PROCEEDINGS OF THE AUTUMN MEETING. 73 



providing the railway companies will give them the same time given to 

 the express and passenger business, and I believe ther i- a marked 

 improvement this year in the shipping facilities offered by the various 

 roads. Fruit carrying is to them a matter of large importance, and it 

 will be strange indeed if some substantial improvement is not made in 

 thej^onstruction of cars and other means of carrying, in the near future, 

 as the growing of fruit in Michigan is in its infancy, and that which is of 

 special interest to either individual or corporation is usually looked after 

 with special care. 



However, we need never look for improved methods in transportation 

 for any product until there is a sufficient supply to warrant the extra out- 

 lay, for it costs money to run fast through-freight trains. Just so, we 

 can never expect to have a good outside demand for our products, over 

 and above a very limited amount, until we have a supply equal to any 

 demand. In other words, buyers will go where there is an adequate 

 supply. 



MEETING OF THE INDIANA STATE SOCIETY. 



BY HON. CHARLES W. GARFIELD OP GRAND RAPIDS. 



For some years the Michigan State Horticultural Society has had a 

 standing, urgent invitation to send a delegation to a convention of the 

 Indiana Horticultural Society. Inasmuch as Secretary Ragan of Indiana 

 has on two occasions consented to come to our meetings, and has con- 

 tributed valuable papers for our transactions, and as the summer meet- 

 ing of 1895 was to convene within six miles of the Michigan line, we could 

 hardly do less than be represented there. Hon. C. J. Monroe of South 

 Haven was chosen as the official delegate, but his inability to attend led 

 to the selection of Mr. R. M. Kellogg of Ionia and myself to be present and 

 represent Michigan horticulture. 



We were warmly received by President Hobbs and Secretary Wm. H. 

 Ragan, and were greatly honored in many ways. The local society at 

 South Bend provided for our entertainment, and carriages were in wait- 

 ing to show us the city and the two great schools of St. Mary and Notre 

 Dame. We were astonished at the dimensions of the great wagon, car- 

 riage, and agricultural implement industries, and agreeably surprised to 

 find so many beautiful homes and such fine examples of ornamental gar- 

 dening. The grounds at Notre Dame were especially attractive, and con- 

 tained some rare trees and shrubs, and gorgeous beds of flowers. 



The members of the state society were the guests of the local society, 

 and leading citizens of South Bend had joined with the state society in 

 offering quite liberal premiums for exhibits of fruits, flowers, and vege- 

 tables. The hall for the meeting belonged to a German society and was 

 admirably adapted to a gathering of this kind. A side room was con- 

 veniently located for the exhibit, and the sessions for the second day were 

 held in a lovely grove which was an accompaniment of the building. 

 There were no evening sessions, and I quite liked this plan, for it gave us 

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