DECEMBER MEETING. 321 



Prof. Bcal. — To iiio, the papers and discussions presented on experiments, 

 including the paper of Professor Tracy on Progress in Horticulture, have 

 been exceedingly interesting. Good cxpcrirneuts on many points are still de- 

 sirable, but the more familiar any man becomes with what has already been 

 done in horticulture, the less lie will be inclined to expect any startling results. 

 There is scarcely a probability that there will be any discovery made which 

 shall revolutionize horticulture, and thus enable men to accumulate wealth 

 with much greater case and certainty. 



To aid in experimenting, a scientific training is valuable. AVe are all too 

 much prone to square everything to some one rule, or set of rules. For exam- 

 ple, if Mr. Bailey, of South Haven, finds out the best way to treat his apple 

 orchard, or if I find out the best way to treat apple trees on the College farm, 

 it does not necessarily accomplish the work for every farm in the State. So 

 with a large number of topics which could be mentioned. Every expert far- 

 mer must not be guided by inflexible rules in all cases, yet he sliould have 

 plans and try to work by them. We may occasionally get some better varie- 

 ties of fruits, we may learn liow to keep them better, and so with vegetables. 

 The past year I have begun some experiments in breeding wheat, corn, beans, 

 apples, strawberries, etc, in accordance with the valuable suggestions given by 

 Mr. Darwin, in his recent book on " CVow and Self- Fertilization of Plants." 

 In all my reading, I have not seen a book which contains so many hints on 

 improving or obtaining new varieties as the one mentioned. As it is probably 

 new to most of our members, I venture to give you my recent review of the 

 book. I can contribute nothing on this subject which I think so valuable as 

 this review, which was prepared for the Scientific Farmer. 



[The review will be found in the Secretary's portfolio under the head "Dar- 

 win's New Book." — Sec'y.] 



The Society adjourned until Thursday morning, 9 o'clock. 



Thui'sday's Session. 



The meeting vras called to order by the President, and the resignation of 

 Mr. S. L. Fuller, the newly elected treasurer, was received, and, after some discus- 

 sion, in which Mr. Fuller said he was not willing to take the office and do half 

 work, as he would be compelled to do if he accepted it, the resignation was 

 accepted, and Mr. S. M. Pearsall, of Grand Eapids, unanimously elected to 

 fill vacancy. 



EEPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 



The Committee on Nomenclature rei^orted as follows : 



Your committee has had placed before it for name, of unnamed sorts, six varieties; 

 one plate of which had three diflerent varieties; a single plate of only three apples 

 had only one of a sort— the New York Spy, Long Pearmain, and Baldwin; one plate 

 of Eanisdell Sweet, and one plate of apples for which no name was found, and which 

 has since been revealed to us from the exhibitor to be a seedling apple from Gaines 

 township, Kent county. It is of a fine, Avarm yellow color, quite oblate in form, of 

 llavor almost sw-eet, and will be pronounced by some a sweet apple. Also another 

 plate which we find to be Blenheim pippins. 



C. N. MERRIMAN, 

 E. BUELL, 

 X. CHILSON. 



41 



