REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 339 



meetings in the same way, that it was determined to do so and places were 

 offered for most of the winter meetings. 



We have usually had two subjects for discussion at each of these meetings : 

 •one for the forenoon and one for the afternoon session; each subject opened 

 with a short paper by some member of the society, and then a general dis- 

 cussion to follow. 



There is a growing interest in horticulture amongst our people, notwith- 

 standing we have had to contend with low prices and the ravages of destruct- 

 ive insects. Yet the feeling is strengthening that the man who raises the best 

 fruit and puts it in the market in the most attractive form, can have control 

 of the market; while the poorer grades are not wanted in years of abundance 

 as the present has been. Yet it is to be lamented that many of our citizens 

 who are more or less engaged in horticultural pursuits do not find time or inclina- 

 tion to give a day even occasionally to attend these meetings. 



Others who are too busy to give the time have very generously given the 

 annual membership fee, and often express special interest in the reports of the 

 monthly meetings as published in our county papers. But the burden of keep- 

 ing up these society meetings rests on the sholders of the few; and the State 

 and local societies have a great work to perform before the masses of the people 

 will awake to the proper appreciation of the profits and pleasures to be derived 

 from a study of horticulture and its kindred pursuits. 



Especial mention is due to the managers of the Adrian Times who have 

 uniformly given space both in the daily and weekly issues, for the publication 

 of these papers read at our monthly meetings, as well as the report of the 

 regular discussions which follow the reading of these papers. 



We have fifty-seven members enrolled for the year 1886; five of whom are 

 life members of the State society. 



Accompanying the above report was a printed account of each meeting during 

 the year, of which we have selected two as samples of the interesting sessions, 

 as a supplement to the secretary's report. 



July Meeting. 



The county horticultural society met at President Hough's farm, one mile 

 south of Adrian. After the usnal preliminaries Mr. Hough read the following 

 paper on 



RASPBERRIES— THE BEST VARIETIES, ETC. 



Of the many kinds of small fruits, all things considered, none give so sure 

 and profitable a return to the cultivator as the raspberry. To the inexperi- 

 enced it will be a difficult task to make a suitable selection of varieties, for all 

 do not succeed alike, owing to soil and climate. The advantage of horticult- 

 ural reading, the papers and discussions of our county and State meetings, by 

 practical fruit growers giving their opinions of the old, and their trial tests of 

 the many new varieties, will be a guide what to choose, and save them from 

 many a failure. In selecting kinds, four things should be kept in mind — 

 hardiness, quality, productiveness, and keeping or shipping qualities. Any 

 variety possessing these points can, without further questioning, be planted. 



