346 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



LuTHEE Palmer of Dexter said that he is contemplating the construction 

 of a spraying pump, to be rigged on a wheelbarrow, for the use of small 

 orchards and gardens. Some of the speakers favored the Bordeaux mixt- 

 ure in a weak form, and using it often. Secretary Ganzhoen argued for 

 the mixture of full strength, and use of it often, too, and that the sul- 

 phate of copper should be procured at wholesale prices by clubbing 

 together. 



President Scott presiding also at the March meeting. The topic for 

 discussion was "the improvement of our roads." Although not a strictly 

 horticultural subject, yet it is very important to the fruit-man, as fruit is 

 easily bruised and injured by carrying over rough and bad roads, and 

 therefore its market value lessened. The March meeting for 1890 was 

 devoted to this matter, and a petition sent to the legislature praying for 

 legislation that might provide better means to improve the leading high- 

 ways. The same subject was resumed at the March meeting last year, 

 making this the third succeeding March meeting devoted to the same 

 topic. Each of these meetings were largely attended, and an animated 

 discussion held, showing an unusual interest in this matter. The meetings 

 were also largely attended by leading farmers. Mr. E. A. Nordman, as 

 per invitation at the last meeting, prepared a paper on this topic which he 

 read, and it was highly interesting. The paper was lengthy, and treated 

 the subject of making roads and keeping them in repair, in all its details. 

 He closed the matter by recommending the use of gravel as a cover. Mr. 

 Fred C. Brown had been invited to attend this meeting and speak on the 

 subject. He kindly responded to the request and read a well-written 

 paper on the topic, which was full of important and original mattef-. He 

 compared the roads in their primitive state, forty years ago, to those of 

 today, and showed the great progress made thus far. The log culverts of 

 the old time have given place to such as are now made of stone, anchored 

 at the top and otherwise highly artistically finished. He believed the 

 present law on road-making good enough if properly carried out, but 

 would recommend provision for a road commissioner to have charge of a 

 whole township* so as to secure a uniform system in construction and 

 repair. 



Hon. J. L. Lowden, who could not attend, sent a paper giving his 

 views on this subject, and it was read by the corresponding secretary, Mr. 

 Baur. This paper was full of practical suggestions, and is well worthy of 

 close perusal. He urged the idea of raising a private fund by enterprising 

 citizens, with which to construct a road or a part of one, with stone, as an 

 object lesson to others. President Scott, Vice President Scott, both 

 secretaries, Messrs. W. F. Bird and J. C. Conrad spoke in favor of mac- 

 adamized roads and spoke of those in use in Germany, Ohio, Michigan 

 and Missouri, where they give the best of satisfaction, making travel on 

 them a pleasure. The desirability was discussed of appointment of a com- 

 mittee to confer with the council of Ann Arbor, on the subject, and to 

 recommending to them the purchase of a stone crusher. The motion that 

 such a committee be appointed finally prevailed, and E. H. Scott, J. C. 

 Conrad and W. F. Bird were appointed. On the question whether or 

 not the roads should be worked on a cash system, or continue on the old 

 way, the farmers stand divided, but all agree that the roads need improv- 

 ing. They favor gravel instead of crushed stone, on account of the sup- 

 posed greater cost of the latter. 



The summer meetings are not regularly kept up, and are not much 



