206 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The one thing in which we lack now at our shows, is such an arrangement 

 and display of large placards as will indicate clearly to every observer the ex- 

 act position of each department of the premium list. This is impracticable 

 unless it is absolutely certain that we know two things: that our hall will be 

 large enouirh for the display, and what collections are to be exhibited at least 

 the Saturday before the fair opens. 



My suggestion then, is, that entries of collections be closed two days before 

 the opening of the fair. I tried very hard this season by issuing the following 

 letter to leading fruit growers, to ascertain if possible about what space would 

 be required : 



J/y Dear Sir—It will expedite matters and prevent a great rush at the opening of 

 the fair it' all those who are to make a number of entries in the department of Fruit 

 and Floxcers will make out a list of the entries before fair week. All that desire 

 blank entry lists please drop me a card, giving full name and address, and 1 will for- 

 ward them at once. If lists of entries are made out before September 1st, send to 

 me at Grand Rapids; later, in care of Secretary R. F. Jolinstone, Detroit. 



Go througii your orchards, gardens and green-houses and select your best for 

 the fair. Our society has never failed to make a grand show. Let us maintain our 

 reputation. ' CHAS. W. GARFIELD. 



Grand Rapids, ISIicli. Secretary. 



It proved a failure as you will observe when I say, that of a total of 1,503 

 entries, but 190 had reached me by Monday noon of fair week. This faulty 

 plan of putting off the making of entries on the part of fruit-growers, reacts 

 upon themselves. They crowd so much work into the Secretary's office at one 

 time that it is impossible to do justice to the exhibitors; and the Superintend- 

 ent of the hall cannot plan the arrangement of exhibits until the entries are 

 made; and because he does not have a place for every man to go when he ap- 

 pears with his fruits in the hall, he is blamed, and without reason. 



V.'ORK OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



The executive committee have held four meetings during the year, as fol- 

 lows: 



Detroit, January 14th. 



Lansing, February 19th. 



Kalamazoo, June 27th. 



Detroit, September 15th, IGth, l?th, and 18th. 



The first meeting in Detroit was in connection with the State Agricultural 

 Society, and the result of the conference with a delegation from the executive 

 'committee of the State Agricultural Society is best expressed in the report of 

 their committee, which was unanimously accepted and adopted by their execu- 

 tive committee, Tuesday evening, January 14th, 1879. 



The committee appointed to confer with a like committee from the State Pomo- 

 logical Society, upon matters of common interest to both organizations especially 

 in connection with the annual Fair, respectfully report as the rosults of joint inter- 

 view: 



First, That the Pomological Society be invited to exhibit with us at the annual 

 fair under the same regulations as to entries, admissions, payment of premiums, etc., 

 as last year. 



Second, That tliere be appropriated for the use of the Pomoloirical department 

 of the fair the same amounts as last year, to wit: $1,000 for premiums and fourteen 

 hundred dollars for general expenses'under like regulations and restrictions as in 

 previous years. 



Thirds That in case it is found necessarj^ or advisable to erect a new hall for any 

 purpose, if consistent with the best interests of the fair of 1879, this hall bo built 

 for the pomological exliibit and the present jjall bo employed for other purposes; 



