^53 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



Committee had not power to act upon, and should be settled 

 at a full meeting of the members. 



The Committee on By-laws, consisting of Messrs. Whitney, 

 Linderman, and Bradfield, were requested to report in the 

 afternoon. 



In the afternooo, Mr. P. B. King of Colorado was intro- 

 duced to the members, and delivered an address upon the 

 climate, soil, and agricultural resources of that Territory. 



Mr. Pratt of Ionia, from the committee on orchards, which 

 had been appointed to award certain premiums offered by Mr. 

 Husted of Lowell, in connection with the Wagener apple, 

 reported verbally. He said he had examined the orchards 

 and fruit-growing capacities of the various counties and 

 districts through which he had passed, and had come to the 

 conclusion that the more eastern counties could not compete 

 with the counties lying on the shores of the lake in the grow- 

 ing of the softer fruits, such as the berries, the plum, the 

 cherry, and the peach. The facilities for handling and trans- 

 portation afforded by the nearness to Avater carriage to such 

 markets as Chicago and Milwaukee, are advantages for render- 

 ing this kind of fruit-growing profltable, and with Avhich the 

 interior counties cannot compete. About eight miles north 

 of White Ilall, there was a small orchard where the fruit was 

 very perfect and free from worms ; in fifty apples he found not 

 more than four that had worms in them. Here was some 

 grand farming land, although pine bearing. Eight miles south 

 of Hart, in Oceana county, and near Pentwater, there was a 

 grand tract of land, about 250 feet above the lake level, where 

 he found the vineyard of Mr. Eussell. He had never seen 

 grapes grown in such profusion. No care had been given 

 them, and they were allowed to run wild. Vines live yeara 

 from the graft bore at the rate of a bushel to a bushel and a 

 half of grapes. One variety particularly attracted his atten- 

 tion, but the name was unknown; others were the lona, 

 Concord, and Isabella. 



