EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 65 



MR. barber's letter. 



Jackson, Mich., December 3, 1888. 

 Mr. a W. Garfield: 



Dear Sir — I send you by express today, a small basket of apples which 

 have received the name of Oakland in this county. The upper course is 

 from Amos Root, the lower from a couple of trees I had grafted a few years 

 ago. Their history, as told here, is that several years since an itinerant 

 grafter came from Oakland county with a lot of scions, among which were a 

 quantity of Seeknofurthers. When these grafts came to bear, the fruit 

 proved to be such as I send you. For a time the apples were jocosely called 

 ''Oakland County Seeknofurthers," but this has been shortened to " Oak- 

 land." The trees are prolific bearers, and the apples are good keepers. One 

 year, I remember, in barrels in the cellar, without extra care, they kept in 

 good condition for eating until into May. In 1880 I had the entire top of a 

 tree, perhaps a dozen years old, grafted with Oakland, and in 1886 gathered 

 therefrom three and one-half barrels, and certainly more than half a barrel 

 fell off before gathering. For persons who like a mild apple, not sour 

 enough to set the children's teeth on edge, nor really sweet, we think it one 

 of the best eating apples grown. I take pleasure in sending them. I think 

 they ought to be better known than they are. Good apples, especially in our 

 long winters, are food, drink, and medicine. 



Yours very truly, 



E. W. Barber. 



RESOLUTIONS. 



The above report, and the one following, from the committee on resolu- 

 tions, were adopted without dissent : 



We favor a hearty vote of thanks to the members of the Grand River Val- 

 ley Horticultural society for their invitation and cordial attention. 



Our thanks are also due the ofiBcers of several railways for concession of 

 rates; and to Mr. Johnson, proprietor of the Eagle hotel, for low rates and 

 excellent care, we are also under great obligations. 



We are very grateful for attention and full reports by the press of Grand 

 Rapids. 



Some of us can not help looking back to the early days of this society and 

 recalling the condition of horticulture in our state eighteen or twenty years 

 ago. To those early members the people of our state owe much for their 

 earnest work. 



We see marked progress in nomenclature, rejection of worthless varieties, 

 and the successful combating of injurious insects. In these and in other 

 respects this society has won a most excellent reputation. It may be impol- 

 itic to call names, but we think the facts will warrant us in naming two 

 persons whose efforts have been most prominent in these reforms. To Hon. 

 T. T. Lyon, so long and well known for his faithful and valuable work, espe- 

 cially as president of this society, and to Hon. C. W. Garfield, so long our 

 secretary, we and the horticulturists of the State, and many outside of her 

 limits, owe a debt of gratitude which we can never repay. 



W. J. Beal. 

 J. F. Taylor. 



