WINTER MEETING, 1879. 51 



then applied the carbolic acid. I think perhaps it may have had the effect of 

 saving a further dissemination of tlie disease in the tree. One tiling is certain, 

 the odor of that acid was discernable a year afterward, exliibiting tlie fact that 

 it is not quickly lost. 



A question. — Do you consider carbolic acid a remedy for pear-blight? 



Mr. Tracy. — No; I have no such idea; I have no theory in the matter. 

 The fact is, I used it in this case and the blight did not rea[)pear ; it might not 

 have reappeared a!iy way. Still, if I had another case I should try a similar 

 expedient. 



Tlie question-box having been emptied, Mr. Guild offered the following: 



Besolved., That Mr. Jesse F. Romer be appointed our Vice President for Bay 

 county. 



Adopted. 



The last topic of the evening was : 



CAN TOWNSHIP AND DISTRICT FRUIT SHOWS BE MADE PROFITABLE? 



Secretary Garfield said : This topic is worthy our serious consideration. 

 The same arguments that would establish farmers' clubs, granges, and the 

 like, apply directly to the exhibition of products for purposes of comparison 

 and instruction. A great many questions that are now asked at our quarterly 

 meetings would be considered silly by the parties asking them if several times 

 in the year they could, in their own locality, attend a show of fruits that are 

 raised in the vicinity. I find, too, that when discussions are accompanied by 

 samples, they are better flavored and conduce to better results. The same rea- 

 son that would lead Prof. Beal to place before his beginners in botany specimens 

 instead of books, is applicable to our own study of pomology. Descriptions 

 and methods are prosy things, when taken in the lump, without any spice of 

 illustration. We want the fruit itself to accompany the description, and the 

 fruit to illustrate the effect of a method of practice. Again, I have noticed 

 that there are lots of people, who are full of ideas, who say nothing until you place 

 an apple, an ear of corn, or a bunch of twigs in their hands. The specimens 

 bring out the experience, the facts that help in our future work. A neighbor- 

 hood fruit show is a very simple thing to handle. Let some leading spirit start 

 the matter, and it requires but little agitation to secure more than any one 

 could expect. 



A township exhibition of fruits is a larger thing to handle, and my own 

 thought would be to have prizes for the best samples in the prominent varie- 

 ties. These prizes need not be money, but home-made or home-grown articles, 

 offered by individuals. It ^Yould be well to unite the fruit show with an exhibit 

 of some other things ; for instance, some lady genius could offer a nice piece 

 of fancy work or a home-made picture for the best peck of Baldwin apples, and 

 in turn the man who has plenty of Baldwins could offer a barrel of them for the 

 best display of fancy work. You will see this plan is capable of being indefin- 

 itely dilated. Let the day be used, most of it, for informal conversation and 

 comparison of articles ; the latter part of the day for discussions set in a 

 programme which will bring. out the facts learned at the show. I am satisfied 

 this plan is practicable and prolific of good results, if only taken hold of 

 in the proper spirit. 



Prof. Beal. — I heartily endorse the views of our secretary, and will, with 

 the permission of the president, give a little of our experience in this direction 



