REPORTS OF DISTRICT AND LOCAL SOCIETIES. ofi3 



and especially the apple trees which looked as though a tire had ruu 

 through the branches. It was thought to be caused by the cool, wet 

 weather, with occasional hot sunshine. The last session of the year was 

 devoted to a discussion of the lessons of the year. 



The out- door meetings during the harvest season were well attended,, 

 and were valuable as object lessons. 



Perhaps the most notable event of the year to the society was the cele- 

 bration of the twenty-first birthday of the society, by a banquet or anni- 

 versary dinner, held on the 29th day of January. The society had reached 

 its age of manhood', twenty-one years, and about eighty of the fruitgrowers 

 celebrated the event fittingly. Norman Phillips, the first president of 

 the society, was present and gave some interesting reminiscences of the 

 early times in fruit culture, and said, in looking over the list of thirteen 

 charter members, "I find but eight are left; five have passed over, but I 

 see their places are filled by many times their number of intelligent fruit- 

 growers, whom I hope and believe have profited largely by the example 

 and precepts of this early band, and the many lessons of experience 

 brought before this society in the past twenty-one years." Prof. Taft 

 of Michigan Agricultural College, who was present, congratulated the 

 society on its successful and practical existence, saying, " Even before I 

 came to the state of Michigan I had heard of this society, its name and 

 fame reaching me through its published reports." He spoke of the efforts 

 now being made by the national government to assist in this work, the 

 appropriation of money for experimenting in all lines of agriculture and 

 horticulture; in chemical tests; the cause, cure and prevention of insect 

 pests and fungi. The venerable president of the State Horticultural 

 Society was present and made an interesting address, as did many promi 

 nent citizens and visitors from abroad. 



On the whole, the season of 1892 was not satisfactory to the fruitgrowers, 

 as the crop of fruit fell far below what was reasonably expected in the 

 spring, although the prices were fair to good. Still, the society, profiting 

 by failure and success, by experiment and experience, is doing great good 

 to all and especially to the new workers in the "vineyard," as a report of 

 all their proceedings is condensed and published in at least five different 

 newspapers. In the multitude of counselors there is strength. 



W. H. Payne, Secreinry. 



