IlEPORTS OF LOCAL SOCIETIES. 247 



LAWTON PO.ArOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The Lawtoii Pomologicul Society was organized in April, 1878, at which 

 lime the following officers were elected, and they still continue to hold their 

 respective offices : 



President — Hon. IS". II. Bitely. 

 Vice President — Freeman Kice. 

 Secretary — C. D. Lawton. 

 Treasurer — A. B. Jones. 



Executive Committee — C. Engle, Freeman Rice, II. P. Waters, E. Warner, 

 A. B. Jones. 



The regular meetings of the society occur in the 1st Monday of each month ; 

 but during the past summer, until the close of the fruit season, meetings were 

 lield once each week. 



There are about 40 members, all of them, wholly or partially, engaged in 

 growing fruit. The meetings are generally well attended, and the interest, 

 especially during the fruit season, well kept up. 



The object of the society is the successful production of all fruits adapted 

 to this locality. And the fruit which has proved the most profitable, and which 

 is regarded with the most anxiety, and upon which hope of future profits are 

 principally based, is the peach ; next in order is the grape. The results of 

 the past season's operations were such as to stimulate the setting out of addi- 

 tional x^lantations of fruit and to cause owners to contemplate the enlarging of 

 the areas of orchards now aifording very flattering profits. 



At the meetings which have been held in the past year many important fruit 

 topics have been discussed with interest and profit — as a consequence many 

 members who knew very little about fruit raising have become quite well posted 

 in this department of agriculture. Not only have the members acquired 

 information and skill, but the influence of the society has extended to the 

 entire community and so nearly everyone, whatever his business, knows a good 

 deal about fruit matter; far more information relating to this important 

 interest prevails in this community than could otherwise be the case except for 

 the influence of this society. A valuable auxiliary, in this connection, is 

 found in the Reports of the State Pomological Society. 



Secretary Garfield has kindly furnished to us sufficient numbers of copies 

 so that nearly all of our members have been provided with one, and they read 

 and appreciate them highly. 



In every avocation in life the influence of the higher upon the lower is most 

 salutary, and the value and success of local horticultural societies will always, 

 in a great measure, be commensurate with the influence of the State Society 

 and the estimation in which it is held. 



I append an account of our March meeting as a sample of the manner in 

 which we proceed. 



C. D. LAWTON, 

 Seo'y Laivton Pomological Societif. 



President Bitely made a lengthy report of the proceedings of the Lansing 



