346 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Messrs. Woodward, Steere, Holmes, and others had bagged grapes with 

 good results. Mr. Edmiston removed the bags from some bushes in the vine- 

 yard for the benefit of the committee, and others present, showing a very 

 decided benefit. 



Miss Osborn then sang a solo — "Sweet days gone by." 



On motion of Mr. Coller, the president appointed the following committee 

 on grounds, fruits, etc. : Mrs. J. M. Blanchard, Mrs. C. W. Sheffield, S. B. 

 Mann, A S. Mills and P. Coller. 



Adjourned for dinner. 



The Afternoon Session 



opened with a solo by Miss Osborn — "The shipwreck." The committee on 

 grounds etc., reported as follows: 



Your committee on grounds, after a careful inspection, beg leave to report 

 as follows: Mr. Edmiston is in the nursery business, and an enthusiast in his 

 line. His grounds are covered with a large variety of grapes, pears, apples and 

 berries in bearing in their season. The first visit was to the vineyard, wbere we 

 found about thirty varieties in bearing, besides some twenty-five seedlings, some 

 of which show fine qualities. The pear orchard of 150 trees, and some forty 

 varieties in bearing, some of which were very fine indeed, and we may safely 

 say that Mr. Edmiston makes a specialty of pears by way of testing varieties. 

 He has one rare variety, called the Desmonnis, said to be very fine by the best 

 judges. About half an acre of strawberries, set in May last, look very fine. 

 There were ten varieties. His raspberries, of about sixteen varieties, have 

 borne well and are looking well. His soil is clay loam mostly, and has suf- 

 fered somewhat from the late drought. Mr. Edmiston is also interested in bee 

 culture to a considerable extent, and with good success. He has now about 

 fifty colonies. 



The secretary then read a letter from A. G. Gulley, superintendent of the 

 educational exhibit to be made at the State fair, relative to the collection of 

 new or rare varieties of fruit, and arrangements were made for the secretary to 

 receive and pack such samples for shipment, and he gave notice that he would 

 receive samples of fruits either at his home, ox they might be left at Rowley & 

 Reeder's meat market, opposite the postoffice, where he would receive them. 

 Such samples should be perfect as possible. Leave stem and calyx on; don't 

 polish or handle the surface of the fruit ; of apples, pears, etc , five specimens 

 would be desirable, but even one will do, if you can't furnish more. Two or 

 three bunches of each -variety of grapes is desired. Get all specimens in by 

 Thursday, the 9th inst. Packing will be done on Friday. 



On motion of E. W. Allis, the society voted a copy of the State society's 

 works to Mr. Morden, he having written a valuable paper for the society last 

 year. 



Mr. Coller referred to the report of the committee of the last meeting, rela- 

 tive to his dwarf pears, as showing that they were not hardy, while it was his 

 intention to state to the committee that one variety, the Angouleme, had 

 frozen down twice, while other varieties had stood better. 



M. T. Cole then read the following paper on 



