THE ANNUAL MEETING. 



HELD IN THE VILLAGE OF SOUTH HAVEN, DECEM- 

 BER 5, 6, aad 7, 1881. 



GENEKAL ACCOUNT OF DISCUSSIONS AND FULL TEXT 



OF IMPORTANT PAPERS. 



The State Horticultural Society, in the ten years of its existence, has con- 

 vened in South Haven three times. Each meeting has been better than the 

 one preceding it, and this last one, held in December, 1881, was by many who 

 have attended the meetings regularly, considered the best meeting ever held 

 by the society. 



The Michigan Central, Grand Rapids & Indiana, Chicago & West 

 Michigan, and Chicago & Grand Trunk railroads all gave reduced rates, and 

 the attendance was large. Aside from our State delegates we had with us L. 

 'S. Willard and J. S. Woodward, of Western New York Horticultural Society; 

 H. P. Hanford, of Indiana; R. C. Barnard, of Illinois, and J. R. Rupert, 

 Iowa. The exhibit of horticultural products was very fine ; Prof. Beal, Prof. 

 Tracy, and Mr. Satterlee, who have been conversant with our exhibitions for 

 some years, united in the opinion that we have never had a display in which 

 so large a proportion of the plates of apples approximated the society's ideal of 

 perfect plates. This is a great satisfaction, for it is a natural result of the 

 severe criticism that has been made in the reports of committees at our meet- 

 ings and at our fairs. 



One of the causes that contributed to this fine show of products was prob- 

 ably the following scheme of premiums offered in connection with the an- 

 nouncement of the meeting : 



Best three single plates of winter market apples of different varieties — First 

 premium, |2; second premium, 81. 



Best three single plates of winter apples for cooking purposes of different 

 varieties — First premium, $2 ; second premium, |1. 



Best three single plates of winter dessert apples of different varieties — First 

 premium, $2 ; second premium, |1, 



Most beautiful plate of apples on exhibition, color, form, general perfection 

 and size of specimen to rule — First premium, $1 ; second premium, 50 cents. 



In addition to the above the following offers are made : 



