

 on the more level lands in the settled parts were swept otf by cold blasts of 

 1873-4, leaving only a few apples, the fruit of which is destroyed by the progeny 

 of the codling moth, a few plums for the curculio, and cherries for the birds. 



Were I some forty years less than seventy-two of age, I would make a mark 

 upon this shore that would show u[) the capabilities of this region, but my age 

 and infirmities warn me that I had better let the cremation of my one thousand 

 fruit trees of the past season wind up my pomological career. I still feel an 

 interest in pomology, in the prosperity of our society, am proud of our State 

 and of its standing in the pomological world, and sincerely pray for its prosperity 

 and success, but cannot promise to attend many more meetings unless near 

 home. 



Truly 3'ours, S. B. Peck. 



M. B. Williams of Saugatuck, wrote as follows : 



"I fear your Society will discover it has not selected the best man to repre- 

 sent its interests in Allegan county. AVhile I realize the advantages to Miclii- 

 gaii fruit growers of having in our midst such a live association as tlie State 

 Pomological Society, yet I have never been able to find myself quite so enthu- 



