PROCEEDINGS OF THE . ANNUAL MEETING. 



HELD IN GRAND RAPIDS, DEC. 1, 2, 3, 1896. 



Seldom has there been a more noteworthy convention of horticultur- 

 ists in Michigan than the twenty-sixth annual meeting of the State 

 Horticultural society, held in Grand Rapids, December 1, 2, 3, 1896. It 

 was notable not alone for the very large attendance, representative of 

 all portions of the state, but as well for excellence of the programme, 

 the new features which were introduced, and the deep interest that was 

 taken at every stage of the proceedings. The sessions were held in 

 one of the circuit court rooms in the Kent county building, which was 

 handsomely decorated with ornamental plants and chrysanthemums. 

 Two adjoining rooms were devoted to the exhibition of fruits and flowers, 

 which were in abundant supply. Several hundred persons were in 

 attendance each session, the evening sessions bringing out numbers of 

 the city people interested in rural affairs. Each hour of the meeting 

 was actively occupied with some feature of the programme or the dis- 

 cussions which it provoked, and there was no lagging of interest from 

 the very beginning. 



Among the gentlemen in attendance from outside the state were Mr. 

 J. H. Hale of Connecticut, Prof. M. V. Slingerland of Cornell university, 

 and Prof. John Craig of the central experimental farm of Canada. These 

 gave valuable contributions to the proceedings, and never has the society 

 had more efficient aid from horticulturists from other states than its 

 own than was rendered on this occasion. Besides these were Mr. E. A. 

 Riehl of Alton, delegate from the Illinois state society; Mr. J. J. Harri- 

 son of Painesville, Ohio, of the famous nurseries of Storrs, Harrison & 

 Co.; and Mr. M. A. Thayer of Sparta, Wis., the small-fruit specialist. 

 Perhaps at no meeting of the society was there ever a larger attendance 

 of prominent fruitgrowers from outside the vicinity of the meeting. All 

 of these gentlemen were made honorary members of the society for the 

 year 1897, and one after another was introduced b^^ President Morrill and 

 decorated with the handsome badges which had been provided for the 

 occasion. They in turn made felicitous remarks, showing their apprecia- 

 tion of the honor conferred. 



The annual election occurred Wednesday afternoon, and was com- 

 pleted with extremely little use of form or time. President Morrill, who 

 was absent because of temporary illness, was unanimously re-elected. 



