REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 371 



yellow fever, we have learned something about it that can be put in practice 

 and this carefully followed up, may lead to new discoveries. The yellows com- 

 menced in this State near Benton Harbor, and has gradually spread from that 

 point, and continues to spread annually. This is one proof of its contagious 

 nature. There are other proofs. We have also learned that where trees were 

 promptly destroyed on the first appearance of the disease, its progress was in a 

 great degree arrested and partly controlled. But when left to take its own 

 course, and the diseased peach tree allowed to stand, the disease spread more 

 rapidly, and had usually ended in the entire destruction of the orchard. This 

 had taught thinking men that the disease was contagious, and that it is danger- 

 ous to suffer diseased trees to stand, hence they promptly remove them, on the 

 assumption that prevention is at least safer than attempts to cure. 



October Meeting. 



[From Allegan Gazette.! 



On one of the loveliest of October days we drove to the grange hall in Trow- 

 bridge where the county pomological society was to meet the Patrons of Hus- 

 bandry of that region. 



This hall is outwardly typical of rural public buildings. It is sufficient in 

 size and substantial in structure, but stands bleak and unadorned on neglected 

 grounds, with not so much as a single shade tree, so far as we remember, much 

 less the clean sward which at least it should have if not ornamented with 

 shrubs and flowers. The grange society accomplishes its best work in teaching 

 and inciting its members to lives more like those intellectual beings should 

 lead and less like those of the uncivilized races. Not the least of good influ- 

 ences to this end would be the adornment of buildings and grounds, both those 

 of public use and private occupancy. There are very few school-houses in 

 Allegan county worthy to be cherished in the memories of their occupants as 

 pleasant spots without and comfortable places within. They must appear 

 more as recollections of penance and punishment. But the Trowbridge grange 

 hall is much more attractive inside. The lodge room is nicely furnished and is 

 in every way a pleasant appartment, one of its novel features being a broad 

 couch upon which half a dozen babies lie and kick and scramble while their 

 elders engage in proceedings which answer to them exactly as to babies their 

 gyrations, diverting and expanding their minds and developing their bodies. 

 Babies, we were told, are Trowbridge's most important horticultural product, 

 except pumpkins. The lower story of the building has a cooking-room, etc., 

 and a hall for general use. Herein was served an excellent dinner. The 

 attendance was quite good, though not so great as the entertainers had hoped, 

 and there was abundance of hearty welcome and good cheer. 



S. C. Foster read an address of welcome which was cordial and frank. It 

 was also characteristic, for, be it known, he does not mean that any man shall 

 exceed him in ease or affluence without listening to his protest. Hence the 

 banker, railroad man, and even the editor came in for a scoring upon the ground 

 that they get a living with less bodily exertion than does the farmer. Mr. Fos- 

 ter's paper was practical and piquant, altogether out of the usual rut of for- 



