HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 31 



Were it not that duties at home render it impracticable, I 

 would gladly be with you and would anticipate great pleasure in 

 repeating my hasty visit with you to the grounds of your state 

 farm, and observing the developments of another year. 



The present season here has been very backward, at least two 

 weeks later than usual. We are now not quite at the height of 

 the strawberry shipping season; but the last few days have been 

 moist and very warm, w^hich is rapidly hastening vegetation. 



The open weather and constant freezing and thawing of Feb- 

 ruary, March and even April, also, to some extent, have rendered 

 the strawberry crop a light one, but the peach crop (which is oijr 

 most important one) is very heavy, requiring some thinning. 

 Apples and other fruit crops generally are very promising. In 

 my last season's visit to your state and Iowa, I was so pleased 

 with what I saw of your recent varieties of native {Americana} 

 plums that I arranged with Mr. Harris of your state and with 

 Prof. Budd for trees of several of these which I now have grow- 

 ing finely, and I anticipate, with them, that we may be able to 

 escape the ravages of the curculio, at least in part, together with 

 certain other maladies which, for many years past, have rend- 

 ered the culture of the domestic varieties with us in Southern 

 Michigan unsuccessful, and, in the main, unprofitable. 



Trusting that your gathering will prove both interesting and 

 profitable, I am. Very truly yours, 



T. T. Lyon. 



On motion the meeting then adjourned. 



