PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING, 



HELD AT LANSIXG, FEBRUAKY ISxu, lOm, 20tii, 1870. 



The February gathering of Michigan fruit growers is named the winter meet- 

 ing, and this meeting for 1879 was called at the capitol in Lansing for 

 February 18th. 



During the forenoon of the first day, through the assistance of the Superin- 

 tendent of State Property, a committee of the State Pomological Society 

 arranged in the upper corridor of the capitol a commodious array of tables, 

 and by three o'clock over 250 plates of apples were beautifully spread thereon. 



The audience room of the State Pioneer society was secured for the exercises 

 of the association, and at half past three the people in attendance were called 

 to order for a few moments' session. The Secretary read a number of letters 

 from prominent fruit-growers in various parts of this and adjoining States, 

 concerning the promises for fruit, the severity of the winter, etc. The testi- 

 mony thus given indicated a greater degree of cold in the southern tier of 

 counties in the State than elsewhere, and outside of a few of these southern 

 counties there was a general impression that the tenderest buds were uninjured 

 by frost. A few extracts from some of the letters are given herewith. 



FROM E. F. GUILD, EAST SAGIKAAV. 



It is hard to tell what the prospects will be for fruit upon the opening of 

 spring, as many things may happen before the fruit is out of danger, but at 

 the present time the prospects for a good crop are flattering. The ground was 

 full of water when cold weather set in, and snow fell before the frost had 

 penetrated very deeply, and it kept coming until nearly or quite twenty inches 

 had fallen, which, of course, drew all the frost out of the ground in a short 

 time. It was light and lay up loose, and we had snug freezing weather all the 

 time, but not so cold as to injure the buds or trees (the thermometer ranging 

 from 2° to 10° degrees during tlie cold snap). The snow acted as a mulch and 

 protected the trees. Now the snow is nearly all gone (entirely so in exposed 

 places), and we have had some very snug winter weather, and unless we get 

 some snow to cover up the ground I fear the orchards may suffer, as well as 

 wheat and grass. ]5ut there is every sign of a storm, and I hope it may 

 be snow. You can report everything, so far as I know, in the counties of 

 Saginaw, Bay, Iosco, Alcona, Alpena, Huron, Tuscola, Gratiot, Isabella, and 

 Midland favorable so far for an abundant crop of fruit. 



