ALLEGAE" OOU:^TY POMOLOGIOAL SOCIETY. 



OFFICERS FOR 1888. 



President — Wra. Peet. 

 Vice President — Oh as. Manwaring. 

 Secretary — G. H. LaFleur. 

 Treasurer — Allen "Wood. 



This society held monthly meetings during the past year, but no regular 

 programme for the year was adopted. We have considered such topics as to 

 the season and the locality in which the several meetings were held seemed best 

 adapted. 



The society meets in different towns in the eastern part of the county. 

 The social manner iu which the forenoon is usually passed, and the picnic 

 dinners are among the pleasant features of these gatherings. 



In accordance with an invitation from the fruit growers of the town of 

 Otsego, the Allegan county pomological society met at the grange hall in that 

 township. There was a good local attendance. Preparations had been made 

 to serve a bountiful dinner to a crowd of hungry grangers and fruit growers. 

 Great credit is due the ladies who contributed to the dinner, and by their 

 presence added largely to the interest of the meeting. 



The meeting was not called to order until dinner had been served. 

 In the absence of both president and vice president. Brother Hart, master of 

 the grange, occupied the chair with an ease and ability which demonstrated 

 the educational influence of the grange. The pomological society is under 

 great obligation to the grangers of surrounding towns for the interest they 

 have manifested in our success, and for courtesies extended to us by way of 

 invitations to hold union meetings in their halls. These meetings have 

 always been instructive and enjoyable. 



A. T. Stark delivered the following unique address of welcome : 



When God placed man in the garden of Eden, the perfection of the divine 

 bill of fare included nothing but fruits. History tells of the vast improve- 

 ments made in the quality of all kinds by culture and by the propagation of 

 new varieties. In his natural condition, man, it seems, did not need flesh or 

 cereal to support his health and strength. The changed condition of arti- 

 ficial living seems to demand them. The cultivation of fruits requires con- 

 tinued residence in one locality, hence the cultivation of those habits of in- 

 dustry and economy conducive to the highest state of thrift and cultivation. 

 Descend one step in the scale of civilization, fruits drop out of the bill of 

 fare. Their place is imperfectly supplied by the cereals, and those vege- 

 tables most easily grown. Descend still lower, cereals and flesh make the 

 food ; another step, flesh alone supports the Esquimaux, the Tartar, and the 



