66 ANNUAL REPOET 



PROCEEDINGS, ESSAYS AND DISCUSSIONS. 



Treasurer Grimes: In explanation of the third item in the fore- 

 going statement of receipts, I will say that the amount of $358.61 

 of the State appropriation for 1881 had been drawn by preceding 

 officers. The annual reserve fund of $200 was to have been in- 

 vested in bonds, but as I could find no bond of that denomination 

 I placed the money in the savings bank at 6 per cent, interest^ 

 under instructions of the executive committe. 



Prof, Porter moved that the treasurer be allowed a salarj"^ of 

 twenty-five dollars, and the motion prevailed. 



The secretary stated that the presence of the treasurer was 

 always required at the meetings of the executive committee, and 

 moved that he be authorized to act with the committee, ex officio^ 

 together with the president and secretary, and that his expenses at 

 the Rochester meeting in September last, $6.85, be refunded. 



Motion adopted. 



The President announced Mr. Peffer's paper on "Apple Blos- 

 soms." 



The Secretary. At the r equest of several members I will say a 

 word as introductory t^) this paper. Mr. PeSer is known among 

 pomologists as a scientific breeder of new varieties of fruits, and 

 hence a faithful observer of all things which indicate the laws of 

 tree and plant growth, especially those that govern reproduction^ 

 crossing and hybridization. The paper which he will now read 

 lays the foundation for some practical advice he will give us further 

 on in this session in his prize essay showing us how to improve our 

 fruits by production of seedlings, and as we are about to enter sys- 

 tematically upon that means of obtaining "a pomology of our 



