RECORD OF A JOINT MEETING. 19 



as growers let us talk up that side. It is better to state honest facts, rahher 

 than flatter each other with whitewashed statements. 



J, Lannin : Perhaps the men who do these things may be charitably con- 

 sidered as not fully instructed; they are largely the men who do not attend 

 the horticultural meetings nor read. We are apt to speak of all horticul- 

 tural knowledge as of recent discovery; yet we learn from 'Homer's Odyssey 

 that 1700 years before Christ they had black, white, and red grapes and 

 thoroughly understood their propagation and culture, though probably they 

 had little scientific knowledge of plant growth. But in other respects there 

 ■has been a great advance in knowledge, and the fruit grower who does not 

 avail himself of it is not wise and must often suffer for his ignorance. ^ 



}<y W. A. Brown thought more of the intelligent fruit growers should contrib- 

 ute in the way of papers to these meetings. He thought the growers should 

 patronize the newspapers that devote space to these subjects. 

 jnU^The committee on fruit exchange reported that they had nothing to offer; 

 that it was useless to advance in western Michigan until they had more gen- 

 eral support at home. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. 



The committee on resolutions submitted the following, which was unani- 

 mously adopted: 



Individual thought links itself with its fellow. Individual interest seeks a 

 common good. Like employments become banded for mutual protection. 

 So up and down this shore come the fruit growers of western Michigan to 

 consider questions common to the welfare of all. While these unions are 

 natural and necessary, a large measure of responsibility rests on a few indi- 

 viduals who perform arduous duties and assume large responsibilities. To 

 such persons the commeu'lation of *' well done" is the only recompense 

 which a well pleased public can bestow. The good people of Benton Harbor 

 have earned a wide reputation for a generous hospitality in the past, which 

 is still creditably sustained. The fruit growers surrounding and contiguous 

 to this harbor have large hearts and a wide hospitality. The Grange has an 

 ample hall, fittingly arranged, which is surrendered to this society. The 

 bugle notes of the local glee club are resonant with agreeable harmony. 

 The writers and speakers have pleased the attentive listeners. To all these, 

 and such others as have in any manner contributed to the interest of this 

 occasion, the West Michigan Fruit Growers' Society offers its many thanks; 

 and its members hereby pledge themselves to reciprocate in like measure 

 whenever the opportunity shall occur. The present meeting confirms the 

 conviction, already very well settled in the minds of this society, that the 

 responsible duties assigned its officers are well performed ; and we hereby ex- 

 press our hearty thauks for their unceasing attention and frequent forbear- 

 ance. Signed by the committee. 



A. C. Glidden", 

 J. N. Stearns. 



E. 0. Eeid offered the subjoined resolution, which on motion of W. A. 

 Brown was adopted without dissent: 



Resolved, That the Michigan State Horticultural Society and West Michi- 

 gan Fruit Growers' Association in joint meeting assembled, extend to ex-Sec- 

 iretary Garfield their sincere sympathy in his physical affliction, hoping that 



