522 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



shape, and here and there on that lovely spot the merry party sat down in 

 twos, threes, and dozens to their lunch. 



The first important business done in the forenoon was a discussion of 

 freight rates. Joseph A. Pearce thought bushel baskets should be classed 

 as low as crates. They do not tip over, are tightly covered, and are just as 

 easy to handle. Mr. Jackson doubted if anything cordd be done with the 

 railway classification committee this year. A committee, consisting of 

 Messrs. Jackson, Pearce, and Bailey, was appointed to look up freight 

 rates and report later. The following resolution was • presented and 

 adopted : 



To the Railway Classification Committee: 



Resolved, By the Grand River Valley Horticultural society, that the fruit interests of 

 Kent county demand that fruit shipped in covered bushel baskets be rated the same a« 

 fruit shipped in crates. 



This meeting also made itself famous for its grand defense of the honey 

 bee. The chairman was asked to bring the action of Mr Pearce's neigh- 

 bors before the meeting, asking Mr. Pearce to destroy his bees as they 

 were ruining the peaches. The matter was thoroughly sifted and the 

 conclusion arrived at that the bee is the friend of the horticulturist, inas- 

 much as his work of carrying pollen and fertilizing fruit was of more 

 importance than any other one agency for that purpose. The drought had 

 checked the supply of honey and moisture from flowers, and to any over ripe 

 peaches the bees would flock in their endeavor to get a living. 



A long table in front of the speaker's stand was loaded with samples of 

 fruit brought by members. Among the exhibitors were Noah P. and J. T. 

 Husted. W. S. Moffitt, Albert Jackson, Charles Winks, Fennings 

 Sons and Co., H. W. Carey, C. C. Winegar, M. Hunter, and Myron 

 Keyson. 



In the afternoon session W. N. Cook briefly alluded to the early days of 

 the Grand River Yalley Horticultural society. There were only a few 

 members then, but they were in earnest, and today the society was of 

 great importance. The Grand river valley was the cradle of fruit-raising. 

 Albert Jackson and Noah P. Husted also made short speeches. The early 

 Michigan peach originated at Lowell, on the old Husted place. 



The topic, "Ins and outs of peach-growing," was opened by Rev. John 

 Sailor, who not only thought peaches were of importance, but said the 

 apple lands of the county exceeded those adapted to peach-growing. He 

 was glad to notice the rapid progress of the fruit interests in the Grand 

 river valley. 



S. S. Bailey and others continued in the same topic until lack of time 

 suddenly brought any further remarks to a close, and the second topic. 

 •'Attractive highways and how to secure them," was postponed. 



Mr. Jackson offered the following resolution, which was unanimously 

 adopted : 



Resolved, That this society memorialize the State Horticultural society in regard to 

 the peach known as Early Michigan, asking them to give it a name, and that the name 

 Husted, that of its originator, be connected with the name. 



President Garfield then read the following resolution, which was adopted : 



The Grand River Valley Horticultural society, assembled in its August session of 

 1891, desires to express its hearty appreciation of the kind invitation given by the peo- 

 ple of Lowell to meet in their village, and we hereby express our hearty thanks for the 

 cordial reception and kind attention given us this day, and desire to have the fruit- 

 growers of this locality meet with us and cooperate with us in our endeavors to dis- 

 seminate useful information regarding progressive horticulture, and at the same time 

 nave enjoyable entertainment. 



