WINTER MEETING, 1879. 59 



committee to confer with members of congress from tliis state and urge tliat 

 in the taking of the United States census, liorticulture be given its proper 

 attention. 



Mr. Jjyon. — There has never been provisions in the census blanks for ade- 

 quate account of the value of orcharding or orchard products, and it would 

 seem tliat in tliis State, where pomology is made so much of, we ought to have 

 annual statistics of these products. 



Mr. Partridge. — I understand there is a bill now pending before the House 

 for the gathering of cereal and fruit statistics, and already there has developed 

 a good deal of opposition to it, and I am led to believe there is danger tluit the 

 fruit part of it Avill be stricken out. Recognizing the importance of retaining 

 that feature, Mr. President, I move that a committee of three be selected to 

 confer with the committee of the rje2:islature bavins; this bill in charfje for the 

 purpose of bringing before them the views of this convention concerning tlie 

 matter. 



The motion received support, and was carried. 



On motion, the President was made chairman of the committee, and Messrs. 

 A. C. Town and S. B. Mann were selected as his associates. 



A. 0. Town. — Tlie Legislature four years ago made a mistake in its law- 

 making on this very point. The State Pomological Society is doing a valuable 

 work and should receive hearty support from the Legislature in such matters 

 as these, recommended by specialists who have given a great deal of time and 

 thought to the subject, having all the time in view the welfare and progress of 

 the State. I recognize in the methods pursued by this society a careful under- 

 standing of what the horticulture of the State needs. The work accomplished 

 for fruit-growing has received an impetus since the organization of this society 

 not given in any preceding efforts of the State Agricultural Society, exhibiting 

 to me the wisdom of giving such work directly into the hands of those who 

 know the most about it. 



Mr. Estabrook, of Saginaw, spoke earnestly of the value of statistics in all 

 business operations, giving examples from the various enterprises of the world, 

 and said that for the proper advertisement of the State the present bill should 

 not only pass, but there should be a bureau of statistics as a branch of the 

 State government. 



The hour of adjournment having arrived, the subject was laid upon the table 

 for further consultation at a future session. 



The society, on motion, took a recess until evening, allowing time for the 

 members to visit the Ao:ricultural Collesre durin2: the afternoon. 



Thursday Evening Session. 



It was not contemplated in arranging the programme of this meeting that 

 its sessions should extend beyond Thursday noon, but a request having been 

 presented to tiie executive committee to hold a session Thursday evening in the 

 Hall of Representatives, the invitation was accepted and the order of exercises 

 extended. 



The first paper of the evening was the 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen : 



Your committee after a thorough examination of the fruit on exhibition in 

 the hall beg to submit the following report : We find the contributions on ex- 



