REPORTS OF DISTRICT AND LOCAL SOCIETIES. 521 



and Mrs. Herman Bailey welcomed the members, and provision had been 

 made to take visitors to and from the Soldiers' Home, either in caryalls or 

 on the boat. 



President Garfield called the meeting to order, and after the minutes 

 of the previous meeting were read, gave a very interesting account of the 

 things he had noticed in Chicago. Again calling attention to the two com- 

 ing fairs, he said he hoped every member and every horticulturist would 

 say a good word for whichever fair he intended to patronize, and say 

 nothing to hinder the progress of either. " We have nothing to do," he 

 said, "with the strife between the executive department of either fair; it 

 is our duty to do all we can for our fair, whichever one that may be, 

 and use both for the purpose they are intended to serve, which is the edu- 

 cation gained from the comparison of the exhibits which a spirit of 

 rivalry and competition brings out. Let us advertise to the world that 

 Kent county produces good fruit and much of it, and we may safely say 

 we furnish the best market in the country for large quantities of it. 



E. C. Phillips exhibited Alexander peaches, Red Astrachan apples, and 

 Cuthbert raspberries. Many other worthy exhibits were noticed. 



A good word was said for the Schaffer raspberry. It was regretted that 

 it took so much recommendation to sell it. Mr. Woodward preferred the 

 Outhbert, for the reason that it was the best berry there is, provided the 

 right situation was given it, and that should be a heavy soil. 



Black raspberries came in for a good share of attention, but of all the 

 varieties the old Turner was the best for table use. Though perhaps too 

 small for market, the flavor was superb. The second topic, "Rural taste 

 and its cultivation," was opened by Asa W. Slayton who said his ideal of 

 that was "Raspberries and cream," but when he looked over the gathering 

 he was sure that kind of taste needed no introduction that day. After a 

 few such jovial introductory remarks, the venerable scholar settled down 

 to a very interesting talk that seemed to open to his hearers an entirely dif- 

 ferent life that might be enjoyed by many if they were so inclined. "A 

 home," he said, should be embellished outside with plenty of fruits, shrubs, 

 and flowers, and provided with a vegetable garden with a great variety of 

 products. There were other ways for enjoyment about a home, aside from 

 a fine house and fine horses. The interior is also an index to our individnal 

 tastes, but in many homes there is a lack of beautifying owing to the unde- 

 veloped taste for such things. 



Warren Willard and Mr. C. A. French also contributed valuable sug- 

 gestions for home comforts. 



Rev. John Sailor closed the meeting by making an urgent appeal for 

 attractive homes. They may be the means of retaining some of our most 

 progressive boys on the farm, so much needed at this time. 



The August meeting, at Lowell, was a success. The Lowellites had pre- 

 pared everything for a crowd from lower down in the valley, and they 

 were not disappointed. Probably the largest delegation in the history of 

 the society went to Lowell to help in the discussion and share the bene- 

 fits of that meeting. The morning was cool, a bracing west wind was 

 blowing, and our Lowell friends, fearful that the beautiful island they 

 had prepared for the entertainment of the visitors would prove too cool a 

 resort, the opera house was opened to the society and the morning session 

 held there. 



At twelve o'clock every one went to the island. The weather was now 

 delightful. Hastily constructed extra seats were quickly gotten into. 



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