THE ANNUAL MEETING. 241 



W. N. Cook. — The fault lies in the people. They should insist ou pur- 

 chasing what is really good, and exhibit a willingness to pay an additional price 

 for a variety — that is more difficult to raise — because it is good. The market 

 will then be supplied. 



Mr. Ilanford. — The difficulty lies in distinguisliing between the market and 

 the family apple. Kow I find good sale at remunerative rates for Jonathans 

 and Belmonts. I rather think Mr. Lvon would allow these in his family list. 

 I sell three or four hundred barrels of the latter annually. If by any manner 

 of means the using of the market test is to limit us to such apples as Ben. 

 Davis, I wish to be excused from being either a grower, a dealer or a consumer. 



Secretary Garfield read a paper by Mrs. J. D. W. Fisk, of Coldwater, upon 



OUR NATIVE FERNS. 



[A young lad}' of Allegan, havin.cj seen the topic upon the programme, and evidently 

 having keen appreciation of the fitness of things, placed upon the president's table 

 a plate of fronds from some of our most beautiful wild ferns, which had been gath- 

 ered during the day on the hillsides of Allegan village. The delicate courtesy thus 

 extended to the author of the essay, rendered the words more effective in entertain- 

 ing the convention.] 



"By placid lakes, 



Deep in the forest's leafy shade, 

 Were plumaged ferns and filmy brakes, 

 In verdant tracery arraj'ed.'' 



The class Filices, to which our native ferns belong, is an exceedingly inter- 

 esting one, and is also very extensive, embracing as it does, according to Wood, 

 about two thousand species, some of them vicing with the lofty palms of the 

 south in height and beauty, and others so fragile and delicate as to be fit only 

 for the wardian case. The fern is a perennial, with subterranean stems from 

 which, on each returning spring, arise the fronds or leaves which, in our com- 

 mon ferns, are green, unless, as is sometimes the case in the early autumn, the 

 frost has touched them enough to bleach, and thus give them a strong resem- 

 blance to skeletonized leaves, for which purpose, by the way, they are admir- 

 ably adapted. It would almost seem that our Creator designed us to make 

 use of these beautiful children of the wood to adorn our homes, so abundant 

 are they and so lavishly has he made use of them in beautifying the face of the 

 earth. There is scarcely a marsh or a pool, no matter how damp or miasmatic, 

 but that its margin is enlivened by the graceful brake; and the rough, un- 

 sightly outlines of decayed logs and moldering stumps are half hidden by the 

 same symmetry and grace. Why should not we imitate nature and adorn our 

 homes with the graceful ferns? There is very little care or trouble required in 

 their cultivation, for, although they prefer the cool, moist atmosphere and 

 shade, with the rich, damp soil of the forest, they will bear transplanting to 

 the northern and sheltered portions of our grounds. This is particularly the 

 case with the stronger growing kinds that we find upon fallen logs and at the 

 roots of stumps. Vacant corners of the window gardens, if filled with ferns of 

 the various kinds, and the roots unmolested after the fronds disappear, will 

 again gladden us with their wondrous beauty, after their annual rest. In fact, 

 a clump of ferns taken up with care, with a little soil attached, and put down 

 almost anywhere with the roots covered with moss, will thrive wlien once 

 established. 



Where ferns are used for indoor decorations, there is certainly great scope 



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