WINTER MEETING, 1877. 35 



the ideas embodied in it have been drawn, while other societies, and notably 

 that of Ohio, have already acted upon the same. Wc are not, however, aware 

 that any society has adopted the proposed mode of classifying fruits with refer- 

 ence to the uses to which they may be adapted ; and of classifying or assigning 

 them a rank according to a graduated scale ; the Ohio Horticultural Society 

 having merely divided the state into districts, and applied the pro])osed system 

 of starring to each. 



A few words resj^ecting the iniluencc that a catalogue of the character pro- 

 posed may be made to exert ui)on the reputation of our State, as to its 

 adaptation to the culture of fruits, and wo close. As we have previously 

 remarked, it would require to be annually revised and republished ; not in the 

 volume of transactions merely, but also in a separate issue in pamphlet form, as 

 a means of placing it within reach of the great mass of our people. In this 

 form ic could be brought within reach of the great army of emigrants who, 

 each year, land upon our shores from Europe ; and who, for the most part, 

 find homes at the west: and it might even be brought to their notice before 

 leaving their European liomes ; and in both these ways become an important 

 instrument for attracting a share of such immigration to Michigan. By means 

 of a system of exchanges with kindred societies, as well as in various other 

 ways, it could be made to disseminate a knowledge of the superior fruit-growing 

 •capacity of our State among the many in the overcrowded east, who, looking 

 to the great west as their "ultima thule,'' mingle in the grand westward 

 march ; and who in many cases, doubtless, only need some adequate compre- 

 hension of the special capacities of our lake-engirdled state to be impelled to 

 cast their lot among us. 



This, however, is but the shadowing forth of an ulterior and possible result. 

 The great primary purpose of all our operations as a society, should, doubtless, 

 be to educate our own people ; and by supplying them with the knowledge 

 requisite to enable them to select, plant and cultivate wisely and efficiently, to 

 secure an increase in the quantity, quality and money value of the pomological 

 products of our State ; at the same time laboring for the elevation of the pub- 

 lic taste to that more just appreciation of high quality, as distinguished from 

 mere quantity, which seems, in some sense, to be the essential attribute of 

 mental refinement and elevation. 



That these objects are desirable and even important, we presume no one will 

 question. Whether or not the proposed plan is calculated to especially minister 

 to the desired objects, is a question to the consideration of which we invite your 

 careful attention. 



On motion, a committee of three, consisting of Messrs. H. D. Adams, C. 

 -N". Merriman, and A. G. Gulley, were selected, to whom was referred the 

 recommendations in Mr. Lyon's paper, said committee to make a full report at 

 the June meetinsr. 



'S' 



Wedncsdai/ Afternoon. 



The Secretary called attention to a case of dried fruit, the product of the 

 Williams' process, the same having been donated to the society to use as seems 

 best. 



After the reading of a short poem from the pen of John Southard of Oxford, 



