Annual Report of the Indiana State Horticultural Society; Proceedings of the Annual Session

were made to members of the Plainfield Horticultural Society, first and second on apples, first on pears, first on grapes, and second on small fruits. These items are introduced to illustrate the good effects and practical teaching of the Plainfield Horticultural Society.

In the year 1870 the Society held thirteen meetings; most of them were held at the residence of its members, and the subjects discussed, as shown by its records, show that it had lost none of its interest so apparent heretofore.

In the year 1871 the Society held twelve meetings, three of them in June-one at Dr. Allen Furnas', one at Jesse White's, and one at John H. Nicholson's. Six valuable essays were read before the Society this year on the following subjects: on the Preparation of Hotbeds, on Growing Apples, on Potato Raising, on the Protection of Forest Timber, on Manures, and on Raising Sweet Potatoes. Each meeting was made lively by the discussion of interesting subjects.

Eight meetings were held in the year 1872, with nearly the usual amount of interest, as shown by the records.

Six meetings were held in 1873, and some very interesting essays read and much valuable discussion engaged in.

At the March meeting of the Society in 1874, the constitution was amended so as to include agriculture as well as horticulture in the subjects for discussion. Standing committees were appointed on orchards, on fruit lots and gardens, on entomology, on ornithology, on farms and their products, on live stock, and on poultry. These committees were instructed to make careful observations and report to each regular meeting of the society such facts as come under their notice that might be of interest to the Society at that time, and to make full written reports of all observations during the year to the December meeting of the Society. Essays were read this year upon several interesting subjects connected with stock growing and farming generally, as well as upon those connected more closely with horticulture.

In the year 1875 eleven meetings were held, one being omitted on account of a funeral, which was attended by most of our members. The meeting held on the eighteenth of June was attended by most of the officers of the State Horticultural Soceity, and other visitors from a distance, who took part in the discussions. This year the Society digressed a little from its usual course, and at the request of a distinguished member of the State Horticultural Society appointed and held a meeting at Irvington, east of Indianapolis. At this meeting the Society had the very acceptable company of our friend, Nicholas Ohmer, of Dayton, Ohio. His instructive lecture on the cultivation of small fruits, together with the hospitality shown us at the house and grounds of our friend, Sylvester Johnson, made this one of the most enjoyable meetings of the year.

At the February meeting in 1876, it was agreed to hold fewer meeting this year than heretofore. Seven other meetings were agreed upon, the times and places set, the subjects for discussion and the essayists for each day. For March 18, at Plainfield; the essayist for the day, Dr. Allen Furnas, on Setting Fruit Trees, and Dr. T. E. Ellis on Setting Hens. For May 20, at D. W. Davis'; essayist, Charles Lowder; subject, Grass. For June 27, at Monrovia; subject, Horticultural Influence, by Hon. W. H. Ragan, responded to by Elwood Stanton and others. For July 15, at W. A. Ragan's, at Clayton; regular order of business. For August 12, at Mrs. Reuben Ragan's, near Fillmore, Putnam county; subject, Horticultural Reminiscences, by Dr. Allen Furnas. For August 19, at John Morgan's; reports of various standing committees. For November 18, at Plainfield, to close up the labor for the year and make report to the State Horticultural Society. All these meetings were attended with unusual interest, and were times of much social enjoyment.

In the year 1877, the Society held nine meetings; the first one at Plainfield, on February 17, at which time the following officers for the year were elected: President, D. W. Davis; Vice Presidents, Amos Alderson and W. H. Mills; Secretary, Daniel Cox; Treasurer, Mrs. Eunice Palmer; Executive Committee, Dr. Allen Furnas, Hon. W. H. Ragan and Mrs. W. A. Ragan. Twenty-six members enrolled. A programme was also arranged, as heretofore, giving the time and place of each meeting for the year, the name of the essayist for each day, and the subject of the paper to be read. Though the number of members this year who have regularly attended the meetings, and taken part in the deliberations, has been less than in some former years, yet the interest manifested by a number of the members has shown no abatement. Most of the meetings of this Society have, for the last six years, been held at the residence of some of its members; a good picnic prepared by the members was enjoyed on each occasion by all present. The social influence of these meetings has been quite perceptible. All members of the family, father, mother, sons and daughters, have been alike interested, entertained and instructed. For more than fourteen years this Society has kept its organization complete and in good working order. No less than one hundred and fifty meetings have been held, and perhaps not less than one hundred valuable and instructive essays have been prepared and read by its members. Almost every conceivable subject connected with fruit growing of all kinds and farming and stock growing in general have been discussed by the Society. Many of those who were among its first members are not with us now. Some have removed to other fields of labor, and a few have been removed from our midst by the hand of death. Dr. Allen Furnas, Jesse White and Charles Lowder are all of the origianl members who have retained their connection until the present time. The Society has, as a rule, been unassuming, yet its proceedings and essays have been frequently published in the county papers and the agricultural papers of the State, and its proceedings have occasionally been highly eulogised by editors and correspondents who have attended its sessions.