m^i

u

IE

'. Q

S^M.

LIBRARY
NEW YORK
BOTANICAL

GARDEN

NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

SEICRET^TIY

OF THE

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT

OF

IVriCHIG^N.

1889.

LIBRARY
NEW YORK
BOTANICAL

GARDEN

BY AUTHORITY.

LANSING:
KOBEKT SMITH & CO., STATE PKINTEKS AND BINDERS,

1890.

LIBRARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS. ^^^ ^ork

BOTANICAL
GARDEN

Pase.

OflBcers of State Horticultural Society vii

Introductory Note ..- v

Constitution and By-Laws __ 1

Record of the Winter Meeting 9

Record of the Summer Meeting , 42

Record of the Annual Meeting 66

Nineteenth Annual Fair 131

Experiment Station Bulletin No. 45 143

Michigan Fruit List. Bulletin No. 59 147

Notes on Apple Scab Fungus 167

Experiments on Apple Scab, Bulletin No. 59 '. 169

Greenhouse Construction and Heating 181

Vegetables, Tests and Methods of Culture, Bulletin No. 57 205

Fruit Testing at the Sub-Station, Bulletin No. 55 241

Onion Mold, Cornell University Bulletin No. 15 262

Prevention of Potato Rot _._' 283

Leaf Blight of Quince and Pear 265

Apple Tree Tent Caterpillar 266

Strawberry Leaf BUght 273

Proceedings of American Association of Nurserymen 281

Western New York Horticultural Society 318

Reports of District and Local Societies.. 337

Sketch of Prof. W. J. Beal 374

List of Life Members .. 370

Index J 377

INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.

Prof. W. J. Beal ..Frontispiece.

Black Knot of the Plum... _ _ 91. 92

Brown Rot of the Cherry 93

Brown Rot of the Plum 94

Plum Pockets 95

Shot-hole Fungus 97

Apple Scab Fungus ... _ 168

Apples, showing results of spraying for scab.. ITJ, 177, 179

Greenhouses, general view.. 181

" ground plan _ 182

" section of wall 183

" interior of 184

" methods of glazing 185, 186

" tools used in building .. 187,188

" yentilating machine for.. 189

heaters 192, 193, 194, 19.i, 197

Onion Mold 262

Anthracnose of Currants 264, 265

Leaf -blight of Quince and Pear 265

Aijple Tree Tent Caterpillar .._ 267

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY

OF THE

MICHIGAN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Allegan, Michigan, [
December 31, 1889. \

To Hon. Cyrus G. Luce, Governor' of the Sfate of 3Iichi(jan:

I have the honor to submit herewith, in compliance with legal
requirement, the accompanying report of 1889, with supplementary
papers.

Respectfully yours,

EDWY C. EEID,
Secretary of the Michigan State Horticultural Society.

OFFICERS

OF THE

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY FOR 1890.

President— T. T. LYON, South Haven.
Vice-President— CH AS. W. GARFIELD, Grand Rapids.
Secretary— EDWY C. REID, Allegan.
Treasurer— S. M. PEARSALL, Grand Rapids.
Librarian— THOMAS H. FORSTER, Lansing.

EXECUTIVE BOARD.

E. H. SCOTT, Ann Arbor, 1 year.
R. MORRILL, Benton Harbor, 1 year.
CHAS. W. GARFIELD, Grand Rapids,
2 years.

CHARLES A. SESSIONS, Mears, 2 years.
L. R. TAPT, Agricultural College, 3 years.
L. W. WATKINS, Manchester, 3 years.

STANDING COMMITTEES.

On Fruit Catalogue— T. T. LYON, South Haven, Chairman; George C.
McCLATCHIE, Ludington, for Northern Lake Shore; W. A. BROWN, Benton Harbor,
for Southern Lake Shore; EVART H. SCOTT, Ann Arbor, for Central Michigan; H.
W. DAVIS, Lapeer, for Eastern Michigan; D. G. EDMISTON, Adrian, for Southern
Michigan.

On New Fruits-T. T. LYON, Chairman; C. A. SESSIONS, Mears; GEO. C.
McCLATCHIE, Ludington; C. ENGEL, Paw Paw.

On Finance-E. H. SCOTT, C. A. SESSIONS, L. W. WATKINS.

On Entomology— ALBERT J. COOK, Chairman.

On Vegetable Physiology — L. R. TAFT, Chairman.

On Landscape Gardening— JAMES SATTERLEE, Chairman.

On Vegetable Garden — W. W. TRACY, Chairman.

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

MICHIGAN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ARTICLE I — NAME, TERRITORY, AND OBJECTS.

Tlie name of the society shall be the Michigan State Horticultural
society; and its territory shall be the state of Michigan. Its objects shall
be the development of an adequate appreciation .of the peculiar adaptation
of the soils and climate of the state to the pursuit of horticulture in all its
branches; and the collection and dissemination of information bearing
upon the theory and practice of the same, as well as upon the arts and
sciences directly or indirectly associated therewith, or calculated to elevate
or improve the practice thereof.

ARTICLE IL — OFFICERS AND MODE OF ELECTION.

The officers of the society shall be a president, a secretary, and a treas-
urer, together with an executive board of six members, aside from the
president, secretary, and treasurer, who shall be ex officio members of the
said board.

Said board shall designate one of its members as vice-president. The
officers shall be elected by ballot.

ARTICLE III. — A QUORUM.

Four members of the executive board shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at any meeting of said board: Provided, That
each of the members thereof shall have been notified, in the usual manner,
of the time, place, and object of such meeting.

ARTICLE IV. — ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The annual meeting of the society, for the election of the officers speci-
fied in Article II. , shall occur on the first Wednesday of December in each
year, and the officers then elected shall enter upon the discharge of their
duties as such, on the first day of January next ensuing; but in case of a
failure to elect at that time, such election may be held at a subsequent
time at an adjourned meeting, or at a meeting of the society called for that
purpose, in the usual manner.

2 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A.ETICLE V. — TERMS OF OFFICE.

The officers specified in Article II. shall hold their offices until the
thirty-fii&t day of December of the year for which they were elected, and
thereafter until their successors shall have been elected, and shall have
signified to the secretary their acceptance: Provided, That the terms
of office of the six members of the executive board shall be so arranged
that but two regular vacancies shall occur in each year.

AETICLE VI. — ANNUAL AND LIFE MEMBERS.

Any person may become a member of the society for one year by paying
to the treasurer the sum of one dollar; and the yearly term of all annual
memberships shall expire on the thirty-first day of December of the year
for which they were taken, but be regarded as continuous, except as may
be provided by the by-laws. Any person may become a life-member by
the payment at any one time of the sum of ten dollars into the treasury of
the society.

ARTICLE VII. — AMOUNT OR LIMIT OF PROPERTY.

The society may hold real and personal estate to an amount not exceed-
ing twenty thousand dollars.

ARTICLE VIII. — BY-LAWS.

By-laws for the government of the society shall be framed, and when
needful, amended by the executive board; but changes thereof may be at
any time proposed by the society in general meeting.

ARTICLE IX. — AMENDMENTS.

This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the society
by a vote, by ballot, of twothirds of all the members present and voting:
Provided, That notice of such proposed amendment, specifying its pur-
port, shall have been given at the last previous regular meeting.

BY-LAWS.

BY-LAWS OF THE MICHIGAN STATE HORTICULTURAL

SOCIETY.

I. — THE PEESIDENT.

1st. The president shall be the executive officer of the society, and of
the executive board; and it shall be his duty to see that the rules and
regulations of the society, and of the executive board, are duly enforced
and obeyed.

2d. He may, in his discretion, and in the lack of needful rules during
the recesses of the society and of the board, prescribe rules for the
management of the interests or business of the society, such rules to
continue in force till the next session of the executive board, and until by
its action they shall have become no longer necessary.

3d. He shall act in conjunction with the secretarj^ in the preparation of
programmes, or orders of business for the sessions of the society; and in
the devising of plans and processes for the maintenance of its interests.

4th. He shall have the best interests of the society at heart, and shall lead
in forwarding any and all enterprises calculated to add to its permanency,
or to increase its usefulness, and establish it more firmly in the public
confidence.

II. — YICE-PRESIDEXT.

The vice-president shall perform the duties of the president in case of
the absence or inability of that officer; and may be called upon by the
president to assume the duties of the chair at any meeting of the society
or executive board.

III. — THE SECRETARY.

1st. The secretary shall be the recording, corresponding, and accounting
officer of the society, and he shall also be, jointly with the business com-
mittee, its financial and auditing officer.

2d. He shall incur no expenditure of a large or doubtful character,
except with the sanction of the executive board or of the business
committee.

3d. He shall submit all bills or claims against the society to the business
committee for approval, and endorsement to that effect, before drawing his
order upon the treasurer for the payment of the same.

4th. He shall attend all meetings of the society, and of the executive
board, and shall keep a faithfiil record of their proceedings.

5th. He shall sign all certificates of membership, and all diplomas and
certificates of merit awarded by the society.

6th. He shall have charge of the society's books and papers, excepting
only such as by the advice or direction of the executive board shall be
placed in charge of the librarian, and he shall be responsible to the board
for the safe keeping of the property placed in his charge.

4 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

7tli. He sliall be tlie custodian of the seal of the society, and shall have
authority to affix the same to documents when needful.

8th. He shall seek, by all suitable means, to secure the fullest announce-
ment of the meetings of the society in this state, as well as in adjacent
states, when such shall be found desirable.

9th. He shall, as far as practicable, cause the transactions of the soci-
ety, together with such valuable or interesting papers as shall be read at
its sessions, to be properly published, and thus placed within reach of the
state.

lOth. It shall also be his duty, yearly, to prepare for publication the
annual report of the society, together with such other matter as he shall
deem proper — he being aided in the selection of such matter by an advisory
committee of the executive board.

IV. — THE TREASUKEK.

1st. All the funds of the society shall be paid into the hands of the
treasurer.

2d. He shall disburse the moneys of the society that shall come into
his hands only upon the order of the secretary, countersigned by the pres-
ident.

3d. He shall keep the moneys received by the society for life member-
ships as a distinct fund, and shall invest the same under the advice and
direction of the executive board, apj)lying only the interest accruing
thereon to the purposes of the general fund.

4th. Immediately upon assuming his office, and before entering upon
its duties, he shall execute to the society an official bond with sufficient
sureties, conditioned for the safe keeping and disbursement of the moneys
of the society, and for the proper discharge of the further duties of his
office, in such sum as shall be sj^ecified by the executive board. Such
bond shall receive the approval of the president, and shall be deposited
with the secretary.

5th. He shall, at the close of each year, report to the executive board
the amount of money that shall have come into his hands during the,
year, the sources from which it has been derived, and the disposition made
of the same.

V. — THE LIBRARIAN.

1st. The librarian shall have the custody of the library of the society.
He shall be appointed by the executive board, and may be displaced at its
pleasure.

2d. He shall act jointly with the secretary in the care and arrangement
of the same, and in the reception, custody, and disposal of the volumes of
transactions annually supplied to the society by the state.

3d. He shall have the custody of the rooms assigned to the society at
the state capital, together with such books and other property as the soci-
ety or the board shall direct to be deposited therein.

4th. He shall report annually, at the close of the year, to the executive
board the amount and condition of the property in his hands.

BY-LAWS. 5

VI. — THE EXECUTIVE BOARD,

1st. The executive board shall enact all rules and regulations for the
management of the affairs of the society, determine the salaries of its offi-
cers, and assume the control and management of its exhibitions.

2d. It shall have power to displace any officer of the society for neglect
of duty or abuse of position, and to fill all vacancies by appointment, to
continue till the next annual election.

3d. The board shall hold four regiilar sessions during the year, to occur
at the times and places for the regular meetings of the society.

4th. Other meetings may be called by the secretary, under the advice or
direction of the president, or of a majority of its members, at such times
and places as may be deemed most convenient; but in all such cases each
member must be notified of the time, place, and object of such meeting.

5th. It shall be the duty of the board to carefully guard the general
interests of the society, to watch over its finances, and to provide for its
necessities as they shall arise.

6th. All important measures shall be submitted to this board, but they
may by the board be re-submitted to the society with recommendations.

7th. The board shall at the annual meeting submit through the secretary,
in connection with the reports of officers, such further report upon the con-
dition, interests, and prospects of the society as it shall judge necessary or
expedient.

8tli. Two members of the executive board are to be elected each year, to
hold the office for three years, but if any such member shall absent himself
from two or more consecutive meetings of the society, and of the board,
without reason satisfactory to the board, the said board, may, in its discre-
tion, consider the office vacant, and proceed to fill such vacancy by appoint-
ment, to continue to the next annual election.

VII. — THE BUSIN-ESS COMMITTEE.

1st. It shall be the duty of the executive board, annually, upon entering
upon the duties of the new year, to appoint from their own number, three
members, who shall constitute a business committee for the year.

2d. All accounts or claims against the society, when presented to the sec-
retary for payment, shall, before payment, receive the sanction and endorse-
ment of the business committee.

3d. Such claims shall be submitted to this committee and approved in
duplicate ; one copy to remain with the secretary as his warrant for the pay-
ment of the same, and the other to be transmitted by him to the president,
along with his order upon the treasurer, as his warrant for countersigning
the same.

4th. It shall be the duty of the business committee, upon application of
the secretary, during the recess of the executive board, to advise with him
as to the expediency of making any contemplated but questionable expendi-
ture for which occasion may arise during such recess.

VIII. — STANDING COMMITTEES.

1st. There shall be a standing committee on revision of the catalogue,
to be composed of one member from each of the five districts into which

6 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the state is, for this purpose, divided, with one member chosen from the
state at large, who shall be the chairman of the committee.

2d. Each member of said committee (except the chairman) is empowered
and expected to choose a sub-committee for his district, of which he shall
be chairman.

3d. It shall be the duty of each sub-committee to collect and report,
each year, to the general chairman, such facts respecting fruit cultiire in
the district as shall promise to be of value in the revision of the catalogue.

4th. There shall be a standing committe on new fruits, to consist of a
chairman, with as many associates as such chairman shall find it desirable
to appoint.

5th. Such other standing committees may from time to time be
appointed by the executive board as, in its discretion, it shall deem desir-
able or necessary.

6th. All standing committees are expected to report at the annual meet-
ing in December, any information of value to the society or its members
that may have come to their knowledge during the year, as well as any
scientific theories, deductions, or facts that, in their opinion, may be use-
ful in advancing the objects for which the society is laboring.

IX. — LIFE MEMBERSHIP FUND,

1st. All moneys coming into the treasury of the society in payment for
life memberships shall constitute a j^erpetual fund, to be known as the life
raembership fund.

2d. The principal of this fund shall be invested by the treasurer under
the advice and direction of the executive board.

3d. All interest accruing upon any portion of said fund shall constitute
and become part of the fund of the society devoted to the payment of its
ordinary expenses.

X. — MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY.

1st. The society shall hold its first regular meeting for the year during
the month of January or February for the inauguration of the officers
chosen at the annual meeting held the previous December, as provided in
article IV. of the constitution, and also to arrange its plans of operations
for the year.

2d. Its second regular meeting shall be held in the month of June at
such date as shall best accommodate an exhibit of the early summer fruits.

3d. Its third regular meeting shall be at its annual exhibit of aiitumn
and winter fruits, in the month of September or October.

4th. Its fourth regular meeting shall occur in connection with its annual
election of officers, on the first Wednesday of December, as provided in
article IV. of the constitution.

5th. The times and places for the occurrence of these regular meetings
(excepting only the time of the annual meeting) shall be determined by
the executive board.

6th. Other meetings may be called by the secretary, under the advice or
direction of the members of the executive board, at times and places by
them deemed expedient.

7th. In case of the calling of a special meeting for the election of

BY-LAWS. 7

officers of the society, in consequence of any failure to elect at the annual
meeting, as provided in section IV. of the constitution, all persons entitled
as members to vote at such annual meeting shall be considered as retain-
ing such membership for such purpose until such election and until such
officers so elected shall have been inducted into office.

XI. — RULES FOR DISCUSSIONS, ETC.

1st. The deliberations and discussions of the society shall be conducted
in accordance with ordinary parliamentary usages.

XII. — AUXILIARY SOCIETIES.

1st. The society shall in all reasonable and proper ways encourage the
formation of local horticultural or pomological societies auxiliary to this
society in all such counties or other municipalities of this state as shall
afford a reasonable prospect that they will be able, effectively, to maintain
the same.

2d. It shall be the policy of this society in supervising the organization
of such local auxiliaries to secure an identity of constitutional provisions
throughout, and in so doing to insure harmony among them; but at the
same time it will not discourage the including l3y them of special or local
objects in cases in which such shall be found desirable, so long as the
introduction of the requisite provisions therefor into the constitution and
by-laws of the auxiliary society shall not be deemed likely to interfere with
the harmonious workings of the whole.

3d. Any person may become a full member of an auxiliary society, for
one year, by paying into its treasury the sum of one dollar; and a com-
pliance with the provisions of clause fifth of these by-laws shall constitute
him also a member of this society, for the same term.

4th. The wife, and the resident, single or unmarried daughters of any
full member, may also become members of such auxiliary society upon the
payment of fifty cents each: Provided, That in such case such entire
family shall become entitled to a single copy, only, of the current volume
of the transactions of this society.

5th. On receipt of the names of such members, with the required fees,
the secretary shall immediately transmit their names and postoffice
addresses, together with half the membership fee of each, to the secretary
of this society, who shall record the same and pay the money into the
treasury for the benefit of the general fund.

6th. It shall be the duty of the secretary, on receipt of such remittance,
with list of members, to sujoply such auxiliary society with a certificate of
membership in this society for one year, together with a copy of the cur-
rent volume of transactions for each full member so remitted for.

7th. The proceedings of such auxiliary societies shall, at the close of
the year, be forwarded, in succinct form, to the secretary of this society, to
be by him incorporated into the annual volume of transactions, accom-
panied by a list of its members for the year.

8th. The auxiliary societies shall, as far as practicable, be made the
medium for the distribution of the annual volumes of the transactions of
the society; the nuclei for its meetings, and the means of creating interest
therein, as well as the means of collecting such facts or other information

b STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

or material as sliall, from time to time, become needful or desirable in the
conducting of its various operations.

XIII. — AMENDMENTS, ADDITIONS, SUSPENSIONS.

1st. Amendments or additions to these by-laws may be made by a
majority vote of the executive board, at any meeting; but if objections
shall be made the same shall "lie upon the table" till the next regular
meeting of the board.

2d. These by-laws, or any one or more of them, may be suspended for
the time, by order of a majority of all the members of the society present
and voting.

3d. A proposition, in the general meeting of the society, for an amend-
ment or addition to these by-laws shall be referred to the executive board
for consideration and decision; but the society may submit therewith its
advice or request.

4th. All amendments of the constitution and by-laws of auxiliary
societies shall, before they shall take effect, be submitted to the execu-
tive board of this sooiety, by whom their approval or rejection shall be
considered upon the principle provided in section XII., clause 2, and the
determination of said executive board shall be final and binding upon the
auxiliary society.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING,

HELD IN LANSING, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, AND 27, 1889

This society's winter meeting was held at the dates above given, part of
the sessions being in the state capitol, in the hall of the Michigan State
Pioneer society, and part at the Michigan Agricnltural college.

The session of Tnesday morning, President T. T. Lyon in the chair, was
opened by Prof. L. R. Taft of the Agricnltural college in a paper upon

PLANT FOOD.

"All plant growth is either at the expense of substance previously stored
up within the plant, or of various materials obtained from some outside
sources, and which are included under the general term of food.

" While the character of the food furnished to the plants will have much
to do in determining their composition, the nature of the plants will be a
far more potent factor; and to this, for the most part, do we owe the varia-
tion in the water, ash, and volatile matter of plants. A few years ago
much stress was laid upon the value of soil analysis, but now this is only
considered of value in that it affords, in a general way, information as to
the relative proportions and combinations of the elements contained in
soil. Aside from the water it contains, the bulk of a plant is composed
of materials that are obtained from the air.

"Althoiigh the air surrounding a plant may be saturated with a watery
vapor, the leaves will be incapable of taking it up, even though it fall upon
their surface in the form of rain, and it enters only through the roots.
The leaves, however, are able to take up from the air such elements as
oxygen, carbon ( in the form of carbonic acid gas ) , and perhaj^s nitrogen
in the form of carbonate of ammonia. While the leaves are taking up food
from the air, the roots are absorbing it from the soil. The supply there
obtained is the result of the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter
in the soil, or the breaking up of the minerals therein contained; and if in
a soluble form, they are taken up by the water and are carried to the roots.

"The old idea that the root-tips acted as sponges for the absorption of
water is no longer accepted. While all parts of the roots possess this
power to a greater or less degree, the principal seat of absorption lies in
the new roots, and especially in those that are covered with root-hairs.
These hairs are delicate, thread-like extensions from the epidermal cells,

10 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

and in a 'ff-arm, moist soil they are sufficienth" numerous to increase tlie
absorbing surface several fold.

"Entering the roots, the water, bearing the dissolved plant food in
solution, passes upward to the leaves, and there the chlorophyll, under the
influence of sunlight, transforms the materials thus gathered from the soil
and air, into organic compounds that can be utilized by the plant in its
upbuilding.

ELEMENTS OF PLANTS.

" ^Tiile the proportions in which the elements occur in plants may vary
within certain limits, yet no plant can grow unless it has provided for it in
a soluble form, eleven elements, viz: oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon,
potash, phosphoric acid, lime, magnesia, iron, sulphur, and soda, while
chlorine and silica are also generally present.

"As all of these are required for the growth of plants, it cannot be said
that any one of them is of greater value than any of the others. Virgin
soils generally contain sufficient quantities of all of these elements to
supply an abundance of food, but if they are continuously cropped and
none of the elements are replaced, the time will come when the supply of
at least one of the elements will be reduced and the plants will not be able
to develop to perfection.

"The elements most likely to fail are potash, phosphoric acid, and nitro-
gen. As a rule, the other elements will be present in sufficient abundance
to furnish food in proper quantities.

USE OF FERTILIZEKS.

"In order to grow profitable crops, the farmer and horticulturist is com-
pelled to supply his plants with food in the form of fertilizers, in order to
supplement that furnished by the soil.

" For ordinary farm and garden crops, the best fertilizer will be found
in stable manure, and, if it is thoroughly composted and decomposed it
can be applied in large quantities without harm. When it is used for
garden crops it should be applied in the fall, in liberal quantities, from
twenty to sixty loads per acre, and then plowed under,

"Farmers often make a mistake, when they apply manure to their
orchard, in placing it close around the trunks of the trees, as the great
bulk of feeding roots are outside the circle formed by the ends of the
branches. In order that it may do the most good it should be spread
broadcast, covering the entire ground in the case of large trees. Manure
may be applied to orchards at any time from November to April. Care
should be taken not to apply undecomposed manure to fruit trees of any
kind, and not to manure them during the season of growth, as it would be
likely to cause a rank, late growth, likely to be winter-killed.

"Another fertilizer that is too much neglected, but which is better and
safer for the fruitgrowers, is unleached wood ashes. These, contain all
the mineral elements that were in the trees from which they came, and
therefore they will furnish to other trees, approximately, the mineral
elements they will require. Leached wood ashes also make a valuable
fertilizer, but are not worth more than half as much as the unleached, as
most of the potash and other soluble elements have been washed out.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 11

" Wood ashes can be applied with profit at the rate of from fifty to one
hundred bushels per acre, and with the addition of a few loads of stable
manure make tlie safest, cheapest, and best source of plant food at the
service of the fruit and vegetable grower.

VALUE OF POTASH SALTS.

" In some localities ashes cannot readily be obtained, and there the use
of other mineral fertilizers may be profitable. The cheapest source of
potash, next to those mentioned, is in the form of potash salts. These are
mined in Germany and exported in large quantities. They can be pur-
chased either in the form of muriate or sulphate.

"The muriate of potash (fifty per cent potash) can be'purchased at from
$40 to $4:5 per ton, and is generally preferred for fruit trees, while the
sulphate is perhaps best for vegetables. An application of from one
hundred to three hundred pounds per acre will produce decided results.

"Not only are these potash salts valuable as a source of potash, but
auxiliary to this they have a wonderful effect upon the health of the plant
and the quality of its fruit. Strong, vigorous plants are much less subject
to disease, and if attacked are less injured, than weak ones, and potash,
particularly in the form of muriate, is of itself a fungicide.

"The application of potash to fruits greatly increases the sugar that
they contain, and in other ways improves the ci[uality, while as a fertilizer
for potatoes the sulphate of potash will often make all the difference
between heavy and watery and light and mealy tubers.

PHOSPHOKIC ACID.

"For the fruitgrower especially, the best source for phosphoric acid will
be found in finely ground bones. In the eastern states, where manure is
costly, many growers depend entirely upon ground bone and potash for
their fertilizers, using as much as five hundred pounds of bone and two
hundred and fifty pounds of potash per acre ; and some market gardeners
apply twice this amount upon their asparagus, onions, and other crops.

OTHEE CHEMICAL MANURES.

"In some special cases other chemicals may be applied with profit.
The market gardener, whose profit or loss depends upon how early he is
able to place his produce upon the market, needs some soluble and stimu-
lating manure which he can supply to his plants when they are starting,
while yet the soil is so cold that plant food is formed in it very slowly or
not at all. Such a fertilizer he can obtain by the use of nitrate of soda or
sulphate of ammonia, together with stable manure or bone and potash.

"In some localities the use of "complete manures" is very common. If
properly compounded they produce excellent results, and, for the ordinary
farmer and gardener of the Atlantic states, are a profitable fertilizer; but
there are few localities in Michigan where manure and ashes cannot be
obtained much cheaper.

COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER.

"The use of superphosphates is becoming greater each year, and if
honestly made, using bones for their base, they may be desirable. Before
using any of these fertilizers extensively, however, it is best to try them

12 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

on a small scale, and if the results are satisfactory it will then be well
enough to use them more largely.

"For the ordinary farmer and for the horticulturist, except in the
special cases mentioned, the use of commercial fertilizers, so called, is not
advisable until he has exhausted every other method of keeping up and
increasing the fertility of his soil by carefully saving and applying his
stable manure, purchasing manure whenever it can be obtained at reason-
able rates, clovering and plowing under other green crops, rotation of
crops, and the use of all the wood ashes he can buy or beg from his
neighbors.

"Most of the commercial fertilizers have their elements in a form that is
easily soluble ; and, if applied to soil which has no plants growing upon it,
they will be subjected to considerable loss from leaching.

HOW BEST TO APPLY FERTILIZERS.

" In order to get the best results from fertilizers, it is best to apply them,
whenever possible, in several rations. This is not always practicable, but
when it can be done the plan will be found to be an economical method of
using the soluble fertilizers. In the growing of cabbages, for instance, if
the full ration of fertilizers is ajjplied before the plants are set, it will be a
number of weeks before the plants can make use of it, and much of the
valuable material, especially the potash, will be carried down below the
reach of the plants by the spring rain. By applying a sufficient quantity
of fertilizers, rich in nitrogen, to give the plants a start, and then, as the
plants require, furnishing them the balance in one or two rations, much
better results will be obtained.

" The same course can be pursued with fruits, in case the ground is cul-
tivated. The period of their growth when plants need the most food, is
when they are forming their fruit and storing up a supply for use the fol-
lowing spring. The fertilizer applied early in the spring will by this time
be exhausted, but in case a portion has been reserved for use at this critical
period, it can hardly fail to give good results. The last application, in the
case of fruit trees, should not be later than July.

IN CONCLUSION.

"While much can be learned from the analysis of a plant, regarding the
proper formula for a fertilizer for it, the varying composition of the soil
and the selective power of the plants will have to be taken into account, and
the only rational formulas are those based upon the results of carefully
conducted experiments upon the relative value of various combinations of
fertilizers.

" The proper feeding of plants, like that of animals, is not only an art,
but also a science; and, everything else being equal, the man who adds to
sound common-sense, and a thorough knowledge of horticulture, an
acquaintance with the laws of vegetable nutrition, and the principles of
chemistry, will have greater success in feeding plants than one who is a
stranger to them."

QUERIES AND EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS.

Replying to questions by various persons. Prof. Taft said: Too rank
growth, at expense of fruit buds, may be made by barnyard manure,

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 13

while this is not so likely to be the result from mineral fertilizers.
Leached ashes are good for celery or any other crop; but unleached, 50 to
100 bushels per acre, are better. Of leached ashes double this quantity
may be used. The results from use of ground bone will vary by seasons,
as to moisture. More water is necessary to dissolve the bone than any
other sort of fertilizer. If trees are making a good growth in July, I
would not then apply barnyard manure, but might use the potash salts
and bone, which sustain growth and harden the wood.

L. D. Watkins of Manchester: This theory of double fertilization is
right. Trees usually stop growing about the middle of summer and lay
up stores for the next season. From these supplies are formed the fruit
buds, and from them come the first growth of the next season.

Prof. Taft : I would make the second application in June or July. For
strawberries I would use well-composted barnyard manure, 20 to 40 loads
per acre, then 50 bushels of ashes or less, or other fertilizer. Muriate of
potash costs $41.50 i^er ton in XewYork. Sulphate of potash is preferable
for vegetables. In fruit the muriate makes a less rank growth and acts as
a fungicide.

J. G. Eamsdell of Traverse City: I have used ashes extensively, on
all fruits, with great success, but cannot speak definitely of the quantity
used per acre. In my vicinity ashes are plentiful while barn-yard manure
is lacking.

Prof. Taft: Application of 100 bushels of ashes per acre, every two
years, is perfectly safe and profitable.

Passing the topic, " New Yarieties," the meeting proceeded to consider
that of

GLUTTED MARKETS,

the secretary reading first the appended letter from Mr. Walter Phillips of
Grand Haven:

" First, we notice one of the main causes is the placing on our markets
of too much fruit at any one time. Second, by not placing on the market
fruit honestly packed and in an attractive package. Third, by shipping
to market unripe fruit. The latter is especially the case in shipping grapes
that are not matured, and will soon cause a dull market in this line of
fruit. Fourth, by placing on the market large amounts of inferior fruit as
regards quality and general ajipearance.

" Now, as a remedy for glutted markets, I would recommend, first, that
we grow fruits of a better quality than the average fruitgrower is at pres-
ent doing. Second, we should not only have our fruit trees and vines in a
vigorous, healthy, bearing condition, but we should so thoroughly trim out
and evenly distribute the fruit over the tree and vine that the fruit pro-
duced will be not only of good quality, but also of good size and of first-
class general appearance. Such fruit as this will sell in large quantities
in any of our leading markets without creating any glut.

"Again, I would recommend that in planting fruits, of whatever kind,
either the apj)le, peach, pear, plum, or grape, that we plant a succession of
fruits as regards their rijDening and coming into the market. In this way
we may largely lengthen out the time that we are putting our products on
the market, and this alone, if generally observed by all fruitgrowers
tributary to our markets, would have a strong tendency against gluts.

14 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

"Again, we should not only have fruit of good quality, good size, and
first-class general appearance, but it should be packed honestly, in an
attractive package, and arrive in market in good condition.

"Last, but not least, I would recommend a much more thorough distri-
bution of our products. I do not believe there is as yet any real over-
production of good fruit. But our system of distribution is so defective
that it leaves onehalf of the families in the states lying west of us, where
fruit is not grown to any great extent, without any fruit at all. When the
time arrives that our fruits find their way into every farm-house and
every laborer's cottage all over the great west, also to each miner's cabin
among the mountains, and to all the new homes building in the far
west, then, and not till then will we receive the highest price attainable.

" We are still in our infancy in solving the problem of glutted markets
and providing an effectual remedy."

Unable himself to attend, Mr. R. Morrill of Benton Harbor sent to the
secretary the following paper upon the same topic:

" This subject has, within the past few years, become one of vital
importance to all fruitgrowers, and calls for our serious consideration, and
in order to work out any remedy we must study carefully our marketing
system (or lack of system), our manner of distributing our product, and
our methods of packing and handling.

" In the first place I will venture the assertion that we have not yet
reached the point where we produce any surplus of fruit of any kind, at
any season of the year, except perhaps in the case of apples in occasional
years; and that if called upon to supply all the markets accessable to us,
with good fruit {i. e. fruit fit to eat), we could not do it at any price, and
the fault is all our own. We have been very diligent in planting and
growing large tracts of fruit in our fruit regions proper; but few of us
have spent very much time looking up an outlet for all this crop, which is
sure to come and is nearly always upon us before we are properly prepared
for it. Then we load it all up, good, bad, and indifferent, and hustle it off
by the most convenient route to the large markets, hoping against hope
that we may realize something from it, and all of us doing the same thing
at the same time. No wonder the market is glutted.

" Now, either one of two things would save us. If every man would
feed his trash and inferior fruit to his hogs, or throw it away, we would
have less fruit to put on the market and more cash to put into our pockets,
because the supply would not be so heavy, the quality higher, and a higher
price could be maintained. It seems very difficult to get the fact into the
brains of some fruitgrowers, that inferior fruit is the one great snag
against which they invariably run in all our large city markets, Snd they
place the snag there themselves. Nobody asks or wants them to. The
commission man begs them not to send it; the buyer curses them, the
consumer becomes disgusted and uses a great deal less of it than he would
if he could get what he wanted at all times.

" There are two kinds of inferior fruit. One is all poor, for which the
owner should be thankful if he gets enough to pay expenses. The other
is the kind which is very inferior at the bottom of the package and very
fair or choice on top. A great many men grow this kind entirely, and we
annually hear mourning from their camp. They say, ' The market is
glutted,' ' Fruitgrowing don't pay,' and ' The commission men are

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 15

thieves,' etc. The fact is, they should not grow that kind of fruit. It
does not pay; it destroys the confidence of the consumer, and he buys just
as little as he can (this alone causes a glut). Besides, it establishes low
prices for good fruit. Of course, there is a certain amount of fruit on the
market at ^11 times, on which the owner has made a good reputation.
This never fails to sell above the market, and usually brings the owner a
good profit.

" If all growers would ship only good fruit, honestly packed in standard
packages, the prices would certainly be satisfactory and it would have a
tendency toward better cultivation and better methods generally. In
order to produce more prime fruit to supply the demand, which would
certainly increase as fast as the supply, we often hear men say that the
proper manner of packing fruit is to 'top it off.' They say everybody
else does so and that is excuse enough for them. To such I would ask, if
my neighbor is a rascal is that any reason why I should be one?

" We have all noticed how the oyster business has been reorganized
within the past few years. Only a few years ago, oysters were sealed in
cans and the opportunity was given to swindle the public in the quality of
the product, and it was done with a vengeance, the same as it is done in
fruit today. But the reaction came, and something had to be done, as the
markets were glutted because the public would not buy any large quantity
of trash at any price. They then began to send out honest oysters in large
pails, to be measured out in honest quarts and gallons, and the public
began to buy at good figures; and now they have become an article of food
necessary in nearly every family, and the trade has grown to such propor-
tions and become so profitable, that the states having oyster grounds have
been compelled to pass stringent laws to protect the supply from being
exhausted; and often dealers are unable to get supplies. One of our
local dealers tells me that he has sold about 1,000 gallons this winter, and
I presume that six years ago that many quart cans would have glutted our
whole market. This should be, to any honest, observing man, all the
argument necessary to convince hira that the one thing more necessary
than any other is a general reform all along the line in our methods of
packing and selling fruit. If we will only appear before the public with
fruit of good quality and appearance, honestly and carefully packed, in
honest standard packages, there is not the slightest doubt that they will
respond with open pocketbooks and increased appetite, and will thank us
from the bottoms of their hearts for the change.

"In connection with the above, it becomes necessary to study our
transportation and distributing facilities, which are very imperfect. As a
rule, when the large cities, like Chicago, are over-loaded, there are many
villages and small towns and cities which are poorly provided for, but
which would consume large quantities of good fruit if they could get it;
but usually they have to depend on the large markets for a supply, and in
the large city the best is sorted out for the home trade and a large quantity
of your inferior fruit is shipped, perhaps past your very door, to supply a
neighboring city. What is the matter with us that we do not take care of
these markets? The fruit re-shipped to them is usually in bad order by
the time it arrives, consequently the demand is not nearly as large as it
might be for good fruit in good condition. It often occurs that our local
markets even are poorly supplied. I have frequently seen the time in
Benton Harbor when we were shipping from 2,000 to 10,000 bushels of
strawberries per day, that it was almost impossible to find a quart of really

16 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'.

good berries offered at retail, everything going straight to Chicago unless
some man had a few that were too poor to ship. Those he would sell to the
grocers. I do not know that such things are general, but it is often so
here. If there could be a better understanding among grocers, this could
be improved, and all local markets kept full in season — then other small
cities taken care of, relieving Chicago and other large centers, keeping all
worthless fruit at home, and all our markets would improve.

"There seem to be two things essential to success in these matters. One
is a better business organization among fruitgrowers, and better arrange-
ments with railway and express companies. If the railway companies
would only see this matter in the right light they might reap a much
greater benefit than they do at present. If each railway that runs through
a fruit-shipping town would run a local fruit car the length of the line,
they could, in the course of the season, handle an immense amount of
fruit; but such a course would be promptly opposed by the express
companies, to whom the business seems more appropriate; but they do not
seem inclined to treat us at all fairly. If they will pardon me for making
suggestions regarding their business, I would say they might make a great
many dollars more than they do if they would make a special fruit rate,
more especially from our lake towns which supply the ,great bulk of the
fruit. They claim to make a special rate from some of these towns; but
let us see what it is. From this point to Grand Bapids is 90 miles, with a
'special' rate on fruit. Still, it costs, as I am informed, about twice as
much to get a hundred pounds of fruit from here (Benton Harbor) to
Grand Rapids as it does from Chicago to New York. Also, they will carry
fruit from Chicago to Grand Kapids for less money than they will carry
from here to Grand Rapids, and we are exactly in the middle of the trip,
and their cars pass through here lightly loaded, when they might just as
well take on an extra car load here every day, for a hundred or more days,
to be distributed at Grand Raj)ids, Muskegon, Saginaw, Bay City, and
numerous other places, if they would only make a living rate, as they do
at any point where they have competition. I have never seen their tariff
sheets, but am reliably informed that the above state of affairs exists nearly
everywhere. As it now stands we can reach Grand Rapids or Saginaw
cheaper via Chicago and return through our own town, than any other
way. Now this is all wrong, and if the express companies would only look
at this right they could do an immense business in fruit by distributing it to
all towns that want it, by making a cheap fruit rate from each of the
principal fruit-shipping points in the state to all other points, and it need
not require any very expensive additions to their present train service ; and
as they make these smaller markets available to us, both their business and
ours would increase rapidly and our large crops would vanish like the dew,
and without loss.

" One of the signs of the times is, that in nearly every locality where
fruitgrowing has become prominent, within the past three months, local
organizations have been formed and in the stated objects you will usually
find a determination to suppress fraud in packing and a return to standard
packages, and an effort to secure wider distribution of the product. If
our courage only holds out until we can remedy our own faults, we can
accomplish the rest, and at the meeting of this and kindred societies is the
place where encoiiragement should be lent to the good work, and every
man or woman should go from this meeting as a missionary, not to the

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WTNTEK MEETING. 17

poor, iguorant heathen, but among his enUghtened but deceptive fruit-
gi-ovring neighbors."

SOME POINTS OF DISAGEEEilEXT.

J. G. Ea3ISDELL of Traverse City: I agree to most that has been read,
but there are other causes for the troubles of which we complain. The
law of supply and demand is an element. TVe may increase the demand
by producing better fruit and placing it in better packages ; but how stop
the increase of supply? We might stop Prof. Cook's bulletins, telling
everybody how to kill insects ; or stop telling of great profits which we
know we do not now get. I have made money from plums and peaches,
but had I put my money into securities, at six per cent, interest, I would
be worth J^IO.OOO more than I am today. The press, and even our Reports,
convey this wrong impression. We over-estimate the amount the west
will take. It must be chiefly the dried fruits, too. Transportation to the
west will always prevent a great supply at prices attainable to the great
bulk of consumers. The southern fruits now monopolize our markets,
chiefly as a matter of fashion. To save ourselves from this competition,
we might enact a law requiring the inspection of all bananas and oranges
on the tree and within this state I I see no practicable remedy, at present,
for these gluts.

GLUTS AND THE APPLE BUSINESS.

X. A. Beechep. of Flushing: I can not successfully grow peaches, and
so grow apples instead; and I find I can not take too much pains in grow-
ing the best of fruit for market. Much of my success in this way is due
to keeping swine in the orchard, to combat the codlin moth by eating the
fallen fruit. I have used, mainly, liamyard manure. By care in packing,
I have been able to get the best of prices. Four years ago, when there
was a large crop in New Tork. I sent a carload of apples to St. Paul,
Minn. ; and though 81.40 per barrel was the market price there, mine
netted me $1.60 and they wanted ten carloads more of the same, at the
same price. I offered to furnish them at 81.75 net aboard cars, and they
telegraphed me to send them on. My neighbors, at the same time, got
but $1 per barrel. I watch New York, and when there is a large crop
there I get my fruit upon the market early, to escape low prices. The
past season I got 81.624 per barrel for 900 barrels. Nothing has yet been
said as to how small an apple may be. and yet go into a barrel of the best
grade. A buyer said to me last fall that 2^ inches in diameter would do
for that year, but he usually required a quarter of an inch more. I reject
small apples, even though sound, and exclude all that are wormy. I
believe the northwest will develop a demand, as the people there become
better off, as fast as we develop a supply, and they can not grow fruit for
themselves. As to refuse fruit : As I have resolved not to make cider, I
turn in the hogs. Not only does this process fatten the hogs, but it helps
powerfully to keep down insects. There is no danger of the swine bark-
ing trees if they are properly fed. I have never taken a load to the dryer.
I have shipped No. 2 fruit, but it was of pretty fair quality and sold at
pa}-ing prices. I will not permit the shaking off of apples. It saves no
time and it ruins the fruit. A good picker will pick 20 barrels per day ( I
know one who averages 29 barrels i, and a man can not pick more than that
fi'om the ground.

3

18 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A LITTLE ABOUT PEAES.

Emil Baur of Ami Arbor: Pears are my specialty, and I have tried to
teach people the hygienic qualities of fruit. This should be done by
societies also. We encouraged establishment of a dryer and jelly factory
at Ann Arbor, and since then less fruit goes to cider and more to jelly,
which product is far more healthy and can be consumed by the wife and
family. I have many cull pears, which I gather carefully until T have 60
or 70 bushels, ripe and yellow; and from them I make a syrup that is
aromatic and pleasant and which is used on my table three times per day.
We should teach people the value of these preparations.

AN APPLE GATHERER.

Prof. A. J. Cook: I saw the Cook gatherer at Rochester, made by the
Cook Gatherer Co. It requires three men to run it, and it keeps one man
busy emptying fruit. It is in shape an inverted umbrella and is so con-
structed that no apple can strike anything hard. Limbs were held over it
and shaken, and it was commended by leading growers.

METHODS WITH DRIED FRUIT.

President Lyon: In the vicinity of Rochester are one thousand apple
dryers, more or less. We have a less number in the whole state, perhaps,
and use them only for the refuse fruits. Dried fruits should be kept apart
by name and sold under name. The Baldwin excels the Pennock, and the
Greening the Baldwin, as much when dry as when fresh. So, too, the
refuse should be kept distinct from that of better quality.

A VARIETY OF GOOD POINTS.

Mr. Baur: Our jelly-making was profitable until last year. The com-
pany now has a large surplus on hand, but is not discouraged and will go
ahead. The local consumption of it is increasing.

Prof. Taft: A large packer and shipper of apples in Missouri put up a
jelly factory to care for his refuse, but found he could not compete with
others until he used glucose and made 25 sorts of jelly from one vat, using
timothy seed in that which he labeled strawberry.

Mr. Baur: We should try to make those frauds odious before the
people. I would recommend the raising of more sweet apples for jelly.
Half and half of sweet apples and sour make jelly of superior quality. No
sugar is necessary in making jelly from pears.

NOT ENOUGH FRESH APPLES AND NOT LIKELY TO BE.

President Lyon: The third division of this topic is, "Will we not soon
produce too many apples for sale in the fresh state?" If there is any
difficulty on this score, it lies more with the commission men than with
either grower or consumer. In traveling through Iowa last summer, I
could not see more than one apple orchard to 50 farms. They have
planted and replanted there, but still have no fruit. They need varieties
which will stand 40 to 60 degrees below zero, but as yet have not found
them. Were one third of the cultivated portion of Michigan given up to

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 19

fruit the product would not be too great if properly distributed — if tlie
dealers would properly handle it. I have less fear in this regard than
formerly. When I first came to Michigan I lived in a locality which was
then of the very best for apples; but it is now not so known, and there are
many other such localities. The orchards have not been kept up and
maraiiding insects have increased. Unless the people west and south-
west are more successful than they have been, there is a region six times
the size of Michigan to be supplied by us. The competition of southern
fruits is injurious to our sales, but this is due in part to the fact that those
fruits are eatable in a fresh state while much of ours is not.

L. D. AV ATKINS of Manchester said citrus fruits detract from our desire
to eat apples. He once took apples to Florida, and people there would not
eat them, seeming to prefer the acid of the citrus fruits. "They don't
taste like anything," was the Floridans' frequent expression. But Mr.
Watkins affirmed very decidedly that there can not be a surplus of really
good fruit, and he vividly pictured the disgust of the buyer at finding-
trash under cover of goocl peaches.

Prof. W. J. Beal said we are injiiring the consumption of apples in
the fresh state by producing so many Baldwins, Ben Davises, and other
sorts which no one will buy a second time to eat. There is much, also, in
marketing — much loss by the bad order in which fruit is put upon the mar-
ket. He advised the growing of seedling apples by the hundred thousand,
in order to get better varieties.

A QUITE DIFFEEENT VIEW.

W. W. Teacy of Detroit: Twenty years ago it was said that Michigan
must supply the west with fruit, and we heard much of "the fruit-belt" as
the only place where fruit could be successfully grown. During the last
ten years I have been over much of the country, and it is my opinion that
within a not great distance there are one hundred acres of good fruit land
to every one acre of such we have in Michigan. It is a great error to sup-
pose it is the orchard and not the skill of the orchardist which will make
the money. There is good fruit land all over the east, southeast, and south-
west. We must remember that it is skill of manipulation which counts,
and not anything by way of favor in peculiar location.

ideas in vaeiety.

E. W. Allis of Adrian: It is not only the citrus fruits, but the common
grease and meat diet that lessens the demand for our fruits.

Mr. Watkins : The citrus acid seems to spoil the appetite for other fruit.

Mr. Woodward: It is not so in my family, and I have noticed that when
I take a basket of apjjles to Mr. Watkins the oranges go to the wall. Per-
haps the trouble is in the sorts of apple Mr. Watkins grows!

S. M. Pearsall of Grand Kapids: I dislike the chill of some of these
remarks. I am sure fruit always brings remunerative prices when it is
grown, picked, and packed right. Do not let it go out from this society
that good friiit will not pay.

Mr. Kamsdell: But there is a glut in the apple market, and we all
know it. Apples, good ones, too, are not now selling at remunerative
prices. It is so also as to oranges and bananas. It is a fact which we can
not evade. If a grower holds on and establishes a market, he may succeed;

20 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

but meantime has been piitting money into his orchard and growing old. I
have sohl aj^ples at $2 per barrel this winter, and I get for my neighbors'
apples, which I ship, one dollar per barrel more than the market price for
select fruit. But it is not so when confronting the markets of the world.
When apples are dried, eight cents per pound means twenty-five cents per
bushel for the fresh fruit; but as prices go lower there ensues loss of the
fruit and finally loss of the work also.

Adjournment was made until 1 o'clock P. M.

Afternoon Session.

The first topic of the afternoon programme being "An independent
exposition by this society," President Lyon said:

"AVe have never had a strictly independent exhibition, having in such
work always been allied to some other society. There is not a large portion
of the public interested in horticulture, nor appreciative of its importance,
and hence attendance, if a fee were charged, would be somewhat problem-
atic. If such an exhibition were undertaken it would haS'e to be free, the
society standing the expense. It has been thought that an exhibition
could be made by contrilration of the exhibitors. Many exhibitors at agri-
cultural fairs are glad to show for sake of the benefits from advertising,
but there can be no such motive in a horticultural show. Exhibitors must
secure from premiums enough at least for expenses. All the fairs have to
resort to special attractions to secure attendance, but this also is out of
place with us and but adds to the difficulties. As to the season, no choice
of time could include all varieties, but September is on the whole the best
time. Most horticulturists are specialists and few would attend whose
specialty was not included. In any event, a fund sufficient to meet expenses
must first be secured.

Prof. Beal agreed with Mr. Lyon that it is not practicable to make
such an exhibition with profit. »

Mr. Pearsall said they once got up, in Grand Rapids, an exhibit of
fruit and flowers, but at no time did they have as many present as were at
that moment in this meeting. Such things can be successful only when all
interests are united and trying to get a crowd. But the work of this
society will never cease so long as the Annual Report and the Fruit
Catalogue are issued, although many hesitate to pay fifty cents for both,
when either is worth five dollars to any one.

C. J. Monroe of South Haven: I do not see how such an exhibition
could be made a financial success, though there is nothing that would be
of more value to the fruitgrowers. I regret our State Agricultural society
has taken its present position, and think the best plan would be to imite
with some other society.

G. AY. Parks of Lansing proposed that the Ingham county agricultural
society invite this society to exhibit with the Central Michigan fair.

A. S. Partridge of Flushing thought that as the society's work is
distinct, it should be kept separate in all ways from agricultural societies;
and that if an independant exhibition could not be made to pay in Lansing,
it could in Genesee county.

Mr. Ramsdell: When we joined the State Agricultural society ,^_I

PROCEEDIXGS OF THE WINTER :SIEETIXG. 21

objected, thinking that we were able to go on alone, and I think still we
can do so.

POMONA AND HER FRUITS.

Under the direction of Prof. Pattengill and Prof. Taft, who were its
authors, thirteen young ladies of Capital grange recited this beautiful and
effective dialogue:

Cei'esj In the palmy days of Greece, Ceres, goddess of agriculture, was
honored with two great festivals of three and nine days' length. Triptole-
mus, a pupil of Ceres, taught mankind the art of agriculture, thus raising
man from a hunter and shepherd to the dignity of a husbandman. Among
the Romans she also enjoyed two seasons of worship, in April and iu the
autumn, when, crowned with garlands of oak leaves and wheat, the people
danced and sang songs in her honor. The social order and the care of the
grains were particularly ascribed to her.

Flora: Flora, the goddess of the flowers, was also worshipped by both
Greeks and Eomans. Among the Romans her worshii^ dates back to the
very early days of the city, having been introduced by Numa, the second
king. The floral festivals in her honor were instituted more than 2,000
years ago, and lasted from the 28th of April to the 1st of May, the festivities
of May day. which are still kept up in some places, being an outgrowth
from this old heathen custom.

Pomona : In their festivals, the worship of Pomona, the goddess of the
fruits, was not forgotten by the Romans. She had her temple and priest
at Rome and her altars were covered with offerings. AVith a priuiing-
knife in one hand, a basket of fruit in the other, and a garland in her hair,
she is pictured to us as a true goddess of the fruits. Let me now summon
before us the fruits over which she presides as the patron goddess.

I will first call up the Rose family, which, from the number of valuable
fruits contained in it, might well be called the family of fruits. Tell us
what your family contains.

Rose Family : "VTe consist of the pome fruits — apple, pear, and quince;
the drupes — peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and nectarines, besides the
strawberry, raspberry and blackberry. Our family is also rich in the pos-
session of the rose, queen among flowers, the spiraeas, mountain ash, and
hawthorn.

Pomona: What is your historv and what your uses? Who speaks
first?

Apple: Of all the fruits, the apple claims the right to be first heard.
Since the earliest times, none has taken higher rank. Eden's tree of
knowledge, the golden fruit of the Hesperides, and the immortality-
conferring dessert of the gods, all were apples. In olden times, cultivated
by the Greeks and Romans, it has gone with man to the four quarters of
the earth and now flourishes in all parts of the temperate zones.

Pomona: What was your original form?

Apple: In the early ages, the apples were small and coarse and sour,
the wild crab of Europe. The improved varieties of today are the result
of selections, mostly of natural chance seedlings.

Pomona: How are you propagated and grown?

Apple: We are grown by grafting or budding selected varieties upon

22 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

seedling apple trees. The fruit is valuable for dessert purposes, for cook-
ing and preserving, for jellies, and for cider and vinegar. The green fruit
can also be recommended to make doctors' bills.

Pomona: What fruit next presents itself '?

Pecir: The pear, full sister of the apple, whose history ours much
resembles. More than two thousand years ago we were grown by the
Eomans, but were so coarse and harsh that Pliny says: "All pears are
but heavy meat unless they are baked or boiled."

Pomona: How have you been improved?

Pear : Partly by selection, but many varieties are due to Andrew Knight,
of England, and others, who practiced crossing. The pear is naturally of
longer life than the aj^ple, but the period is usually shortened by blight
and neglect. It is one of the most luscious dessert fruits and has no equal
for preserving. Pear trees are often budded upon quince stocks to hasten
their bearing period and improve their quality.

Pomona: The peach, of the stone fruits, comes next.

Peach : If not sisters we can claim to be first-cousins to the apple. The
peach is a native of Asia, and occupied the same jDlace in Chinese mythology
that the apple did with the Greeks and Romans. At one time it was
thought to be poisonous. Most of the varieties are selected seedlings, but
we owe many of them to the labors of Mr. Rivers, who spent a lifetime in
improving the peach by crossing and hybridizing. It is propagated by
budding upon seedling stocks. Much has been written about the red-
cheeked fruit, and many consider it the most luscious of all fruits.

Pomona: From whence has come the plum?

Plum: Most of the varieties in cultivation, are thought to be derived
from the bitter sloe of Europe. Many American varieties are now being
introduced, but those derived from the wild Chickasaw plums are not pro-
ductive at the north. Plum stocks are generally used for the European, but
the American varieties are often budded upon peach stocks. Plums are
not only valuable for dessert and cooking purposes, but many kinds are dried
and sold under the name of prunes.

Pomona : What can you tell me about the cherry ?
. Cherry : Our varieties have been derived from European species. They
were first introduced among the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago, and men-
tion is made of eight varieties grown by them. The Heart cherries are large
and sweet, but are not quite hardy enough to withstand our severe winters.
The Kentish and Duke varieties generally siicceed better. Some species
grow to a large size and furnish valuable timber. Cherry trees are prop-
agated by budding upon cherry stocks. Their symmetrical forms, and beauty
both in blossom and fruit, make them desirable ornaments, while their
fruit is valuable for dessert and cooking.

Pomona: What other fruits are found in the Rose family?

Sirawberr/j : The strawberry although placed among the small fruits,
can not be denied a high rank in the sisterhood. The earliest of them all
to ripen, it ushers in the fruit season, and the work is then taken up by
other varieties. Derived for the most part from the common wild straw-
berry, the cultivation has greatly increased, until now poor indeed must be
the man who is not able to raise strawberries — with a spoon. Since the
time of Hovey's Seedling, thousands of varieties have been introduced, but
few of them have survived the test of time. This most delicious and most

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 23

•wholesome of all the fruits is often entirely neglected by farmers, or, like
Tusser of old, they turn the matter over to their wives, saying:

" Wife, into the garden and set me a plot,
AVith strawberry roots, the best to be got."

Certainly such hardly deserve

"A dish of ripe strawberries smothered in cream."

Rdspbci'ry and Blaclxherry : The raspberry and blackberry are naturally
placed after the strawberry, as they closely follow it in time of ripening.
The red raspberry is derived both from American and European species,
while the black raspberry and blackberry are of American origin. The
European raspberry is known as Idfieus, having been found by the Greeks
on Mount Ida. The blackberries and red raspberries are grown from
sucters and cuttings of the roots, while the black raspberry is propagated
by layering the tips of the branches. To produce the largest and best
fruits, good care and cultivation should be given.

Pnnona: What is this that now presents itself?

G''ape: Although not a member of the rose family, the grape desires
to sDeak a word in its own behalf. Dating back to the time of Noah, the
grape is one of the oldest fruits in cultivation. Most of our American
sorls have been derived from native species, but many of them are the
resialt of hybridization with the European wine grape. The grape should
be tmined to stakes or trellises, carefully pruned in the fall, laid on the
ground if inclined to be tender, and after the fruit has set it should be
thinuKl by the removal of the smaller bunches.

Poiiona : What fruits do the tropics furnish us?

Fig The fig is thought to be the first fruit cultivated by man. Its
home V, in Asia and Africa but it flourishes in all warm countries. It was
the favorite fruit of the Bomans, who grew over twenty varieties. The
Greeks also cultivated them largely, while the ideal of happiness, by the
Hebrev«, was to sit under one's own vine and fig tree. The blossoms of the
fruit art produced upon the inside of what later on becomes the fruit. The
fig prodices naturally two crops of fruit in a year. The spreading banyan,
the sycanore fig, and one of the rubber trees also belong to the same
genus. En the southern states the fig produces abundant crops, and in the
middle ftates it will fruit in the open air if the trees are given a slight
protectici.

Pomori: Does no one speak for the orange?

Oran(j>: No fruits are more aj^preciated than those of the orange family.
Besides tie orange it includes the lemon, lime, citron, and shaddock. The
trees greyly resemble each other but differ in the character of their fruit.
Althoughnatives of warm countries, they will withstand severe frosts. The
orange coabines in itself many attractions in the beauty of the trees, the
fragrance^f the flowers, and the luscious golden fruit. A few years ago.
the orangs used in this country were brought from the West Indies or
the Mediterranean, but now the orange groves of Florida and California
furnish gL'at quantities.

Pomona What fruit is this which last comes?

Banana A wanderer from afar, but not a stranger in your midst, the
banana clams to be, in its home, one of the greatest fruit producing plants,
being mor than a hundred times as productive per acre as wheat. The

24

STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY.

plaintain, which also belongs to the same family, resembles it in appear-
ance, but the fruit is picked while still green and roasted. The plants are
very ornamental and present a rich, tropical appearance, with their Ijroad
leaves which sometimes attain a length of twenty feet. By careful selec-
tion the fruit has been enlarged and its seeds have disapjDeared, the plants
being propagated from suckers.

" This day, two hundred years ago,
The wild grape by the river's side.
And tasteless groundnut trailing low.
The table of the woods supplied.

Unknown the apple's red and gold,

The blushing tint of peach and pear.
The mirror of the Powow told

No tale of orchards ripe and rare.

Wild as the fruits he scorned to till,

These vales the idle Indian trod;
Nor knew the glad creative skill —

The joy of him who toils with God.

O Painter of the fruits and flowers!

We thank thee for thy wise design
Whereby these human hands of ours

In Nature's garden work with thine.

And thanks that from our daily need

The joy of simjile faith is born;
That he who smites the summer weed

May trust thee for the autumn corn.

Give fools their gold and knaves their power;

Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall;
Who sows a field, or trains a flower.

Or plants a tree is more than all.

For he who blesses most is blest;

And God and man shall own his worth
Who toils to leave as his bequest

An added beauty to the earth.

And, soon or late, to all that sow.

The time of harvest shall be given;
The flower shall bloom, the fruit shall grow.

If not on earth, at last in heaven."

-Whitter.

Following this was considered the topic

CITKUS AND SUB-TEOPICAL FRUITS AT THE NORTH.

Mr. Allis: We can counteract the injury they do us, by klling the
moths and bettering the quality of our fruits, of the apj^le ffijjecially,
which now is bad.

President Lyon: We know but little of citrus fruits and the extent of
their growth. We get only what may be called the refuse. I found,
at the late exposition in New Orleans, varieties of the orang^ of great
excellence and quite unknown in the north. Oranges are, p season,
very early, medium, and late. In Florida the period of ripeniiff extends
from September to March, while in California the same varioies are a
month later. Transportation will presently add to the supply a,nd more

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 25

attractive sorts will be offered us. We know but little yet of the banana
and pine-apple. To meet this competition, we must make our own fruit
fit to eat, and that is more than can be said of the stuff now grown and
called best market varieties. Southern fruits will continue to crowd ours
out of market until we take up our own best kinds. There are plenty of
men ready to pay any price for the best fruits if they can only be secure
in their supply. This is our only way to make head against the increas-
ing consumption of southern fruits. We can send good apples south and
sell them for more than the price oranges sell for there.

NEW VARIETIES.

Consideration of this subject was begun by the reading of the following
letter:

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, ]
March 22, 1889. \
" Mr. Edwy C. Eeid, Allegan, Mich. :

" 3Iy Dear Sir — Your favor of the 13th, inclosing programme of the
spring meeting, was duly received. I must deny myself the pleasure of
attending, this time, but will inclose a dollar so as to retain my member-
ship in your society. Being at a safe distance, I will also avail myself
of the privilege of saying what I might not say were I present:

" It seems to me that the originators of new fruits are entitled to great
credit for their efforts, and that they should receive every encouragement
to go on in their work. Let them think as well of their pets as they can;
let them visit them every day and see that all their wants are supplied; let
them pour liquid manure around them in the evening and hoe them in the
morning. They are surely entitled to all the satisfaction they can get out
of this work, especially as they are almost certain to get a great deal of
disappointment and very little money in the end. Which of us has not
been over-estimated, when we were seedlings, and what harm came of it?

" Were it not for new seedlings, horticultural societies and horticultural
papers would become very insipid; catalogues would lose their charms,
and progress would be greatly retarded or cease altogether.

" Let the experiment stations determine the true value of all new varieties
in advance of dissemination. They do this work perfectly, and their testi-
mony is entirely disinterested. This can be said of no other class. If all
horticulturists would urge originators to send their best seedlings to the
stations, for trial before they are offered for sale, and then refuse to buy
any until they received the approval of at least the station in the origina-
tor's state, all worthless ones would be speedily suppressed.

" If northern people want to buy oranges, lemons, bananas, and southern
people want to sell these things, who would prevent the exchange? When
it is proven that citrus or sub-tropical fruits are poisonous or intoxicating,
it will be in order to suppress the traffic in them. Until then, the proposi-
tion smacks of selfishness and will come very far short of increasing the
demand for northern fruits at the south. Are we not one family, and shall
we not have free-trade between the states? Yours truly,

M. Crawford."

Prof. Beal recommended the selection by this society of best varieties
for various locations, and said something of the same kind should be done
as to vegetables. Seedsmen will not do this as it is not to their interest.
4

26 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. Eamsdell: Do not all new wheats get upon the market by
accidental selection?

Prof. Taft: Yes; the greater nnmber of them, at least.

Mr. Eamsdell: How niiTch hope, then, we may have if the work of
originating them be intelligently carried on at experiment stations.

President Lyon: The vast majority of our frnits are accidental
selections. The northwest is trying to establish, by crossing and selection,
varieties which will be hardy enough to withstand the extremes of
temperature and other adverse conditions to which that region is subject.
For purpose of hastening such selection, getting the fruit earlier, the
process is to jiut scions into a bearing tree. I would ask Prof. Beal if he
is sure that that process would produce fully the qualities of the seedling
scion ?

Prof. Beal : I do not know that it has ever been done. The test would
be comparison of fruits of such scions with those of the original tree.
We projjagate plants by budding or division, and so get the same thing;
but seedlings are not thoroughbreds and can not be so reliably treated.
With vegetables we have to propagate by seed only, and select and preserve
and replant until the variety becomes set. For this reason, crossing by
pollen is largely haphazard work, the old strains reappearing.

grape trellises and clean cultivation.

Three questions were handed to the secretary by Mr. Roberts, the first
of which was, "Should wires be used in a grapevine trellis for field
culture?"

G. W. Parks : They have been used in this vicinity with success.

Mr. Gladden of Lansing: Is it desirable to seed down a peach orchard
in this vicinity? I think I should not necessarily be governed by the
practice elsewhere. I have a young orchard, set in 1886, which grew well
in the nursery row and I got some peaches the following year. In 1888
I had only a few, but think I will have some this year. I have kept the
tract as clean as a garden and they have grown exceedingly. They are on
good soil with clay subsoil. I think of seeding them down, now, to secure
slower growth.

Mr. Parks: I set some at the same time as Mr. Gladden, some on good
soil and some on poor. The latter have made only one third as much
growth as the others. In severe winters the fast-growers are killed while
the others live and bear some peaches every year.

C. J. Monroe of South Haven: A man in our region would be as sur-
prised at Mr. Gladden' s question as one would be if asked if it were not
better to seed down a cornfield. Clean ciiltivation is the only kind allow-
able. The average of our orchards are on soil as good as any here. It
would be a rare case if ground were found too rich and strong for peaches.
Late cultivation, however, has sometimes been disastrous. The most suc-
cessful growers begin early in May and cultivate through to latter July or
early August, and then sow rye. This is done yearly to young trees until
they come into bearing, with some other fertilizers afterward, and we have
not missed a crop since 1875. Perhaps the only difference between the
lake shore and the interior is the temperature.

Mr. Ramsdell: I have trees in all situations and conditions, but when
one is killed all are killed, and I get the best fruit where I have given the
best cultivation. I have had good croi)s after mercury had gone to eighteen

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 27

and twenty-two degrees below zero, but now my buds are nearly all killed
although it was but twelve degrees below. This was the result of too late
growth in the fall.

The remaining grape questions were read, viz: "If so, how many?
Also, how far apart and at what distance from the ground?"

Mr. Monroe: They use four wires, generally, on strongly set and
braced posts. Mr. Keid described the trellis of two wires used by some
growers. Prof. Taft said he had used such a trellis some years, using
No. 13 wire, also horizontal trellises of four and five wires. Loosen the
wires in the fall, to prevent their contraction from pulling over the posts.
Set posts twenty feet apart, with two vines between, each five feet from
posts.

Prof. Beal: Less depends upon position and number of wires than
upon varieties and cultivation.

The president announced the following committees:

Resoluiions — C. J. Monroe of South Haven, L. D. Watkins of Man-
chester, N. A. Beecher of Flushing.

FruUs and Flowers— ^y. W. Tracy of Detroit, J. G. Kamsdell of
Traverse City, James Satterlee of Lansing.

Evening Session.

The regular topic of the programme was preceded by the reading of the
following letters:

BERRIEN COUNTY FRUIT PROSPECTS.

"The winter of 1888-89, on the lake shore, was unusually mild and free
from storms. Feb. 22 mercury went down to zero, and on the 24th to 8°
below, the coldest of the season. This occurred about midnight of the 23d.
In the morning of the 24th the indicator stood at 8° below zero, while the
spirits had moved to zero. This record was made on our highest fruit
land, immediately on the lake shore. Different localities show marked
variations. The general mildness of the winter, together with a good
supply of snow during the latter part of winter, and a remarkable exemption
from high winds, leaves our f riiit trees, shrubs, and plants in a good, vigorous
condition for the coming season. Peaches, plums, and cherries will
bloom full. Other fruits are not far enough advanced to indicate anything
now.

"This will be our year for apples. As this is the off-year elsewhere it may
be our luck. On our high fruit lands we do not consider the apple a valu-
able fruit to grow for market; besides that, many varieties are almost entire
failures that once bore well. Hence we are removing many of our apple
trees and substituting other fruit.

"The peach and pear are being largely planted. It would not be wise or
good policy, for the State Horticultural society to recommend the neglect
of the apple. It is the king of all fruits, and must ever remain so. The
supply, however, will in the future be in ex'cess of the demand. Missouri
and Arkansas are rapidly coming to the front as apple-growing states —

28 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

their central position, good soil, favorable climate, rail and water communi-
cation, will enable them to supply, in good part, the wants of a large part
of the Mississippi valley. We have in Michigan, as elsewhere, an immense
amount of worthless dregs called apples. It is safe to say one half of our
crop has no market value, and are worth nothing for home use. If farmers
would weed out of their orchards all the refiise and grow none but reason-
ably good fruit, the market would improve, and so would their profits. One
thing has been sadly overlooked in this department of horticulture, and
that is the increase of home consioiiption. Horses, cows, sheep and hogs
are extremely fond of apples; why, then, not let them share with us this
beneficent gift of mother earth? As between the sweet and tart, I think
the lower animals generally prefer the sweet; and here I want to make a
note, viz., that sweet apples should be extensively grown for home use
among our stock. It is well known that they have fattening properties for
swine nearly equal to corn. It is cheaper and easier to grow 100 bushels
of sweet apples than 25 of corn. Who will try this experiment?

*'In the meantime let us not forget that the horse, the cow, and the sheep
have tastes and preferences as well as the lord of creation.

"The matter of cold storage will sooner or later be adopted on general
principles for equalizing the supply and demand of horticultural products
on the market.

W. A. Smith, Benton Harbor, Mich.''

"SteVensville, Mich., \
March 23, 1889. \

"E. C. Reid, Secretary Michigan State Horticultural Society:

'^ Dear Sir — I hope some plan may be devised by your committee,
which may inure to the financial benefit of the State Hoticiiltural society.
In view of the life-long devotion of some of the officials of the society, and
the great benefits conferred upon the important fruitgrowing interests of
the state, the legislature should recognize the disinterested labor of the
members and officials of the society by giving a small anniiity to aid the
compilation and distribution of the reports. But, as individuals devoted
to horticulture seldom become legislators, and so much money is required
for state charities and the higher education, nothing can be expected from
this source at present.

" The results of horticultural experiments at Lansing, when of sufiicient
mportance, should be embodied in the state reports, and a small portion
of the experimental fund received from the government should be solicited
and tendered to one or more skillful horticulturists to conduct experiments
in those parts of the state which are proved more congenial to our valu-
able fruits than the vicinity of Lansing.

' Nothing is of more importance to the fruit interests of the state, than
a permanent annual exposition of the fruits of Michigan ; but I fear that the
finances of your society will not warrant an independant exposition at this
time. I would advise making propositions to the permanent industrial or
agricultural fair organizations, for joint exhibits, upon such terms as
may be of mutual benefit. Failing to make satisfactory arrangements with
with any of these, I would advise an independent exposition in the city of
Grand Rapids, at the best time for the exhibition of fruits. I would not
make such exhibit competitive, and would discourage the exhibit of fruits
which have proved of no practical value, by limiting the varieties of
different fruits to a specified number. I would solicit exhibits from

PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE WIXTEE MEETDCG. 29

branch societies and other fruit organizations, or from indi^-id^lals
representing different counties or sections in the state. A specified sum
for the remuneration of each exhibitor should be named, and everx- plate
of fruit on exhibition should be accompanied by a card giving the full
characteristics of each fruit and comparative value in the location where
grown. I would include berries, and all fruits out of season which can be
shown in the best possible state of preser^'ation. I would have the fruit
accessible to all, and every facility given visitors to study specimens at
their leisure. I would charge an admission fee which should approximate
to the expenses.

•' Eegi-etting my inability to attend your meeting and participate in the
discussion of the important topics on your progi'amme, and hoping
that the future of your society may be as useful and instructive as the
past. I remain vours very truly,

W. A. BEOwy."

President Lyox read the following paper introductory to the subject,

THE FTTI'RE OF THIS SOCIETY.

•' The earlier history of agricultural as well as horticultural exhibitions
in our state, is replete with indications that, to insui'e success, novelty
must he made a prominent element in any effort to attract public attention
adequate to the realization of profitable pecuniary results.

"The State Agricultural society-, small comparatively as were its earlier
exhibits, was able generally to render them nearly or quite self-support-
ing; but in order to insure this they were necessarily expanded from
year to year, till the increased expense of management compelled the
doubling of the gate fees, and even this, coupled with various extraneous
attractions, has, for years past, so far failed of its purpose that reserved
means have been cb"awn upon to supply deficiencies, till such means have
become nearly or quite exhausted.

"The experience of the state society, in this respect, seems also to have
been almost invariably that of county as well as of other local organiza-
tions.

■"It appears obvious that so general a result is not to be attributed to
any merely local cause, but that it is rather due to a surfeit of public
interest in displays of this character; or, in other words, that the public
have been treated to an excess of fairs and other similar displays.

"Although the State Horticultural society- has, from its inception,
held its fairs in coujiinction with those of other organizetions, and. for
many years past, with those of the State Agricultural society, it has by no
means, been able to avoid the consequence of the tendencies already
described. Its receipts from memberships have at no period of its exist-
ence sufficed to meet its necessary expenses, the lack having been largely
supplied by the proceeds of extra labor rendered without consideration
by its officers and fiiends, in bringing together and conducting portions of
the exhibitions of other societies.

'• Doubtless owing mainly to the cause already referred to. this means of
eking out the wherewith to reimburse our expenses, is now, at least for the
present, at an end, and we are brought face to face with the question. "What
next ?■

"For such purpose, the first thought is. naturally, to increase our mem-

30 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

bersliip. Tlie number of members, under tlie operation of our local society
system, has become unreasonably small, while the income from this source
is still further diminished by the necessity to prepay postage on volumes
of our annual reports, sent to each as a perquisite of membership.

"Our experience in the past has shown, very conclusively, that since
people are encouraged to freely attend and participate in our meetings and
discussions, and while the state authorities make a free distribution of a
portion of our transactions, of which the society provides the matter and
edits and distributes the same, at large expense, the mass of even those
interested in our objects are not unwilling to quietly ignore the claims of
the society, while they make free use of the benefits of its labors.

" The necessity that some effective step be taken to remedy this, leads
me to present for your consideration the plan pursued for several years,
with apparent success, by the Ontario society, of which a leading feature
seems to be the annual distribution, to its members, of one or more of the
newer and more promising novelties of the day, as perquisites of member-
ship. Such novelties are selected by competent persons, for a supposed
adaptation to their climates and soils, while such selection affords a reason-
able guaranty not only of such adaptation, but, furthermore, that they are
true to name, and above all suspicion of humbuggery or fraud.

"It may be well to carefully consider the practicability of some such
plan as the following: The appointment of a committee charged with
the duty of securing, by purchase or otherwise, the varieties to be propa-
gated for each year's distribution, the same to be chosen with reference to
adaption to both the northern and southern portions of our state, such
committee to arrange for the propagation of the requisite number of each,
and also for the distribution of the same. Possibly these results might be
reached by some arrangement with the horticultural department of either
the Agricultural college or the experiment station.

"With the probable population of our state at the present time, the
number of volumes of our transactions, printed and supplied to us by the
state, does not exceed one volume for each four hundred of our population.
With so comparatively limited a supply, it is a matter of much moment
that each volume should go into appreciative hands. In the older
counties, in which horticultural organizations exist, more or less satisfac-
tory arrangements for this purpose are already in existence; but in the
more northern and newer counties, which mainly yet lack organizations of
this character, the facilities for proper distribution of our annual volumes,
the securing of memberships in our society, and the organizing of local
societies, do not yet exist; nor is the ability to provide such within the
limited means now at our disposal. The society has had this matter for
some time under consideration; but the unfortunate illness and consequent
resignation of Secretary Garfield, together with other embarrassments, has
intervened to prevent active operations in this direction. It would seem
important that the society, by a committee or by other ec^uivalent means,
secure the addresses of suitable persons, distributed through these new and,
to us, unoccupied regions; and that, through such means, such volumes as
can be spared for the purpose be distributed, with the piirpose to increase
our membership, to beget an interest in horticulture, and to encourage
the organization of local societies.

"Another means through which more or less of these volumes may be
made to aid in the work of horticultural improvement, and at the same
time to return to the society, in memberships or otherwise, a portion of its

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 31

actual expenditure upon them, is to place them in tlie hands of 'the agri-
cultural societies of the state on the terms offered to granges and local
societies, with the understanding that they be offered as })remiums for
horticultural and other exhibits.

"With the much devolving upon our secretary, as such, in addition to the
care and responsibility of his own business, it will perchance be found
necessary, if the labors above indicated are to be undertaken, to vest their
performance in other hands than his."

Mr. Pearsall: It is certain that the .society needs something to
replenish its funds. I wish that every man, woman, and child who
desires one of those valuiible volumes, could have it free of cost.
But how to so supply them and at the same time pay our own expenses is
a question I can not solve. Mr. Pearsall dwelt at some length upon the
work of the society and its benefit to the state, as well as the great value of
the fruit catalogue.

S. S. Fuller of Eaton Kapids : The influence of the State Horticultural
society has made me what 1 am, for thereby I was turned to fruitgrowing
when failing health compelled me to quit the dental chair. Our Eaton
county society flourished well for a time, but ran down from ebbing
interest. It was revived by addition of social features, so that we now get
out from 80 to 100 persons at each meeting. All want the reports, but it
is diflicult to get the dollar for membership fee. We get only 20 to 30
members, but why this is so I cannot well see.

Mr. Baur: It is strange if the state of Michigan cannot have a
commissioner of horticulture and pay him for compilation of this report
as a part of his duty. Prussia makes free distribution of millions of trees
each year; Wurtemburg, a state smaller than Michigan, sends lecturers on
horticulture to the villages, at great expense, because its authorities know
that spread of horticultural knowledge is beneficial to the state.

President Lyon: Should we ask aid of the state, there would be others
at once asking the same, though by no means upon the same footing as
ourselves. Many have no just concejjtion of the importance of horticulture
in this state. Other states sustain their societies by liberal appropriations
and some means should be devised to make the public better acquainted
with the importance of the general question.

Mr. Monroe: I dislike to discuss this question, or, rather, dislike the
necessity for discussing it. The state prints and binds the report, but
there its work stops. The most important part of all, the editing, has to
be provided by us. The editor must be an expert, and he must be paid.
There is not anywhere a set of text-books as complete as these reports,
containing as much sensible, practical, intelligent information. The auxil-
iary plan of membership seemed just the right thing, and it is most unfort-
unate that it was not continued. The most injurious thing is the impres-
sion that all the work of publication is done by the state. A fruitgrower
should be willing to pay five dollars rather than be without the report
each year. The value of the volumes is very much increased by the
thorough indexes which accompany them. I have read what is said of these
reports by horticultural journals, and their criticisms and reviews fully
justify the estimates we place upon them.

The evening session concluded with the reading, Ijy Prof. Taft, of the
subjoined paper, by Mr. A. C. Roberts of Plainwell, upon

32 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

THE FERNS OF ALLEGAN COUNTY.

"I remember au afternoon botanizing tramp tlirongh the woods several
summers ago, during which I had come across niimerous patches or groups
of fragrant ferns of various kinds, and had been tempted by the beauty of
some of them to carefully take up by the roots a number of handsome
specimens, enveloping the roots with thin adhering mould in a newspaper,
intending to take them home and set them out in a pet fernery that I had
started in a damp, shady corner by the riverside. My freshly gathered
specimens made a good-size armful, which I was carrying carefully
through the fields out to the highway where my horse and rig had been
left, when suddenly I came upon the hearty old farmer — an acquaintance
of mine — who owned the land I had been trespassing on. Seeing my
burden, he accosted me with a ' Hallo ! what have you got there in your
arms? What are you going to do with those things — why they're hraJcesV
he said in a tone of surprise and disgust, much as if I had been cherishing
some of the 'pusley' or pigweeds that he was laboring to exterminate.
The fact is, I would have been as well pleased to have missed seeing him
on that particular occasion, for I knew the utter hopelessness of attemj)t-
ing to explain, with any satisfaction to him, what would seem like my use-
less occupation. I tried to pass the matter by as not worth talking about
— asked him concerning his crops, fields, etc. ; but no — his curiosity was
up and he persisted in having explained to him what I was going to do
with my ferns ; asked whether I was going to use them for medicine, and
said that he had never heard that 'brakes' were good for anything in the
world. And I went on my may, after such explanation as I saw fit to give,
with a feeling that I had fallen several points in his estimation in a prac-
tical point of view.

"Well, we have not to go far back in the past — to travel over but a few
years comparatively^ — to recall the time when this kind of estimation — or
rather lack of estimation — of the beautiful and interesting family of ferns,
thus roughly voiced by my farmer friend — was that which generally
obtained, even among persons of education and cultivated tastes. Unless
it were the advanced botanist few if any saw aught of attraction or interest
in this family of ferns, which, yielding neither fiowers nor fruit, were
passed unheeded by, notwithstanding the delicate and graceful beauty
characterizing many of the shy woodland varieties, which are now regarded
as among the most charming denizens of the forest shades. And the lover
of beauty, and especially of the wild natural charms of our plains and
forests, can but be gratified that so general an appreciation has at length
grown up and been developed of the charms of an order of plants so well
deserving of our regard. Nearly every greenhouse or conservatory has its
fernery, in which will be found, if not our native varieties, many imported
ones from other parts of the world; in dwelling houses we often see them
potted and cared for; and it is not uncommon to find a fernery in some
shady corner of the dooryard, in village or country homes, where the
handsomest of our wild flowers, gathered and brought home from wood-
land excursions, are set out and tended, as seems fitting, by female hands.
They are favorite ornaments in the homes of the wealthy, and we read of
the deep banks of ferns as among the noticeable features of decoration in
the apartments of the white house at Washington on the occasion of presi-
dential receptions. And the delicate tracery of the fern fronds furnishes
a favorite form of ornament, especially in the feminine arts of emijroidery,

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 33

in drawing, in spatter-work, and in conntless other forms of ornamenta-
tion.

" The deep woods that once covered so much of the territory of Michigan
were the home of many varieties of the great family of ferns or felices,
that flourished through countless centuries under their protecting shade,
in many places almost carpeting the ground beneath with their fragrant
growth; and in perhaps no other state in the Union will it be found that a
wider variety of this family had originally their chosen habitat. The
extreme length of our state north and south partly accounts for this diver-
sity, by the modification of climate thus afforded; for in the upper penin-
siila a number of sub-arctic varieties have their home, that are not found
further south; while the protecting influence of the large bodies of water
that so nearly surround the lower peninsula is the cause of a northward
flexure of the isothermal lines into the lower portion of the state. Thus it
is a noticeable fact as regards the flora of southern Michigan that not a few
varieties of plants are found here flourishing — or at least were while in its
aboriginal state — that elsewhere are only known in a more southern
latitude. I presume no state in the Union furnishes a greater diversity of
climate than our own, unless perhaps it be shown locally in the different
altitudes of mountain ranges.
, "The results of the progressive study and exploration of the flora of
Michigan have been from time to time embodied in catalogue form and
published; the latest collection, that of Messrs. Wheeler and Smith of Hub-
bardston, a very extended and valuable compilation of all the preceding lists,
and embracing the results of their own researches and those of other local
botanists throughout the state, having been published in the Report of this
society for 1880. While probably not many additions will be made to this
list, at least of the orders and classes of plants therein treated, the local
distribution of many of the varieties might with advantage be more fully
known, as this in many instances could be indicated only in a very general
manner.

"I have been requested by the secretary of the society to furnish a list of
the ferns of Allegan county, which I will endeavor to present so far as my
examination of the flora of this section, through a series of years, in which
the ferns have been something of a specialty, may enable me.

"In the course of the gradual clearing away of the original forest
throiTghout the greater portion of the state, and the bringing of the soil
under cultivation, most of the wild native plants, of course including the
fern, have been in a like process of extermination. Their j^lace has been
in a large measure usurped by the coarse weeds and vegetable pests of
other parts of the world, which w^ith a stronger vitality force their way in
and flourish, when these shrink away and perish entirely. It is not at all
unlikely that some varieties of the fern which have existed in rare locali-
ties in the state for ages, may have already become extinct, as more than
one variety has been catalogued as having Ijeen discovered only in a single
locality in the state. I recall one case somewhat in point. In my
botanizing excursions throughout this section, for several years, always
with an eye out for new varieties of fern, I supposed at last that I had
discovered all that were to be found, as no new finds had for a long time
rewarded my tramps. However, one day while passing through a small
tract of 'timber land', densely shaded by beech and maple, I detected a
delicate little fern, that at a glance I knew to be a strange variety — one
that was new to me. On examination I found it to be the Cystopteris

34 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

frag His, and fragile enough the tender little fronds appeared. A few
groups, extending over a rod or two, were all there were to be seen, and I
have never found it elsewhere in this section. But the piece of woods in
which it occurred was doomed to the axe, and in process of clearing, and
the little ferns either already are or in a year or two will have been extinct
in this locality.

"The Adiaiitum, or Maiden Hair fern, one of the most delicate and
graceful of the family, is not uncommon, being found in scattered groups
or masses irnder the deep shade of the beech and maple woods. Nowhere
have I seen it more abundant and luxuriant than in the neighborhood of
' The Cascades ' at Gun lake, but it is a native of the whole state. For
purposes of decoration the Maiden Hair is always a favorite, the tender,
grayish green of its leaflets, its glossy black stripes, and the peculiarity of
its form rendering it specially attractive. In striking contrast comes next
the Pteris, or common brake, one of the coarsest and most familiar of the
ferns. Unlike most of the other kinds, it is at home in the open sunlight
and exposure, and is not confined to damp ground. Springing from the
thick sod, in fence corners, by road, or on hillsides, and generally in neg-
lected jjlaces, its tough and stringy growth will be found, and it seems
better fitted than most of the other ferns to hold its own in the struggle for
existence. In the northern part of the state, toward Petoskey, I have
noticed, in passing through, large spaces of open barren tracts, acres in*
extent, densely covered with a thick growth of this brake, unlike anything
to be seen in the southern parts. The Woodicardia Virginica is one of the
rare species of this section, being found only occasionally, though throughout
the whole district. It is peculiar for the chain-like growth of its fructifi-
cation, which gives an odd and unusual appearance to the under side of the
fertile leaflets. The only other variety of Woodicardia known to the flora
of this country, the W. angusii folia, may possibly be found in Allegan
county, the catalogue of 1880 in quoting it saying: 'The only known
locality of this fern in Michigan is at South Haven, where it was detected
in 1880 by L. H. Bailey, Jr. ' As South Haven is close to the southern line
of this county, it may perhaps have been within our limits that this variety
was found, or at all events within them it may possibly yet be met. Of the
Asplenium group I have met three varieties, the Angiisfifoliniu, Thelijp-
teroides, and Filix-focmina, the first of which is far the rarest. The
second, the silvery spleenwort, is peculiar for the metallic or silvery
appearance of its largish fruit dots. These are all the kinds apportioned
to the southern portion of the state by any catalogues, with the noteworthy
exception that Miss Josie A. Williams is awarded the distinction of having
discovered the A. eheneum at Allegan, the only locality of its occurrence
mentioned in the state. I have not seen this curiosity, but hope to add it
to my collection, if it be not yet extinct. When the state catalogue of 1860
was compiled, none of the Phrgopferis family had been discovered, evi-.
dently, as none is mentioned; though in the last compilation the three sub-
varieties known to this country are quoted. Of these I have in two or
three localities met the Hexagonopfvra, spoken of as 'rare.' The
Dryopteris I have not found hereabout, though it is spoken of as occurring
throughout the state, but 'frequent north of lat. 43°.' In Mackinac,
however, I found it common.

"The Aspidium group numbers more varieties of Michigan ferns than
any other; of this we find here the ThcJijpierisj the New York fern;
Spinnlosum, var. iniermedium; chrisfafuni; Goldianum, and acrostichoi-

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 35

<lcs. The next to the last of these may be said to be rare and the one pre-
ceding it by no means common. The s2)i)mlosum will dispute with the
maiden hair for the preference as being our handsomest fern, its finely dis-
sected, rich dark green fronds, arranged in a circular group, adaj^ting the
plant especially to form the central ornament of a vase. The Cystopieris
bulhifera is occasionally met hereabout; I saw it first at Gun lake. My
finding of its sister variety, C. fvdgilts has been spoken of above.

"A magnificent member of the family, the Ostrich fern, Onoclea struthi-
oj^teris, has of late years become quite scarce in our section, though for-
merly not so. I recall now but one place where it may be found. The
amateur will find it an interesting experiment in the winter time to take up
from under the snow in February a root of this fern, and having potted it
to put it in a warm place; when almost immediately the little baby fronds,
curled up like watch springs and arranged in a circle on the crown of the
plant, will begin to unfold and enlarge, the process seeming almost visible
to the eye. In a short time the fern will have attained its full growth to a
height of two or three feet, the handsome, j^lume-like fronds — from which
it derives its name — being arranged around in a perfect circle. Unlike
many of the other ferns this one will thus start to grow if exposed to the
warmth, almost in midwinter. The other Onoclea, sensibilis, is found
almost everywhere in damp places. It derives its name from its extreme
sensitiveness to frost. We now come to the Osmimdas, all three of which
regalis, Claytonia and cinndmonea, are more or less common through our
district. I have also found the variety of the last, frondosa, though never
but once I think. Lastly, of the Botrichium family, the Virginicum is,
as elsewhere, common, the Innarioides, var. ohliquum, occurs occasionally,
and the variety, dissection, mentioned in the catalogue of 1880, as having
been observed only in one locality in the state, at South Haven, I have
met with near Plainwell.

" Probably more than half of the varieties of our native ferns are doomed
to extinction, the clearing away of our forests, and the draining of our
swamp and lowlands, proving, as I have said before, everywhere fatal to
them. We are living through and witnessing — though we seldom realize
it — a grand transformation scene as regards the flora of our state. That
of a century ago, the indigenous flora, which has flourished through num-
berless ages, contrasted with that of a century hence, what a marvelous and
almost fundamental change will have been presented.

'^ Plainwell, March U, 1889."

Wednesday's Session

Was held at Michigan Agricultural College, the forenoon being occupied
in visiting various departments of the college, especially those of botany
and horticulture; and dinner was served in one of the halls. In the after-
noon the meeting was called to order in the lecture room of the horticult-
ural laboratory, and listened to

36 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

PEEST. WILLITS' ADDRESS OF WELCOME,

He said: "It goes without saying that the Agricultural College is ready-
to welcome any and all who are interested in subjects investigated here. I
am glad to say that the people of the state take more and more interest in
the advance of horticultural knowledge. When I came and looked over
affairs here, I asked for an appropriation to fully equip three departments,
the veterinary, animal industries having become so important; the mechan-
ical, because the law required attention to this as much as it does to agri-
culture, and military tactics, this being also obligatory by law and the
conditions of the grant of lands. I supposed that all was then complete,
but soon found that the horticultural department was very much crippled,
having neither laboratory nor lecture room — nothing but a small office in a
basement. I saw the important relation horticulture bears to the welfare
of Michigan, and soon came near losing Prof. Bailey because of an offer
made him to become botanist at the Wisconsin college. I talked matters
over with him, and found that $5,000 were necessary for a laboratory and
$1,000 more for equipment; and I promised Mr. Bailey that if he would stay
I would use my best endeavors with the legislature to secure them. I did
so, and secured both sums, and in the effort was amazed to see the sharp-
ness and shrewdness of the horticidturists, who did much to help in the mat-
ter. So we got the laboratory and it is the best in the United States. We
are now in shape to do good work for you, and mean to aid you in testing
eeeds and plants, studying diseases, insects, etc. The other departments are
ably tilled and are continuing the excellent work they have so long engaged
in ; but these newer features were necessary to the completion and rounding
out of the whole. We have here men who are eminent as scientists and
instructors, who are known as such from the begining to the end of the
land, and they are men who are qualified to go ahead and keep the college
in the van, for it is everywhere recognized as the best school of its kind in
the country.

"I am very hopeful of the experiments of Profs. Beal and Kedzie upon
the sandy plains of northern Michigan. We shall be able within ten years,
to demonstrate their value.

"But while we are advancing, other states are doing likewise, and the
national department of agriculture is coming to our aid by uniting in a
common purpose, a co-ordination of effort, all the colleges and experiment
stations. The appropriations for this department, year beginning July 1,
aggregate $1,066,000, including $10,000 for investigating yellows, $100,000
for seeds, bulbs, plants, etc., besides $600,000 for experiment stations.
The idea is that the department is to be the head of all these institutions
and efforts; and so vast a power must soon accomplish something of great
moment."

To this, Mr. Edwy C. Eeid made brief response, expressing the appre-
ciation and good will of the horticulturists of the state, both of the
Agricultural college and its president and faculty.

Prof. A. J. Cook read a paper, here subjoined in full, upon

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 37

LATEST METHODS WITH CURCULIO.

" In this paper I shall aim to recount the important points gleaned the
past year in practical entomology as relating to horticulture.

" Of first importance is our information regarding the plum curculio.
We now know that this insect prefers to work on the plum, and will attack
that fruit in preference to most other kinds, when possible. Yet in the
absence of the plum, it is ruinous to cherry, peacl% and apple. It needs
no argument to prove that the cherry and peach are almost, if not quite,
valueless when wormy. We now know that the attack of the curculio is hardly
less ruinous to the apple. While in most cases the grub or curculio larva
does not develop — it does mature, sometimes, even in the apple — yet the
apple when badly stung, becomes stunted, gnarled, and so badly deformed
that it is entirely worthless. For several years Wisconsin has complained
of this gnarly fruit. In these regions of severe attack the apple is the
exclusive fruit, and hence the serious invasion of this pest. I find in Mich-
igan, where apples are grown to the exclusion of plums, that the fruit in
many cases is sufPering severely from this curculio. The practical con-
clusion from these facts is that it will pay to grow plums in the apple
orchard, to lure the curculio from the apple and secure fair, marketable
fruit.

TO FIGHT THE CURCULIO.

"The next question is, shall we leave the plums to the curculio, and
simply raise this fruit to secure fine apples? By all means we should fight
the curculio and save the fruit. First, in so doing, we constantly lessen
the ranks of the enemy; and, again, we secure, at comparative little labor
and expense, a fine crop of plums, which will prove as profitable as any
product of the orchard.

"Of course I need not describe the old process — the jarring method — of
catching and destroying the curculio. The advantages of that method are
its entire efiicacy when thoroughly practiced, and the entire destruction of
the insects trapped. The only objections, so far as I know, are the time
required and the danger of injuring the trees.

" The new methods found successful in combating this insect are the

three following, the first two of which I have
used with marked success : Spraying with Lon-
don jjurple, dusting with carbolated plaster, and
spraying with strong lime water. The expense
of these remedies is about the same. If the first
kills the insects and the latter two simply drive
themto some other feeding-ground, then in this
respect the first should be greatly preferred.
The first, in that it employs a virulent poison,
is somewhat objectionable; for, though with
caution there is no danger, there are always
a. larva; 6, papa; e, beetie,'Iii magni- ^areless people, and SO will always be accidents
fied; d, pinm, showing sting and beetle, where poisonous articles are in general use.

" In previous years I have sprayed with arsenites, in hope to secure
against attack by the curculio, yet never with much satisfaction. In some
cases I thought I saw some benefit, yet in others I saw none at all, and so

38 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

I was led to the belief that the curculio was arsenic-proof. The fact that
others reported success led me to wonder whether my lack of snccess
might not be due to the fact that I only sprayed my trees once, aboiit the
middle of May, just as the blossoms had fallen off, and that spraying two
or three times might rout the enemy. This seemed the more probable,
as the smooth leaves and fruit would not hold the poison, and so it would
soon be removed. Acting upon this supposition, I sprayed the trees three
times, and saw a marked benefit. The plums on the trees not sprayed
were badly injured; those sprayed were injured scarcely at all.

" In spraying apples the case is different. The rough calyx of the apple
holds the poison just where it is needed to kill the codling moth larva.
But some one may ask, if we must spray why not omit the plums and
spray the apples for curculio and moth alike? I answer, one spraying
(two at most) will suffice for the apple, while two (and better three) are
required for the plum. Thus the economical method is to plant plums in
close proximity to the apple, and spray both, but repeat the operation once
or twice in case of the plum. Thus we save much time and expense.

" In spraying fruit for any insects the work should not be done till the
blossoms have fallen off. This is early enough, and to spray earlier
endangers the bees, wdiich not only gather the honey, but by cross-fertil-
izing the flowers make the trees, etc., much more fruitful.

" In this connection let me say that I believe that one pound of London
purple is quite enough to mix with two hundred gallons of water. Then
we can do the thorough work required, and yet not harm the foliage. This
I believe quite important, in case we spray two or three times.

" The carbolated plaster is a modification of Mr. J. N. Stearns' idea.
He mixes carbolic acid with slaked lime. I found that plaster was
better than lime. It mixes easier and is pleasanter to use, as the lime is
so fine and light that it flies away at the least whiff of wind. The
plaster mixes easily, is convenient to apply, and I should persume might
benefit as a fertilizer. I used one pint of crude carbolic acid to one hun-
dred pounds of plaster. This was thoroughly mixed so that the acid w^as
everywhere incorporated in the plaster. This was sown or thrown upon
the trees, just as the blossoms fell, and twice afterward. The plums,
cherries, etc., thus treated were almost entirely free of insects, while others
were much injured.

"In case one had only phims, this is a good remedy. It saves the plums,
costs very little, and is entirely safe. If it simply drives the insects to
other fruit or orchards, this is not so greatly in its favor. In some of the
arsenites, the supposition is that the insects, in eating the fruit, and pos-
sibly the leaves, are poisoned, while in case of the carbolic acid we suppose
they are only driven off by the offensive application.

" The third remedy, spraying with concentrated lime-water, was tried by
Prof. C. M. Weed of the Ohio experiment station. He used four quarts of
air-slaked lime to a barrel of water, and used this so plentifully that the
foliage was whitened. He made the application May 17, just as the blos-
soms had fallen; May 21, after a heavy rain; May 26, also after a heavy
rain, and finally on June 2. He reports a large benefit, forty per cent,
from this treatment, Imt not as great as that from the use of London
purple. If the lime should prove a specific against the curculio ravages,
it would, like the carbolated plaster, have the merit of safety. Yet this,
too, would only drive the enemy elsewhere.

PROCEEDIXGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 39

" We tliiis have these three remedies before us. We shall labor to ascer-
tain which is the most desiralJle, and report to the fruitgrowers of the
country.

WIKE-WORMS.

" Prof. J. H. Comstock reports a new way to prevent the ravages of the
wire-worm. It is to trap the beetles. He finds that bunches of clover laid
in the field will attract the beetles, when the latter can be killed ; and thus,
he argiies, the eggs will not be laid, and the wire-worm difficulty will be
solved. He experimented further by putting Paris green on the clover, and
found that the beetles were poisoned. Thus we have the old cut-worm
remedy now recommended for wire-worms. In the first place it destroys
the larvpe, while in the second it kills the beetles. This is certainly worth
a thorough trial. There are only two difl&culties in the way. First, were
the beetles actually captured really the parents of the destructive wire-
worms? Again, I fear that this remedy will never be very practicable.
We are, in most sections, troubled only occasionly with wire-worms, and
the grubs live two or three years. Now it is a great question whether any
farmer, or at least any considerable number of farmers, will bait or trap
for beetles every year to prevent a possible evil not yet at hand. In case
the wire-worms are present and destructive every year, as in some of the
low-ground onion regions of Michigan, the practicability would be less
problematical, and the remedy might be well and expectantly tried. Our
people are too hopefid to fight against a foe that may never come."

A Voice: When should the first application be made?

Prof. Cook : For both the curculio and the codlin moth, the first time
should be immediately after the blossoms fall, and not before because of
liability to injury to bees. Curculio will fly to fruit trees — have been
known to fly a mile or more — and hence cotton bands, saturated or other-
wise, about the tree are of no use. There is one parasitic enemy of the
curculio, an ichneumon fly, but as it feeds upon the larvae, and can only
get at them when near the surface, they are soon beyond reach. Curculio
have no choice of foliage among varieties of plum, at least not to such an
extent that any variety may be said to be curculio-proof. The insect pre-
fers plums to apples to work upon.

A. C. Glidden of Paw Paw: Has the curculio educated his appetite?
Is there such a thing in insect life? There may be, but it is more likely
that the curculio changed his pasturage from the forests to the fruit trees
because he had to, supplies running short in the former. But it still is a
fact that insects have the peculiar power of acquiring appetite.

Prof. Cook: I deem it better to use one pound of London purple to 200
gallons of water and apply more thoroughly. Many fail at this point.
Use considerable force, and dwell upon the tree, which you can safely do
with the weaker solution. We shall experiment this spring with Paris
green and London purple on foliage under all conditions. My preference
is for London purple. We may also use poison for curculio on peaches as
soon as we find them at work. Prof. Forbes' experiments showed that cur-
culio feed upon leaves and that London purple kills them. Use of corro-
sive sublimate is dangerous and should not be encouraged. One pint of
crude carbolic acid well mixed into fifty pounds of plaster and dusted over

40 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the foliage when the latter is moist, has been effective in some cases. There
certainly is danger to bees from London purple or other arsenical spray.

Mr. Glidden: Will rain wash London purple out of the calyx? It does
get away, despite the theory that one lodgment of it there is sufficient, and
it goes very quickly.

Prof. Beal: The rain will work into the calyx and wash the poison out.

Prof. Cook: Growth of the apple, and the wind as well, will get it out.

Pres. Lyon: Mr. Wier's theory was that there are certain sorts of plum
upon which the curculio work but the larvae do not mature. I disbelieved
this but found it true of P. Americana. Mr. Wier proposes the planting
of this species, and thereby the elimination of curciilio.

Profs. Beal and Cook said they had seen wild plums (P. Americana)
quite ruined by curculio.

Prof. Cook : There is no probability of our being able to kill the curculio
larva, as it hatches well down in the young fruits, quite out of reach. Nor
is there any chance to reach it in the ground, as it is not then eating and
we would be unable to get poison to it if it were.

SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. Reid, with brief introductory remarks commending President Willits
and his work at the college, offered the following resolution, which was
adopted without dissent:

Resolved, That the Michigan State Horticultural society congratulate the horticul-
turists of the United States upon the selection of the Hon. Edwin Willits as assistant
secretary of agriculture, and commend Prest. Harrison for his choice; and that we have
the highest hopes of increased efficiency in practical work and results, of the agricultural
department, through Mr. Willits' labors, which we know will be directed with skill and
prosecuted witJi energy.

The committee on resolutions reported as follows, the last recommenda-
tion being discussed by several members and very warmly commended. It
is aimed at a bill introduced by Eepresentative Cole, repealing the act for
collection of agricultural statistics:

Resolved, That the members of the society, return their sincere and hearty thanks to
the local committee and the people of Lansing for their active and cordial efforts to
make the meetings a success ; to Professors Taft and Pattengill for their quaint histori-
cal sketches of Pomona and some of her principal fruits, and especially to the young
ladies who rendered their sketches in such a fluent and entertaining manner ; to the
choir for its pleasant music ; to the president, professors, and others connected with the
Agricultural college, for their invitation to visit the college, and for their courteous
attention in showing its various and interesting class exercises and departments ; to the
state board of agriculture, for the many evidences of their efforts to promote the horti-
cultural nite rests of our state; to those having the matter in charge, for their generous
hospitality in furnishing us such a sumptuous dmner ; to President Willits and Professor
Cook for their interesting, useful, and instructive lectures ; and, finally, while regretting
the loss to the college, we are thankful that President Willits goes from the great fruit
state of Michigan to a position at Washington, where the horticultural interest, not only
of our own state but of the nation, will receive a new impetus, and, under his enthusi-
astic, pushing ways, will get more of its deserved attention.

The following resolution was handed the committee :

Resolved, By the members of the society, that instead of repealing the law' with refer-
ence to collecting the agricultural statistics of Michigan, we favor doing all we can to
secure more complete reports, including our principal fruits, even at greater expense.
In our opinion it is. too soon to abandon any enterprise of this sort until it has had long
and thorough trial, and has been found impracticable and viseless.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 41

Which hitter resolution the committee endorse and recommend its adop-
tion.

C J. Monroe.
L. D. "Wat KINS.
N. A. Beecher.

Speaking as to the latter resolution, President Willits said that is;75,000
were appropriated by the department of agriculture for such purposes, but
he did not know how it had been expended. He meant to find out and have
it properly applied. The system should be extended and encouraged by
the United States government.

Mr. Glidden: I was deejDly stirred with indignation when I heard this.
It is said to have come from farmers who feared the system would become
harmful to them through its use by speculators, but no theory could be
more fallacious. Farmers should know enough to use the reports to their
own advantage.

Having pleasantly spent the afternoon to its later hours, the society made
final adjournment.
6

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING,

HELD AT DEVIL'S LAKE, LENAWEE COUNTY, JULY 23 AND 24, 1889.

On the banks of the large and picturesque body of water with this
unlovely name, was held the summer meeting, upon invitation of the Len-
awee County Horticultural society. The place of meeting was a beautiful
grove of second-growth oaks, on the south bank of the lake, which was all
that a grove could be to such a gathering ; but some of the sessions were
held in Beardslee's hotel, the weather lacking considerable of the usual
ardent July warmth.

The dates had been selected as ones likely to be after completion of the
wheat harvest ; but, owing to the unusually late season, we struck the mid-
dle of that busy time, and hence the attendance was light at some of the
sessions. So few were present in the morning that it was deemed best to
postpone the opening till afternoon, when the attendance was fairly good.

Mr. B. I. Laing of Adrian made an address of welcome, setting forth
the unfavorable conditions above referred to ; and spoke of the general
lack of a sufficient supply of fruit and vegetables upon farmers' tables, a
fault which, he thought, was decreasing in extent. He was briefly
responded to by President Lyon.

STONE FEUITS IN LENAWEE COUNTY.

D. G. Edmiston of Adrian: I began with enthusiasm to grow peaches
but suddenly and unexpectedly went out of the business — and in the winter
time, too. Three or four years ago I began spraying plums with London
purple, for the curculio. At first I thought I had struck just the right
thing; but the next year it was not so good and the following one it seemed
worthless. This may have been caused by the poison washing off. I have
only one variety which holds its fruit, the Shropshire Damson. Some lose
their fruit by the curculio, some by rotting. I have practiced spraying
upon all fruits except berries, and am on the whole greatly pleased, though
doubting its efficacy upon plums. My cherries were this year sound and
perfect; but so were those of others who did not spray at all. Curculio do
not trouble my peaches much. At first I hurt the foliage, but latterly I
reduced the strength of the solution to one pound to 200 or 250 gallons of
water.

Others said they found 250 to 300 gallons none to much ; and one grower
thought the poison caused cherries to crack.

President Lyon: If good results come from spraying for the curciilio, it
must by the eating of the foliage, if the mature insect is affected; or if the

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 43

larvjB, by eating some of the poison lodged in the crescent-shaped wound in
the fruit. So, as they keep up laying for several weeks and rains will wash
off the poison, the spraying must be kept up. But use of arsenical spray
upon the plum and peach is as yet experimental. One man at South Haven
sprayed his peach trees and has apparently ruined the whole. He charges
his loss to Prof. Bailey's advice; but Mr. Bailey defends himself by show-
ing that the solution was much stronger than he recommended.

DANGEK TO STOCK FROM SPRAYING.

Dr. W. Owen of Adrian: The Ohio experiment station bulletins say
there is no danger to pasturing animals under sprayed apple trees, but
advise that not enough be put on to cause the trees to drip.

Mr. Strong: A large tree will hold much spray before dripping.

A Voice: What if it rains?

Mr. Strong: That is different, but in my vicinity, we pay little or no
attention to it.

Mr. Laing : So in my vicinity, yet it must be dangerous.

J. L. Beal : I have been successful with sjjraying plums this year.

Porter Beal of Rollin: As the spray is so fine that there is but slight
dripping, and the quantity of poison is so slight, there is little danger. I
have allowed my sheep to run in the orchard and no harm ensued. If rain
carries the poison to the grass, it carries it also to the ground. It had
rained within forty-eight hours when I turned in my sheep.

PEACH-GROWING IN LENAWEE.

B. W. Steere of Adrian: We have in parts of Lenawee and Jackson
counties as good peach land as any in the west. On hights of ground
between the numerous lakes there is nearly always a crop. There would
have been a good croj3 this year, but the recent falling of the fruit leaves
it only a moderate one. This perhaps was caused by frosts in May.
Planting of peach trees continues to some extent, perhaps to a greater one
than twenty years ago, and some are enthusiastic in it.

Mr. Beal: Peach -growing is no longer considered a failure in Lenawee
county.

Mr. Edmiston : I do not think there are nearly so many peach trees on
the whole, as twenty years ago, but in favored localities the planting goes
on actively. The ordinary farmer no longer buys them with his apple
trees. In a part of the county peaches are grown very successfully.

Mrs. Adolph Wheeler of Adrian was introduced and read a paper upon

"THE WILD FLOWERS OF LENAWEE COUNTY."

"When searching for wild flowers I have many times been surprised by
the exquisite beauty of some species, previously unknown to me, and have
been equally surprised, after ascertaining its botanical name, to recognize
it as one familiar in the catalogues of well known florists.

" There are many species advertised for sale, which can be found within
this county, and will cost us but the trifling labor of transplanting, to make
oiir gardens bright with flowers as charming in colors and outlines as any
brought from other lands.

44 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

"•In looking over tlie lists offered by dealers in choice trees, slirubs, and
plants, I am often struck by the high estimation in which they hold many
of those which here thrive in their native soil, and it is to be regretted that
such are not always prized by us as they merit.

"The catalogue of a prominent European dealer, while noting many
species growing in California and the far west, also gives space and praise
to some thirty species indigenous to this country; while to indicate the
prices affixed to them I will only mention that forty cents is asked for a
Mandrake root, and thirty cents for a plant of Marsh Marigold, here often
called Cowslip.

"Our Adder-tongues are described as of exquisite beauty, either for
flowers or foliage, pretty in pots, and considered Ijy orchid growers to sur-
pass the foliage of their favorite and costly Cyprvpediums.

" That it is not only those who sell, but also those who buy, who appre-
ciate our native flora, I have personal knowledge, in having somewhat aided
an English family in procuring a large number of our American plants,
with w^hich they expected to increase the beauty and interest of their
country seat.

"A London newspaper, of recent date, noted the arrival in England of
an American gentleman, having in his care American trees and shrubs,
which were to be introduced on the estates of the Dukes of Westminster,
Portland, Sutherland, and Devonshire.

"It is pleasant to add that some of those same noblemen so appreciate
our bobolinks and orioles, that pairs of these birds were also carefully
transported across the ocean, and, ere this, have been liberated on the
grounds where their floral compatriots are established.

"In the list of plants ofl^ered by a firm in this country, which issues one
of the most artistically beautiful catalogues of the present time, one can
enumerate seven species of flowering trees or shrubs, ten of ferns, and
thirty-six of herbaceous plants that are growing almost at our doors.

"Is it because they are as free as air to us that we withhold the meed of
admiration ?

"In the list is the Asclepias tuherosa, which, as seen by one who is away
from its native profusion, is ' brilliant orange red, is one of the showiest of
our autumnal flowers, and deserves extensive cultivation. ' Do you not fear
that to some of us, who know it as Pleurisy Root, and whose accustomed
eyes see it blooming here, there, and nearly everywhere, it is 'only a weed?'

"The Cypripediwm spectahile, of which it is said, of all the known ter-
restrial orchids, there is none to equal this glorious plant, is, in plain Eng-
lish, the Lady's Slipper of our swamps ; but ought it therefore to lose any
of its charms?

" And in the list are other beauties still, from A, with its Asters and
Aquilegias to as near the end of the alphabet as U, where the inconspicuous
but graceful Bellwort is invested with all the dignity appertaining to the
sonorous title of Uvidaria grandiflora.

"The prices affixed to Red-buds of a dollar each, and shrub Cinque-
foils at fifty cents, with Cone-fiowers at twenty-five cents, are, perhaps,
material evidence of others' admiration.

"If you are a genuine lover of the wild flowers, you will read compliment-
ary descriptions of them with much pleasure, and though acknowledging
the charm of novelty, will believe that ?Y can easily be found among the
plants of a county, wdiere even the commonest call forth encomiums from
impartial judges.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 45

"You will have faith in the golden profusion of the Hypericums; in
the Liairis, -which from a sterile soil can win a royal robe; in the dazzling
reds and blues of the Lohclids; in the Dicoifra's purity of white and green;
in the rarity of the Jlertensia; in the marked individuality of the orchids,
and in the billows of beauty to be found in generous clumps of ferns.

"You will bring from the meadows and marshes the native lilies, and
will plant them where their crowned heads can rise above the masses of
others' foliage. So they grow when growing as they list, and so should
they be placed when growing in our gardens.

''If you can successfully grow the Yellow Fringed Orchis, you can have
a show of beauty seldom surpassed in the whole world of flowers.

"Memory has for me no fairer picture than that of the day when I first
saw its showy spikes of brilliant blossoms gleaming like flames among the
bracken. The beauty of that day, will never come back to me, for the hand
of the farmer has been raised against all the beauteous wildings of the
marsh, wherein the Orchids grew, and this same spring that saw them start
into luxuriant life, saw that life go out in the flames that precede cultiva-
tion.

"Closely following the opening buds of Hepaticas and Blood-roots and
Spring Beauties, come 'May's happy flowers of many a hue,' among which
you may find the AYild Ginger's brown woolly blossoms, Yiolets in various
shapes and colors, TriUiuins in white, and in brownish purple, delicate
CoIIiitsias in white and blue, the Solomon's Seal and Bane-berry in feathery
sprays of creamy white, the Squaw-weed and Hoary Puccoon in brilliant
yellows. Lupines in gay masses of purple, and the Pitcher-plant's odd
flowers in rich dark red.

J "For actual service in the use of cut flowers there are few, if any, more
excellent to combine with larger blossoms than the Flowering Spurge in
midsummer, and the White Snake-root that blooms still later. Both of
these plants, under their names of Euphoyhia coi'oUaia and Eiipatorium
agordoides, are now sold for that purpose by eastern dealers.

" Tephrosia Virginiana is a wild pea with beautifully shaded blossoms,
but I have been greatly grieved to find it difiicult of culture ; while the
Gerard ias seem to be hopeless cases, and the more one longs to have their
glowing masses in the garden the greater is the disappointment.

"To give us beauty late in the season, there are the Lady's Tresses, the
Wild Coreopsis, the Gentians, and many species of Golden Eods, including
the infrequent Solidago rigida, of stately habit and remarkably large
heads of flowers. Then also blooms the Grass of Parnassus, of which has
been written :

' Pale star that by the lochs of Galloway,

In wet green places twixt the deep and height,
Dost burn thine hour while Autumn ebbs away.

When now the moors have doffed the heather bright,
Grass of Parnassus, flower my heart's delight,

How gladly with the unpermitted bay —
Garlands foregone, and leaves that not decay —

How gladly would I twine thee, if I might!
The bays are out of reach! But far below

The peaks forbidden of the Muses" hill.
Grass of Parnassus, thy returning glow

Between September and October chill,
Doth speak to me of Atitumns long ago,

And my old memories are with me still.'

46 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

"We have many flowering trees and shrul^s, and from the early blossoms
of the Service-tree, to the Black Alder, glowing with berries of vivid red,
there is always among them beauty of flower, or fruit, or foliage. We
may see,

'The snowy crown upon the Thorn,

The Crab-tree's rosy torch of spicy bloom,
The Judas-tree, fresh from the baths of morn,
Light the faint emerald gloom.'

"One of our commonest shrubs, the Biitton-bush, (Cephalanihus
occidentalis) is winning its way to public favor because of its season of
flowering, in July and August, and also 'because it thrives in almost any
situation, even under the shade of trees.

"The Red-root, {Ceanoihus Amevicanus) so often seen by the roadside,
also blooms in midsummer, and has many clusters of peculiarly interesting
flowers. In early times the leaves of this shrub were used as a substitute
for tea and it is now often called New Jersey Tea.

" Of our plants of climbing nature, the Virginia Creeper, and the feathery-
seeded Clematis, have already established themselves as favorite in city and
village. To these two the Bitter Sweet makes a fitting companion, and it
should stand equally well in our good graces. If you care for novelty, add
to your vines the Wild Bean, ( Apios fuberosa ) which blooms when flowers
are scarce, and is unique in both flower and fragrance.

"No rose is more beautiful in color than our climbing wild rose, in which
the delicate brightness of a newly opened blossom is enhanced by its semi-
spheric cluster of golden stamens. The species is interesting as being our
only native rose of climbing habit, and also in having been partly the orig-
inal of the well-known Queen of the Prairie.

" The plants are so rarely found that even their existence as natives of
Michigan has been somewhat doubted, but for some time I have been the
happy possessor of one found growing wild in this county.

" If yoii wish for ferns, Lenawee offers a number from which to choose,
unless, recognizing the beauty of all, you are not content with a selection,
but take home each species as you find it. Perhaps the list should be
headed by the Ostrich Fern, which, with its plume-like fronds, can well be
thought almost the loveliest of its order, though crowding close upon it are
the Lady Fern, and the Wood Ferns ; while the Maiden Hair is a creation
to speak of by itself, so dainty is it in form and substance. Its shining
stalks and spreading fronds are not only beautiful in their delicacy in spring
time, and in their maturity of summer growth, but often when fading to
their death they have shadings of such softness that even their decay seems
but a lovely transformation.

"And now, for all the native plants of this county, including the many
which time has precluded me from mentioning, I invite your curiosity,
believing that, if you will seek them and know them, you will find them
to be of such beauty or interest, that they will permanently retain your
regard.

"Memories of them lie in my mind as leaves lie in a book; and with
them are remembered the level pastures and the tangled thickets that edge
the Eaisin river, the peaceful beauty of the quiet woods, the undulating-
fields, the wandering brooks, and the dimpling lakes of Lenawee."

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 47

The president announced the following committees:

Fniif — Evart H. Scott of Ann Arbor, S. M. Pearsall of Grand Eapids,
Miss Mary Allis of Adrian.

Floiros (Old Forcsf}-u — Prof. L. R. Taft of Michigan Agricultural
College. Mrs. Edwy C. Eeid, of Allegan, Mrs. Adolph Wheeler of Adrian.

Resolutions — C- A. Sessions of Mears, Prof. L. R. Taft, N. J. Strong of
Fairfield.

Presdient Lyon read the appended paper upon the

GROWTH OF THE FRUIT TRADE.

"Quite within the recollection of many of us, the consumer, to secure a
supply of fruit, was obliged to seek out the grower and obtain what he
might need at first hands. The commission system, as today applied to
the handling and disposing of fruits, is of comparatively recent origin;
except perhaps as applied to the larger and less perishable fruits, in the
larger towns and cities. Much of this more modern development is doubt-
less due to the increased consumption of the smaller and more perishable
fruits, and the consequent need of rapid transit and prompt sales. That
the rapiditj' of railroad transit together with the telegraph and telephone,
have been important aids in this respect, is also doubtless true.

" With the increased interest in fruit-culture at the north, the abolition
of slavery has had the effect to direct attention strongly to the extreme
south, and especially to California and to the i3eninsula of Florida, and to
the development of their capacity for the growth of sub-tropical and even
tropical fruits; while, at the same time, improvements in ocean transpor-
tation have opened to the people of the north a large and growing trade in
many of the previously too perishable fruits of the AYest Indies and trop-
ical America.

" So rapidly has this trade developed that already our inland cities and
even ^'illages and country towns are supplied, not merely with oranges and
lemons, but with cocoanuts, pineapples, and bananas as well; and this, too,
at prices so moderate as to bring them within the reach of persons of very
moderate means.

"The increased consumjDtion of southern fruits is the natural and inevit-
able consequence of this state of affairs, with the result that they come
more or less directly into competition with those indigenous in our climate.

"This result has alread}- become so unmistakable that, in certain quar-
ters, a tariff has been suggested for the protection of growers of our northei-u
fruits. We strongly suspect, however, that the increased consumption of
these, to us, foreign fruits, is due rather to an increased use of fruits gen-
erally, and that the extent to which they really take the place of our
home-grown fruits ma}^ be comparatively slight. Be this as it may, it is
well to look the whole subject fairly in the face before asking even an
administration of protective proclivities to interpose in our favor.

"The growth of sub-tropical and even tropical fruits, including the
banana, pineapple, and even the cocoanut, guava, and various others, has
been already undertaken in Florida, as well as in southern California and
Arizona, and that, too, with apparent prospect of success. A tariff, there-
fore, while it might be high enough to exclude the foreign product, must
necessarily have the secondary, and, to us, the even more injurious effect,
to render the home production more decidedly profitable, and thus event-

48 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

uate in trausferring the dreaded competition to onr own borders, with
shorter and cheaper transportation and with the same tariff for protection
which we invoked to protect ourselves only. Better ' let well enough alone '
rather than attempt to 'play with edged tools.'

"The question, 'How shall we hold our own?' against these pomological
interlopers, however, may admit of another practical solution — one which
I have so long urged against the general practice of commercial fruit-
growers, that the renewal of it, in this connection, may be liable to the
charge of triteness. If we offer the buyer a Pennock apple, a Ben Davis,
or even a sour yet beautiful Bed Astrachan, in competition with a luscious
orange, pineapple, or banana, at anything approaching a parallel price, we
scarcely need state where his choice will fall; while if, on the other hand,
the choice shall lie between these and a fresh, clean, well-ripened straw-
berry or a rosy-cheeked peach, the scale will generally be reversed. The
lesson we deduce from this is: Do as the growers of our southern fruits
have long been doing — grow the best, select the fruits carefully and closely,
put the l^est only upon the market, put up neatly and honestly, in attrac-
tive packages, and" guarantee the quantity and quality.

"It is a common, if not, indeed, the almost universal, plea that city
people usually 'buy by the eye.' True as this but too commonly is, it may
with much propriety be charged to be largely the fault of growers, and
perchance of dealers also, who have so long and so generally grown for
mere appearance that the mass of buyers have come to assume that there
is no surer rule of selection. However this may be, we are persuaded that
the surest way to hold our own against this new competitor, is to improve
the quality and general attractiveness of our market varieties, even at an
increased expense for packages and handling, keeping fully abreast with
the growers of rival fruits in these particulars, and trusting to the
certainty that, with this and the higher quality, the superior condition,
and more lasting characteristics of our fruits, and their fresher condition
when they reach our markets, we will find little occasion to dread the
competition of even more perishable fruits coming from far greater
distances."

PORTEE Beal of Bollin: Is it a fact that the consumption of home-
grown fruit is decreasing by use of the foreign article? We can only
assume that it is, because we have no proof; and it is my opinion that it is
not. *

A. A. Geroe of Toledo, O. : I do not think consumption of our home-
grown fruits is decreasing. Only, more fruit of every kind comes to the
markets, and more is consumed.

B. W. Steere of Adrian: There is no cause for discouragement on this
score. For all the great increase in foreign fruit, there is more of our own
consumed than ever before.

Several others were of the same opinion, and there were none who
thought differently. President Lyon said the question has been widely
discussed by pomologists, having been raised in a paper by Mr. Hale of
Connecticut a few years ago.

Mr. Geroe: There is no doubt that the use of native fruits is greater
than ever before. Physicians all recommend it; the hotels all provide it;
and it is more frequently found upon our own tables. As a merchant I
buy and sell more more than ever, although the growth of the tropical fruit
trade is wonderful. I would advise the setting of the later varieties, so as

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. -49

not to come into so general competition with the same class of fruit grown
further south.

E. H. Scott of Ann Arbor: A few years ago fifty bushels of blackber-
ries glutted the Detroit market. Now 500 biTshels would not do it.

B. I. Laing of Lenawee Junction: Consumption of fruit by farmers is
increasing very fast; and since many of them have joined the horticultural
societies, they know better how to grow it.

There can be no question as to the rapid increase of consumj)tion of
home-grown fruits, said D. G. Edmiston of Adrian; and he contrasted the
condition of fruit production about Adrian twenty years ago and at pres-
ent. He believed the same is true as to other localities. Yet the southern
fruits have met with similar extension of their market. A car-load of
bananas are used where, a few years ago, a few bunches were sufficient, and
it is the some way with oranges.

public's fault in selection by size instead of taste.

Pres't Lyon: Would not the consumption of fruit in Adrian and other
markets still further increase if varieties of better quality were produced?

Mr. Edmiston: I am sorry that I can not agree to that. The great
majority of purchasers judge fruit by the eye, not by the palate. It is
especially so with strawberries. Buyers will take the biggest or showiest
berries without regard to quality.

Mr. Lyon : I did not mean the more perishable fruits, as in them there
is not such great difference as in the larger, staple fruits.

Mr. Edmiston: I aim to grow only what is rated first quality; but I find
size and appearance too often used as a basis of the judgment of buyers.

Mr. Geeoe : It is getting so in Toledo that what tastes best sells best.
That is natural. Fine size and color are desirable, but well ripened fruits
of the best taste, are the best for our trade. But a greater fault than this
of inferior quality, in the fruit trade, is the too prevalent scant measure
and inferior condition. [Applause.] I know of many cases of failure from
these practices, and of success from the giving of generous measure of good
fruit, with the grower's guaranty of uniformity of size and quality.

To this many of the growers present agreed.

Mr. Lyon: I found some years ago that low prices for fruit are not
wholly due to faults of the commission merchants. I know of a society
which voted in favor of full measiires; yet the package -maker to that
society told me that he was compelled to make "snide" packages for these
same men. I have concluded that this tendency is deeply rooted and is a
fruitfid cause of deterioration of prices.

ceoss-feetilization.

Prof. L. E. Taft of the Agricultural college, gave a brief talk on "Cross-
fertilization." Not having had sufficient time to prepare extended treat-
ment of the subject he exhibited photographs of squashes, raised at the
Agricultural college, showing the elfects of cross-fertilization, and said
that it accounted for wide variations in many fruits and vegetables.

STEAWBEEKIES.

President Lyon: There is a very common practice among originators
of new varieties of strawberry to have recourse to pistillate sorts. But it
7

50 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

may be ({nestioned if there is such a thing as a purely pistillate variety;
and the fact that a variety is claimed to be pistillate is rather against it.
There may be wholly j^istillate blossoms, but no such variety.

Mr. N. J. Strong of Fairfield : The Crescent is one of the best varieties
lately tried. It is very early, hangs on well, and I have got most money
from it.

Mr. Laing : We set Cumberland with Crescent, to fertilize it. We like
the latter pretty well but consider the former nearly worthless.

Mr. S. G. Eaton: Is it profitable to set old strawberry plants, and when
should the strawberry beds be set?

President Lyon: By no means set old plants. They have not enough
young roots. The best time to set depends upon the season, as to moisture.
The Crescent may, by its hardiness, induce more people to plant straw-
berries. It has many valualile qiialities for a near market, and it will
almost run out grass. Tliey get along very well shipping it into Chicago,
from Illinois, but not in re-shipping it out. Ninety-nine out of each one
hundred new sorts are worthless, yet there are enough good kinds for a
succession. Jessie is very large and beautiful, is hardy, and has other
virtues, but is not very good.

Asked to name five best sorts to plant, Mr. Lyon recommended, for
early, the Alpha, and said that from one season's trial he liked the Haver-
land, also Mt. Vernon; but would not name more, as they might not prove
to be at all adapted to this locality.

Mr. Edmiston : Of Crescent, Mt. Yernon, and Cumberland, I shall
increase my planting. The Cumberland sells well, though in quality
inferior, but Adrian people like it best of all. Mt. Vernon is good. I have
tried the Jessie; think its size and color satisfactory, but it does not
seem to be very productive and its ciuality is rather inferior. Summit
is large, most beautiful, fairly vigorous, and I think will be quite sat-
isfactory. Piper is of fair size and appearance, as good in looks as the
Wilson, but not as productive as some varieties. Nearly all in this vicinity
have quit growing Wilson. I know more than one hundred kinds, but
only a few are valuable. I have tried Livingston and been well pleased.
It is as early as Crescent and quality and color are very good. Man-
chester is considerably grown in my vicinity, and I tried it but found it
blighted badly. I grow by the matted row^ system chiefly. If I grew
only fruit for market I would not do so, but I grow both for fruit and
plants. Hills would produce more fruit.

After the singing of a song. Summer Days, ]:)y Miss Sheffield, adjourn-
ment was made till evening.

Tuesday Evening's Session.

It was decided to postpone till morning the reading of Chas. W. Gar-
field's paper on asparagus culture, and the society took up the topic,

APPLE ORCHARDS OF SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.

EvART H. Scott of Ann Arbor: Apple trees in my vicinity are gener-
ally in good condition. But comparatively little top-grafting has been
done, as most of the trees were properly grown. Baldwins have suffered

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 51

from drouth and cold winters to some extent. Red Canada should be top-
grafted ni)on Spy or Tallman Sweet. I would now, in setting an orchard,
use mainly Red Canada and Jonathan. The Jonathan is rapidly growing
in favor for hardiness, long keeping, and fine quality. I would not advise
the setting of fall ai)ples for market, as there are too many already. For
quality. Mother is one of the very best for home use.

Mr. Peaksall: People once grew the Spitzenburg to some extent, l)ut
the trees seem to be all gone.

Prest. Lyon: It has failed generally in the state, of late years, and so,
too, has the Yellow Beltlower.

Mr. Laixg: I have seen but little of the Bailey orchard of my town-
sljip, lately, but believe it is nearly all cut down — ruined l)y the canker-
worm. So, also, were one or two otherfe. Top-grafted Baldwins have done
much the best with me. That is the best way to treat the Baldwin here.
The Spitzenburg (Esopus) is here a failure, and while Yellow Belflower
•does well on young trees, it soon grows scabby. There is some damage
from sun-scald, to avoid which the trees should be leaned a little to the
southwest when set.

Dr. Owen: I have top-grafted Bed Canada into Talman Sweet with
perfect success. I had a few Newtown Pippin trees which bore only
gnarled fruit. I concluded they lacked lime. I put on old plaster and
ashes, and got, the second year after, as fine fruit of the kind as ever grew,
and have had good fruit ever since. I have three Yellow Belflowers upon
a very sandy hill and one on springy ground. From the latter I get good
crops, but from the others only scabby fruit, and it has been so for ten
years.

STOCK AND SCION.

Mr. Laing: There is much discussion and disagreement about the
influence of stock upon scion; but from several instances within my
exj^erience I am convinced that the tree into which they are set often
influences very plainly the fruit of grafts.

Mr. Beal : If the process of grafting very much changed the fruit, we
would scarcely be able to recognize even well-known varieties, for in the
nurseries they graft upon anything they can get to grow. It seems to be
true that apple scab has increased to such an extent that the fruit of all of
■our formerly successful ^orts, even if newly planted, becomes gnarled and
unsightly.

Prest. Lyon: There is a great difference in the influence of stocks upon
A'arieties. No kind is so much changed in this way as Rhode Island
Greening, yet it does not lose its identity. We are, in apple culture, upon
the border between the east and west. In the west the apple-grower is
told to head his trees low, a form not considered so imjjortant in the east,
nor till recently believed to be necessary or needful here. The change is
chiefly due to climatic changes. Some years ago we knew no such thing
as winter injury to fruit trees. We are, too, losing something of the early
qualities of the soil, and are not replacing them. Insects are increasing,
also, and adding much to our difiiculties. At Plymouth, Wayne county,
twenty years ago, the Red Canada M'as very generally grown and was jjerfect,
but now has almost wholly failed. Where one variety has failed, another
may do well and then fail also. Our way out lies in higher culture,
manuring, and care as to insects — in as careful culture as is given to
peaches.

52 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. Pearsall: I have always got just what I grafted, without variation.
Do not graft upon the crab stock, for growth will be so rapid that the
grafts will be likely to break off.

Mr. Strong : I had a very good crop of Cxreenings last year. I sprayed
the trees and only twelve per cent, were poor apples.

Mr. Pearsall: The Greening has not siiifered so much from climatic
changes as has the Spitzenburg. My PJiode Island Greenings are large
one year and small the next, and so alternate.

Dr. OwEX: Is the Pihode Island Greening still a good variety to plant?
Several said it was, especially in the western part of the state.

Prof. Taft : Many still cling to the idea that the stock effects often a
radical change. This is not so; its changes are only indirect. Care should
be taken as to manuring. Too high fertilization creates such fast growth
as to provide for winter-killing. Ashes are the very best manure for the
apple orchard, though well composted barnyard manure, upon worn soils,
would no doubt be good; but upon strong soils it is not advisable. Lime
is needful upon some lands: try its effects a little, and see, before making
general application of it. Plenty of proper food and shallow cultivation
are the secrets of success with apples.

Mr. Edmiston: Trees of Spitzenburg and Belflower are now seldom
called for by Lenawee county growers, while Ben Davis, Willow Twig^
and Stark are in demand. Mann has not been i:)lanted to any great extent.
Young trees of this variety, however, now scattered over the county, are
fairly successful, though they do not come up to Mr. Moody's representa-
tions. The fruit is under-size, but a good keeper, and the tree is not very
hardy, though hardiness was the claim specially made for it. Grimes'
Golden is considerably planted. The fruit is of fair size, fine quality, and
is very handsome.

varieties unwisely chosen.

Prest. Lyon again made the protest he makes often and effectively
against putting market varieties into the family orchard; and against the
planting of the cruder apples only, even for market, to the exclusion of the
better kinds.

Mr. Beal: Is it not the duty of nurserymen to inform their customers
as to what is best for family use? I would like to know what are best for
about a dozen trees for family use.

Mr. Edmiston: Nine men out of ten go to the nursery without any idea
of what they want. They come to me and ask, "What have you got?" I
have about forty varieties, but a dozen would be enough. I name the
kinds and they choose what they want. Most growers get a lot of varieties,
making their orchards worthless. They will not listen to advice about
kinds of which they know nothing or little, and it is impossible to change
this tendency. I try most of the new things that are offered, but there is
not one in one hundred of them that is equal to or better than well-known
old varieties.

Prest. Lyon: Some years ago I tested 800 or 400 varieties of pear and
apple, but I can count upon my fingers all that are worth anything. This
is true also as to strawberries and all ©tlier fruits. We are wasting our
money, year after year, in purchase and cultivation of these needless kinds.

Mr. Laing: There is occasionally a horticulturist who gives his orchard

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 53

good care; but farmers generally plant their orchards and then let them
go their own sweet way.

Mr. Beal: I think the apple orchards were pretty w^ell cared for while
they returned big crops, but are neglected since the returns were not so
great. I think there are more apple orchards l:>eing cut out in this county
than are being newly set.

Dr. Owen: I can hardly agree with Mr. Beal. I think the apple orch-
ards are now given better care than in former years; and spraying is very
generally practiced.

C. A. Sessions of Mears: I got spraying machinery from the Nixon
company, and several packages of their spraying mixture. This I reduced
one third below directions but hurt my plum and peach trees severely. I
was not early enough, but still I think the spraying stopped the work of
the curculio, for others, who did not spray, lost their fruit. I think I shall
spray next season and jar also.

Mr. StPiONG: Some years ago I got a good plum crop without either jar-
ring or spraying. This year I did both and yet lost the whole.

Prof. Taft: The curculio do eat the leaves. They have been seen to do
it and have been killed by eating poisoned leaves. I have used the solu-
tions of one pound of London purple to 200, 300, 500, 700, and 1,000 gal-
lons of water, and saw the effect on peach leaves of even the weakest of
these mixtures. I would not risk on peaches less than 500 gallons to the
pound; and this is as effectual on apples as any of the stronger ones. If
the weak solutions were used upon peaches, I believe it would be a grand
good thing.

Mr. Sessions: I sprayed sweet cherries and scarcely had a stung one.

Mr. Edmiston: Some pumps throw too much water, causing waste and
dripping AVith a half gallon I have sufficiently wet twelve-year-old apjjle
and pear trees.

Mr. Strong: I used fifty-five gallons to twelve eighteen-year trees,
but I gave them a good wetting.

Prof. Taft and Mr. Sessions had noticed that where trees were hurt by
spraying, the older leaves fell first. Prof. Taft said two thirds of the plums
could be saved, by spraying, in cases where otherwise the curculio would
take all.

Wednesdaij Morning Session.

The second day's proceedings began with the reading by the secretary
of Mr. C. W. Garfield's paper upon

ASPARAGUS CULTURE.

" Asparagus is a luxury with which every household should be well sup-
plied. It can be easily grown and delightfully prepared for the table with-
out special culinary endowments, and while satisfying the taste, accom-
plishes a valuable mission in the maintenance of good health. The princi-
pal reason why it is not a feature of every farm garden lies in the elaborate
methods of growing it recommended by horticultural experts.

54 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

" The mission of this monograph is to popularize the use of this excellent
vegetable, especially among those who have the land upon which to grow it.

"Asparagus has been known as a table vegetable from very early times^
having been mentioned in the earliest historical records; and as far back
as the beginning of the Christian era, shoots of this plant are mentioned
which in size compare favorably with the result of our best efforts today.

"The wild plant is a native of Europe and Asia and is scattered over a
wide area of these continents, but is not a native of our country. It is now
found, however, growing wild in most localities, having escaped from culti-
vation and found conditions admirably suited to its existence.

" Like many others of our best vegetables, the plant, as a botanical spec-
imen from the marshes of the Orient, bears little resemblance to the highly
developed esculent of the gardens of Paris, London, and Boston. It
belongs to the lily family and has no nearer relatives in this country than
Solomon's Seal and its counterfeit, smilacina. It grows so commonly
abroad, about the edges of salt marshes, that the opinion has prevailed
among gardeners that to grow the plant to perfection, as a garden vegetable,
a considerable dressing of salt is necessary. Careful experiments have
thrown some doubt upon the soundness of this belief. Botanists call the
species dioecious, because the male and female Howers grow on separate
plants. Thus in an asparagus field we usually find less than half the plants
bearing berries. This characteristic of the plant has led to the hypothesis
that to develop the highest type of a garden plantation, only male plants
should be chosen, thus avoiding the exhaustive process of growing the fruit
and eliminating the production of seedling plants from the fields, which
results from the periodical distribution of seed, and is unavoidable in a
mixed jjlantation. As yet no recorded experiments have shown any evi-
dence of the wisdom of this plan of management.

" In its wild state no varieties of asparagus have been noticed. Variations
of type under domestication have been observed, given names, and
catalogues of seedsmen have described these variations under the heads of
distinct varieties. It is rare, however, to find an instance when a pound
of seed has been sown and not resulted in the production of the described
varieties, no matter under what name the seed may have been purchased.
In my own plantation, from a package of seed labeled 'Conover's Collossal,'
purchased of one of our most reliable seedsmen, I have examples of three
distinct types, and from the most careful descriptions I could obtain of
the variety bought ( which, by the way, are very greatly lacking in per-
spicuity ) a rather small minority are true to tyi)e.

"I doubt not, however, that very considerable improvements in the
vegetable may be made by careful selection of plants for breeding pur-
poses, by one who has taste and time to be employed in the work of
selection.. I have plants which regularly furnish a finer quality of
product by far than the average of the field, and still others which
outstrip their fellows in vitality and quantity of product.

THE SEEDLING NURSERY.

"Although he who plants a few roots of asparagus need not be instructed
in the method of growing these plants, still it may be a matter of interest
to know how it is done. The ground for a seedling plantation, if choice
can be had, should be a rich, well-drained, sandy loam. A pound of seed,
costing sixty cents, will be sufficient for several hundred feet of drill.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 55

The ground should be in the best o£ tilth and the lines of drill made
about a foot apart and one inch deep. Impetus may be given to the
germination of the seed by soaking in warm water twenty-four hours
previous to planting. The seeds are placed about an inch beneath the
surface and a few seeds of radish, cabbage, or some quickly germinating
plant sown in the same drill to indicate the line for early cultivation in
advance of the sprouting of the asparagus.

"Once well above the surface, the plants should be thinned to three
inches in the row and given good cultivation throughout the season with a
scuffle-hoe and rake. Plants grown under favorable conditions are ready
at the end of one year's growth to go into permanent garden rows. Well-
grown yearling roots should have several strong buds and a well developed
root system. From a pound of good seed one should get 4,000 merchant-
able plants.

THE GARDEN PLANTATION.

"The best possible plan for a garden plantation of asparagus is to have
it in a single row parallel with the other varieties of vegetables and at one
side. If the soil is fitted to grow a large crop of any other vegetable, it
is good enough for asparagus. No special preparation is required, but it
should be remembered that asparagus, although not a deep grower, is a
gross feeder within the area upon which it draws for its sustenance. It
reaches further sidewise than in depth. Its feeding time is not confined
to the gathering season, but extends through the growing year. Hence
the application of fertilizers is always in order.

" For the reception of the plants, which should be strong yearlings, a
trench or furrow should be made wide enough to admit the plants and the
roots in their natural position, and of sufficient depth that the crowns of
the plants, when in position, shall be six inches beneath the level of the
surface of the garden, and three feet apart in the row. If two inches of
earth are drawn over the plants and well firmed about the roots, the
remainder may be filled in gradually during the season of cultivation.

" This row of plants will utilize the ground five feet on either side and
in a few years will have crowns a foot in diameter.

"This plantation is made for a half century, and if there is a choice of
location with reference to the embellishment of the garden area, this mat-
ter should be given serious consideration at the outs«?t. The row should
be given clean culture. A dressing of salt will kill the weeds and aspara-
gus will stand a large amount of it without apparent injury, but it is safer
and better in every way to secure the result by good cultivation rather
than saline application. I have for years used refuse sclt from a hide-
packing establishment as a dressing for an asparagus bed, and have noticed
that the larger the amount of animal refuse in the salt the more satisfac-
tory the application, and am convinced, if the salt were reduced to a mini-
mum and the animal refuse raised to a maximum, the results would be the
most complete. Asparagus delights in a sunny location and will respond
to food which is all ready for plant absorption, very promptly. The most
complete manure is barnyard dung containing very little coarse litter.
The product from out-of-door closets which have been kept inodorous by
the free use of clay, dust, or coal ashes, as absorbents, makes a fine fertil-
izer for asparagus, and it is under treatment with this material that the

56 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

largest recorded shoots have been grown. The asparagus row is a good
place for throwing the wood ashes.

" The keenest satisfaction may be derived by the amateur gardener from
the growth of immense shoots of this garden esculent. They develop so
rapidly in the growing season that hope is not long deferred after the
shoots begin to thrust their heads through the surface. But at the outset
one must wait for the first crop until tw^o years from the setting of the
plants, when a short season of picking may be made.

"I should have said earlier that in our climate the best time for planting
is in spring, when the garden is made.

"A knife should never be employed in gathering the product. The
stems should be broken off as far iDeneath. the ground as they will snap
readily. Theii no injury will be done to other buds and the whole stem
may be used for cooking. The consumer who purchases asparagus at the
stores, of which one half the stalk is white and woody, will appreciate the
advice to use no knife in gathering the stems.

"If the soil above the crowns is kept loose and friable, the shoots will be
straight and tender.

" In our climate, where we are likely to have sharp frosts during the
asparagus season, the precautionary measure of having a little coarse litter
along the row of asparagus, to be hastily drawn over the tender shoots
when the temperature drops, is a wise one. Often a picking that would
otherwise be entirely destroyed may be saved by this thoughtfulness.

" The gathering of the product, after the bed is in full bearing, should
be complete. Do not allow the spindling, thready shoots to grow, but keep
the plantation clean of sprouts until the season shall be over. The period
of gathering depends entirely upon the character of the season. A safe
rule to follow is to close the asparagus season with the advent of early
peas from your own garden.

"It is not uncommon with me to have shoots, under ordinary field cult-
ure, over an inch in diameter, and by special attention this may be increased
by one half. Mr. Burr, in his Garden Vegetables, records the largest pro-
duct in Britain, from one plant, to have been grown by a Mr. Grayson,
aggregating one hundred stalks with a weight of forty-two pounds.

"Dr. Kennicott writes of a bed planted twenty-four years, with the plants
four feet apart, cultivated with a horse and receiving annual dressings of
manure, which fui;;^iished a family of twenty for two months in each year,
at a less aggregate expense than that required to produce a dozen messes
of green peas for the same table. He says that any ground which will
grow a premium crop of corn will grow prize-taking asparagus.

"In arranging for a long season of asparagus, amateurs have taken
advantage of the fact that every inch of earth above the crown of the plants
defers the date of picking two days. By having a few plants with crowns
near the surface the season may be advanced somewhat and the picking
from these plants should be discontinued correspondingly early.

THE MARKET PLANTATION.

"It is best to grow one's own plants if practicable. If not, the best
yearling plants should be secured, af a cost not exceeding three dollars per
thousand in cpiantity.

"With a supply of fine yearling plants on hand, and a piece of ground

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 57

filed to grow seventy-five Inisliels of shelled corn per acre — land, if possi-
ble, of the character I described for the seed bed— it is not a very serious
job to pnt down an acre of asparagus.

"The record here given is a leaf from my own experience. My acre of
ground was a deep, sandy loam, upon which a heavy dressing of manure
had been placed the previous year and a crop of potatoes taken from it.
The land was turned two furrows deep and thoroughly cultivated, harrowed,
and smoothed with a planer. Rows were marked out four feet apart, and
with a plow trenches opened to a depth of nine inches. The ground once
in shape for planting, if a 'drizzly' day happens along just right, one has
the ideal conditions for putting in the plants. One man distributes the
plants three feet apart in the row and a second man puts them in place,
packing enough dirt firmly about the roots to cover them well. It requires
3,630 plants for the acre and the two men will, if active, put them in place
in a half day. The smoothing harrow drawn lengthwise of the plantation
completes the job, by rattling a little loose earth into the furrows. In a
few days the harrowing process can again be repeated, destroying the small
weeds, and I even followed a third time before the plants were high enough
to be injured.

'■ Upon ground that is heavily manured with stable manure, weeds grow
without provocation, and constant cultivation is required to insure the
continuous growth of the planted crop; but the careful culture required
to keep the weeds in abeyance is the ideal culture for the crop.

"At the end of the season the crowns of the asparagus plants are cov-
ered to a depth of six inches. The ground can be given thorough culture
to a depth of three or four inches across the field, without injury to the
plants.

"My first acre was planted six years ago and has been plowed over each
year just after burning off the tops in the autumn, and before the freezing
of the ground. I give it a biennial dressing of stable manure alternating
with dressing of refuse salt from a hide-packing establishment. The
dressing of manure is at the rate of thirty-two tons per acre, and the dress-
ing of the salt product ''about eight tons per acre. The latter dress-
ing is filled with animal products.

"In the spring of each year the ground is thoroughly cultivated, har-
rowed and finished with a planer, so that when we open the season of
picking the surface is as smooth as a floor.

"My picking season usually lasts about six weeks and the average pro-
duct is something over 400 dozen bunches. If I can have a trusty hand to
do the gathering, I do not allow a knife to be taken into the field. The
gatherer takes two rows at a time, breaking off the shoots just beneath the
ground at the lowest point where they will snap squarely ofi*. In the
growing season the field is gone over every day. Asparagus should be
sold by weight, like lettuce and pieplant; but, unfortunately, our retailers
have not as yet taken this progressive step, and we have asparagus, not
only of all grades of quality in the market, but bunches of all lengths
and sizes.

"Since I have used rubber elastics instead of string or bark for tying,
the process of bunching has been greatly abridged. Five dozen bunches
can be put together in an hour by an expert hand and neatly squared at
the ends.

"Because the finest French asparagus goes into market blanched, with
only the tips having any color, many people have absorbed the idea that

8

58 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

our own product, if found on the market with half the length of the stems
white, is the better for it. The truth is, the delicate product of the Paris
market has been carefully blanched after an approved method, is crisp
and tender its full length ; while a similar-looking product on our own
market, grown in our ordinary field culture, is more than half waste
because of the threads of woody fiber extending through the white part of
the stems.

"It is a custom among many of our gardeners, by the use of the knife, to-
give their bunches the required length by cutting far beneath the surface,
lowering the quality of their product and demoralizing the market. By
following my method of breaking the stems there is no waste and the
quality of the lower part of the stems is as excellent as any part of them.

" The doing away with the necessity of careful rules for cutting aspara-
gus, and the forms of implements best fitted for the purpose; the simply-
fying of the tying process, and the elimination of a large proportion of the
expense in preparing the field, are decidedly important steps in progressive
asparagus culture.

"'While for one's own table asparagus should be cut and cooked in the
same hour, by judicious handling the product of a field may be kept two
or three days and be fresh and plump for the market. This is done by
standing the biinches in fresh water and renewing it once in twelve hours,,
removing a little of the loose ends of the bunches with a sharp knife just-
previous to placing it on the market. .

" My practice is to keep my field clean of all sprouts from the beginning
to the end of the picking season. A shoot that is grassy or gnarled is
thrown away or fed to the calves.

" The plantation should not be weakened by too long a season of gather-
ing. A good rule to follow is to stop when the early peas are ready to
market from adjoining land.

" I have given a good deal of attention to the literature of asparagus
profits and confess that while my own product compares favorably witli
that secured from the same area by eastern gardeners, my profits are but
a fraction of theirs.

" The growing of asparagus as a field crop, however, in our state, may
be made a source of considerable profit, even at moderate prices. The
labor, after a plantation is once established, comes at a season when it is
least felt. The income, on the other hand, materializes at a season when
it is most needed — before other sources have begun to render any assist-
ance.

"Two exigencies have materially reduced the profits from my own field:;
(1) untimely frosts, which may in a single night nip the buds which
would otherwise mature into a full picking; (2) a hard wind will occasion-
ally arise just as a picking of shoots is nearly ready, and blow particles of
sand against them, puncturing the epidermis and inducing a gnarled,
monstrous, and often woody growth, thus destroying the picking for
market.

" To avoid evil results from the first contingency, I shall this year smooth
my field in autumn and spread over it a coating of coarse barn manure.
This will make a protection for winter and in spring this will be hauled
between the rows and be in readiness to quickly draw over the young buds
upon a sudden depression of temperature indicative of frost. This can be
done at a very slight expense and perhaps the investment of a few pennies
may save as many dollars.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 59

" For the second difficulty I have uo remedy, because the field is so situ-
ated that I cannot protect it from the prevailing winds by any wind-break.
Had I foreseen it before making the plantation, a more protected location
might have been chosen.

INSECT ENEMIES.

"The only insect enemy of asparagus which has appeared yet in our
state is the cutworm. Clean and continuous culture in early spring, fol-
lowing autumn plowing of the surface, has reduced this pest to a minimum
with me.

" That persistent enemy to the culture of this esculent, the asparagus
beetle, which appeared in eastern plantations as early as 1860, has not
reached us yet.

ORNAMENTAL USE OF ASPARAGUS.

" If it were not a common kind of vegetable, asparagus would take a
prominent place as a lawn decorative plant. Its airiness and delicacy,
combined with its pleasing tint of green and its perfection as a screen,
render it one of the most useful ornamental plants.

" It is inexpensive, grows rapidly, and requires little care. Many an
unsightly corner may be made attractive by its employment, and its use-
fulness in the kitchen garden ought not to reduce its popularity for orna-
mental purposes. Altogether, asparagus is one of our most valuable
importations from across the sea, and while we may not rival our French
brethren in the quality of the product we secure from the plant, perhaps
our tastes are not so highly cultivated but that our own product is as satis-
factory for our own peoj^le."

OTHER POINTS OF THE SUB.JECT.

Prest. Lyon : It need not be a matter of much difficulty to get non-seed-
ing or male plants. This habit of asparagus is constant, and it would be
easy to remove non-seeding crowns, divide them, and so get a plantation
yielding no seed. Another trouble from the seeding, besides the weaken-
ing of the seed-bearing plants, is the starting of new and weak crowns from
seed, and the consequent spoiling of the whole.

Dr. Owen: I have three beds, each, I think, of a distinct sort, some
superior to others, and not more than one plant in one hundred bears seed.
Five by three feet apart is too far for profit. Mr. Garfield is right about
the breaking off, instead of cutting, of the young shoots. I would like to
know if I can break up twenty-year-old crowns and replant with as good
results as from new seedlings.

Prest. Lyon: Perhaps not, with such very old plants. I would not set
the old crowns in large pieces, but take separate roots with a crown to each
and let them form new crowns. Necessarily, each seed of aspargus germin-
ates into a new sort, because it comes of cross-fertilization; but long pro-
cesses of the kind have made a race, and the same is true of several other
plants.

Mr. Steere : Mr. Owen can divide his old plants and have them do well,
but seedlings would have more vigor.

Dr. Owen: The bunches of roots are now bigger and stronger than I
am. I can't get them out. Six inches is too deep for the early crop — three
inches bring it forward much sooner.

60 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. Steeke: Deep planting comes from the old practice of using the
white shoots.

Mr. Edmistox : It might be better to plant a little thicker and then thin
out the seedlings; but Mr. Garfield's distance apart is not too great. Not
as good, strong plants can be got from division of old crowns as from use
of seedlings. At five by three feet apart the roots will soon fill the whole
space between the plants and most of the space between rows. It makes
not much difference how deeply the crowns are set, as they will rise and
get as near to the surface as it is natural for them to be.

Prest. Lyon: I have had experience with several of the so-called varieties,
but found them all the same.

Mr. C. B. Stowell of Hudson: I raise asparagais in rows four feet apart,
the plants twelve to fifteen inches apart in the row, and the crowns not
less than three inches below the surface. I iTse salt each alternate year,
400 to 500 pounds to my half acre. During the growing season I use a
cultivator or double-shovel plow between the rows; and a heavy drag, two
ways, in the spring before growth starts. Every other year I use stable
manure, and burn off the dead tops either in fall or spring — preferably the
spring — sometimes putting on a load or two of straw before burning. Next
fall I shall put on three or four inches of coarse manure, to retard the
starting, as there is more loss by frost than profit from early cuttings.

Dr. Owen : Frost not only hurts the growth which is above ground, but
checks the growth below.

SMALL FRUITS FOR PROFIT.

The secretary read the following paper, by Mr. J. N. Stearns of Kalama-
zoo, upon "The Management of Small Fruits for Profit."

" One great mistake I have frequently made, is trying to get too many
crops of small fruit from a single planting, and I find this one of the
hardest mistakes to correct.

"When we have gone to the expense of fitting and planting a plat for
strawberries, raspberries or blackberries, the temptation is strong to continue
this plantation as long as there is any show for a fair crop, and we let this
temptation influence us when oiir experience and better judgment teach
us it is not a profitable thing to do.

"I am satisfied that, in the long run, it pays best to fruit a strawberry
plantation but once, planting a new plat on new ground every year, and
for this there are several reasons. First, we get much finer fruit the first
crop, and fine fruit is what helps to built up a good reputation for your
business, which an inferior crop, from a second or third season's picking,
might go far to destroy; secondly, we are much more liable to breed injur-
ious insects, by continuing an old patch in fruitage ; and thirdly, it is but
little more work to plant and care for a new plantation, than it is to
properly clean out an old one after fruiting.

" I would advise, for field culture of the strawberry, that jDlants be set
3| feet apart each way and cultivated both w^ays, gradually narrowing the
cultivator as the hills spread. Give thorough cultivation as long as weeds
grow, and mulch as soon as the ground is frozen hard. 1 find greatest
profit in late varieties, holding them back in spring by leaving mulch on
as late as it can be safely done. Assort in picking, putting nothing but
No. 1 fruit in first grade. Watch closely that no picker squeezes or
bruises the fruit in picking. With the above management, I never
have had occasion to complain of unprofitable prices.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 61

((

With the raspberry, I do not think it will pay to continue the plat
longer than for three fvill crops, and the blackberry for five, and what I
have said above, regarding insects and disease, will apply with still
greater force with these. One of the most important points to make these
frnits profitable, is thorongh culture in the early part of the season. I have
in mind a good illustration of this fact, !n two places joining mine. For
the last three years I have observed these plats. One has been given
thorough cultivation all through the early part of the season, and none after
the fruit was harvested, while the other was neglected until the ground
was very dry and then cultivation was continued until late in the season.
The result is, the latter has never produced a remunerative crop of fruit,
while the former has never failed to do so.

" There has been so much written about pinching back of these fruits, I
will not take up much time on this point, but simply give my mode. I
pinch or cut off the young growth when about two and one-half feet high,
and do no side pinching or pruning until the following spring, at which
time the black varieties are headed in, leaving branches about a foot long.

" The Snyder blackberry should be headed in much closer than Lawton,
Kittatinny, or Taylor."

OTHER EXPEEIENCE.

Mr. Scott: As Mr. Stearns grows small fruits just as I do, I am left
with but little to say. The Taylor is one of the two blackberries I would
plant, and it is best of all in quality — the other one is the Snyder. I did
not get Nemaha true to name. I bought several thousand but it was the
biggest "sell" I ever suffered. So I have got out of the plant buying busi-
ness, because I can not depend upon what I purchase. Of red raspberries
I would set Hansell or Marlboro for early, Cuthbert for late; of blackcaps,
Souhegan or Tyler for early, Gregg for late. I would run a raspberry plan-
tation six to eight years, according to soil and culture.

Mr. Steeee: AVe voted Souhegan down and went back to Doolittle.

Prest. Lyon : You lost nothing by so doing.

Mr. Steere: But Doolittle will run oat. You must propagate from the
thorniest plants.

the nursery business.

Mr. Steere: We who are nurserymen should be ashamed if there were
no progress in our business. Being unaware of it, I have sold much nur-
sery stock which proved to be of worthless varieties ; and so has every other
nurseryman, through desire either to i)rovide the new things or meet the
popular demand. It is rare that one can find the best varieties of apple at
the nurseries, the "market" sorts having supplanted them in the popular
demand. The same is true of other fruits, except grapes, wherein there is
less distinction between the market kinds and those of best quality. I
regret this state of things, but otherwise there is great advancement in the
business. Apple trees are now grown closely instead of far apart with
spreading branches; and as good trees will be furnished at 815 as at any
higher price, as a rule, but it costs twice as much to grow a Bed Canada
tree as a Baldwin.

Many growers expressed themselves against the tendency to furnish a
low grade of trees through competition and low prices. Better trees at bet-
ter prices seem to be generally desired.

62 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV.

Wednesday Afternoon Session.

First in order for the closing session were reports from the committees
on fruit and on flowers and forestry, which were made as appears l^elow
and adopted.

EEPOKT ox niUIT.

The committee on fruit exhibit find, from D. G. Edmiston, of Adrian, a very fine
display of fruits, comprising two varieties of peacli — Waterloo and Briggs' Red May;
six varieties of apple — Red Astrachan, Primate, Wealthy, Flora, Red June, Tetofsky;
seven varieties of pear — Madeline, Rostiezer, Chambers, Osband's Summer, Doyenne
d'ete, and Tyson; eight varieties of raspberry — Hansell, Rancocas, Cuthbert. Golden
Queen, Marlboro, Shafi'er, Turner, ajid Gregg; two varieties of blackberry — Snyder
and Western Triumph; four varieties of gooseberry — Industry, Mountain Seedling,
Downing, Smith's Improved, and Houghton; two varieties of currant — Versailles and
Fay's Prolific. Dr. Owen of Adrian, exhibits three varieties of pear — Madeline,
Doyenne d'Ete, and one variety for name. Mr. J. L. Beal of Manitou Beach, has the
Cuthbert and Shaffer rasi^erries, Snyder and Kittatinny blackberries, and Alexander
peach; two varieties of plum — Lombard and one variety for name, all choice speci-
mens. Mr C. A. Sessions of Sammons' Landing, twelve varieties of plum, two
varieties of cherry, eight varieties of pear, two varieties of peach, one variety of
apples. The display is exceedingly creditable. Mr. Allis of Adrian, has one variety of
grape, two varieties of gooseberry, one variety of currant, and one of plum. Mr.
Steere shows fine plates of Cuthbert and Gregg raspberries, and Snyder blackberries,
three varieties of pear, and three varieties of apple. Mr. J. W. Allen of Quaker,
shows the finest basket of Amsden peaches that your committee has ever seen. Mr. J.
O. Beal of RoUin, exhibited Shaffer, Gregg, and Cuthbert raspberries, Snyder black-
berries. Summer Doyenne pear, and Early Harvest apple. The choice of varieties in
above exhibits is notably good, and for the season of the year makes an exceedingly
creditable display.

EvABT H. Scott.

Mary C. Allis.

S. M. Pearsall.

REPORT ON FLOWERS.

The committee on flowers found on the speaker's stand a large and interesting collec-
tion of wild flowers, collected and arranged by Mr. Benj. W. Steere of Adrian. Many
of them were rare and little known even to botanists. They aft'orded an excellent
exhibit of the richness of the natural flora of southeastern Michigan, and by their rich
and bright colors served a valuable purpose in decorating the stand. The care shown
in collecting and arranging them indicates that Mr. Steere is a true lover of nature.

L. R. Taft.

Mrs. Edwy C. Reid.

Mrs. Adolph Wheeler.

GRAPES IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN.

•

Mr. H. C. Beadish of Adrian: Grapes are yet green and you hare
called upon "a green hand" to talk to you. In 1880, in the three southern
tiers of counties of the state, in the only three counties reporting, three
and a half million pounds of grapes were prodiiced; and six years later in
the same counties, $75,000 worth were sold. By this, 1890 should show
a product of five million pounds. Much of our soil is natural to the grape,
and many more grapes might be raised, as easily, nearly, as apples. In
setting vineyards, a few each of the newer sorts, I think, might well be
planted. I have found that spray of the mixture of sulphate of copper
and lime prevents rot and mildew. This has been a favorable season for
these diseases. One of the best varieties is Delaware; of white grapes I
have done best with Martha; and Concord everybody knows, but a better

J

9

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 63

black grape is the Worden. It is seven to ten days earlier than Concord,
and is more hardy and productive, although I like the tlavor of Concord
fully as well. I believe Delaware and Martha, though both small, can be
made profitalile. I prune to three buds in the fall, and sometimes rub off
some of those in the spring. I allow two feet between vine and ground for
circulation of air. I have known Niagara to be profitable, but also to be
hurt by frost. I have not yet fruited Woodruff, but the vine is hardy; nor
Early Victor, but think well of it. AVliite grapes sell best and red ones
next. I dislike Wilder because there are not enough berries in its
bunches, but I have not found the same fault with Salem. The Worden's
berries are larger and its seeds smaller than the Concord's. Worden is
said to drop its fruit, and may do so where there are too many leaves or
too much vine, but it has not with me. If the Brighton be laid down in
winter, I would recommend it. The finest bunch of grapes I ever saw
grown out-doors was of this variety. The best keeper I know of, though
not the longest, is Salem. Isabella keeps longest of all grapes I grow. I
grow my canes obliquely, so that they may easier be laid down, for I lay
down all my grapes in winter, although I would risk Worden upon the
trellises. Laying down is not generally practiced here, but it pays, in
better crops, to do so. The spraying mixture I speak of is one pound of
sulphate of copper, two j^ounds of lime, and twenty-four gallons of water.
It is a preventive, not a cure, and will stop rot after it has begun.

Prest. Lyon: To lay down grapevines would be the better practice any-
where in Michigan. A good plan of pruning is to grow a single vine out
horizontally, or nearly so, and grow uprights from it. It is readily laid
down and affords a regular and easy system of pruning. Grapes are so
grown at Minnetonka, Minn., on the southern exposure of a hill, and in
perfection, even the Catawba. Choose your location so as to get warmth.
At Minnetonka I saw Eumelan and other such varieties, growing perfectly,
while we can scarcely get a perfect bunch.

Mr . Br ADISH : I cultivate my grapes as cleanly as I would corn.

Mr. Edmiston: Yery few growers in Lenawee county lay down their
grapes. A few, like Mr. Bradish, do so, especially the tenderer varieties.
I leave on my trellises Worden, Concord, Martha, and others. I use and
like the horizontal trellis. Posts are set six and a half feet out of the
ground, the cross-pieces at the top are two and a half feet long, bearing-
three wires, one in the center and one at each end. The vine is trained
upright, six and a half feet to the trellis, and I cultivate each way. I like
this method very much — the fruit hangs down beneath the trellis, and the
plan is not inconvenient either for picking or pruning.

Mr. SiGLEE : I lost my crop by rot last year, and have had much of it
this season, though there is enough fruit left for the vines to care for. I
did not spray, either year. I think rot is the result of heat after wet
weather.

Mr. Bk ADISH : I think also that is the cause of rot, or rather the condi-
tions in which it flourishes, starting from spores of fungus which settle
upon the grapes and develop when conditions are favorable.

Mr. SiGLER : We had no black rot till last season.

An entertaining diversion from the debate was here introduced, a reci-
tation by Miss Mary C. Allis, of Carleton's "The Lightning Rod Agent."

Mr. Steeke: I do not generally practice laying down, finding most vari-
eties, common here, to succeed very well without this extra labor. I do

04 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

7iot think the Martha a profitable variety. Pocklingtou is uot generally <
raised for market, bnt succeeds well.

Mr. Siglee: There is l:»ut one vineyard of Niagara in Adrian, that of
Mr. J. AV. Helme, who has a half acre of it. It succeeded very well till this
year, but now there is nothing in it that looks like grapes.

Mr. Bradish: Spring frosts did it; and fixed my grapes, too.

Mr. Edmiston: The Niagara was planted extensively, both by the ama-
teur and for market, and for a few years was fairly successful; but I have
never yet had good ones. It is unproductive, has small bunches, and is all
mildewed. The vines are in worthless condition and do not do well even in
the nursery. I get good crops of Martha and I like it. Brighton is well
worth laying down for sake of its large crops and sui:)erior beauty and
quality. Salem is mildewed nearly as badly as Niagara. Agawam is in
nearly perfect condition.

Mr. Sigler: Brighton is the finest grape ever grown outdoors in Amer-
ica. It is about half hardy and as fine as any foreign grape. I think the
Niagara not as hardy as Concord.

Mr. Keid: I am surprised to hear such a bad report of the Niagara from
this vicinity. It goes to show the truth of the saying that no variety of
grape is equally well adapted to all localities, nor even to any very widely
extended areas. Mr. H. H. Hayes of Talmadge, Ottawa county, and Messrs.
H. J. Kingsley of Fennville, and A. C. Merritt of Casco, both in Allegan
county, have more or less extensive vineyards of Niagara. Neither one lays
down the vines, which in each case have withstood several degrees below
zero, without injury, and each vine^^ard has borne heavy crops of perfect
fruit. In Mr. Hayes' vineyard I have seen the vines laden with tons of grapes,
and seen a score or more bunches picked of a pound's weight or more each.
Neither rot nor mildew has ever appeared in either of the three, but all
have suffered from frosts when others did.

the question box.

1. Which among the newer varieties of apjjle, are specially desirable
for southern Michigan ( and the same as to the plums)?

Brest. Lyon: Whether this is an inquiry for apples for winter use, as
long keepers, or for dessert, I am at a loss to say. Nothing is better than
Hubbardston for general purposes, but it is not a long keeper. The long-
est keeper used to be Red Canada, but it is failing in many places. For
market we need hardly go beyond the Baldwin. Hubbardston is uniform
in size, is large enough, has fine looks and good quality. For profit,
strictly, the Stark may be recommended. It is hardy, bears and keeps
well, and is of fair cpiality.

Several commended Morris' Bed, for market, as being hardier than
Baldwin and otherwise as good.

Brest. Lyon: We have a class of plums, Antcricaiia. at the west, a
number of them of very fair quality and not miich harmed by the curculio,
nor by dropping of leaves, nor by rot. I am trying them and advise all
to put oat a tree or two. The AVild Goose (Chicasaw ) is hardy but only
slightly productive, though it is claimed it may be fructified by other
sorts. Bradshaw is very successful with us upon the lake shore.

2. AVhat would l)e our most proper choice as the national flower?

Mr. Steere: I could hardly conclude without some thought. Mr.
Laing and Mr. Eeid: The Golden Rod. Mr. Sigler: The Dahlia.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 65

Mr. AVilson: The Smiflower. Mr. Beal: Is anytliing more persistent
than the Mullein? Others suggested the AVater Lily, Bouncing Betsy,
Corn Lily, and Arbutus. A vote was taken with this result: Dahlia 12,
Golden Rod 33, Sunflower 13, with a half dozen "scattering."

3. Has the Osage hedge any important advantages over other methods
of fencing?

Mr. AViLSON : I lately saw about a mile of it taken out and piled up. It
made a very good fence about a foot high, and I thought that was the best
way to use it.

Brest. Lyon: If that man failed, under proper conditions, it was not
the fault of the plant but of the grower. I do not understand that we are
speaking now of comparative expense.

One member objected to it because to have the fence we must sacrifice
the shade trees, for the hedge will not flourish under them.

Mr. Steeke: The question is not as to its possibilities, but as to its
advantages over others. It has none, and there are many objections to it.
Who can compute its total cost? No one, if cultivation be included.

4. What is the best cooking apple while unripe?

The Keswick, Astrachan, and Dawson were mentioned.
The committee submitted the following

EESOLUTIONS:

Resolved, That the thanks of this society are due to the members of the Lenawee
County Horticultural society for their invitation to hold this midsummer meeting on
the banks of this lake, one of the most beautiful and attractive i^laces in the Peninsular
state; also for their untiring efforts in providing for the wants and comforts of the
visitors from abroad.

Resolved, That the horticulturists of Lenawe county, by their attendance at this
meeting, and particularly by the talent they have displayed in the discussions, show
that they are worthy of the high opinion in which they are held by the horticulturists
of the state. We desire in this connection to testify our appreciation of the paper of
Mrs. Adolph Wheeler.

Resolved, That the faculty of the Agricultural college, for their continued efforts to
aid the society in its work, merit and should receive the support of the horticulturists
of the state.

Resolved, That the thanks of this society be extended to the proprietor of the hotel
at this place for the attentions and many favors shown us, including use of his
beautiful grove.

Resolved, That as a committee we congratulate the society upon the relation entered
into with the Detroit International Exposition, and on the brilliant prospects for the
success of our annual fair to be held in connection therewith, especially as it will open
a broader field to the society and greatly benefit the horticultural interests of the
state.

All of which we respectfully submit.

C. A. Sessions,
L. R. Tapt,
N. J. Strong.

These were adopted unanimously by a rising vote, and the society
adjourned without day.

9

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

HELD IN HART OCEAXA COUNTY, DEC. 3, 4, AND 5, 1889.

On Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 3, opened the nineteentli annual meeting of
the Michigan State Horticultural society, in the court house at Hart, the
meeting being in acceptance of an invitation of the Oceana County society.

The attendance, fair at the beginning, became very large, at times nearly
300 persons being present, nearly every one of them a fruitgrower, though
the citizens and ladies of Hart were by no means lacking in interest. But
almost everybody in the town is concerned directly in fruitgrowing, and
those who are not still have a lively appreciation of the value and importance
of the industry to their section. And it is important beyond anything else
that can now be discerned in Oceana county's future. It may be that this is
somewhat magnified by the exceptional conditions of this year, which gave
the Oceana growers full crops of peaches and plums, while those of the
older fruit regions i. rther south had either little or none at all. But in
any event, fruitgrowii:-;- in the county has come to stay and increase, what-
ever may happen elsewhere. Good markets are within easy reach and
the difficulties of care.ul and cheaper transportation must certainly be
solved in due time.

The entertainment provided by the people of Hart was bountiful and
their greetings warm; and farewells were said with assurance that the
meeting had resulted in almost unmeasurable good to the horticultural
interests.

President Lyon called the meeting to order and at once submitted, as
follows, his

ANNUAL ADDRESS.

"Neither the constitution nor the bylaws of the society provide for
advance statements to the president, by the officers of the society, of the
condition of their respective departments. Such being the case we leave
these matters to be brought before the meeting in the several reports of
such officers, and confine our remarks to other and special matters which
may or may not be referred to in the official reports to be submitted.

EXTENSION OF HOETICULTUBAL INTEKESTS.

"In my last annual address, reference was made to the fact that
the effective operations of the society, as well as its actual membership, is
confined to the southern portion of the lower peninsula, while its more

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 67

northern portions, together with the entire upper peninsula, are a sealed
book, so far as anything beyond a very general knowledge of their horti-
cultural or pomological capacities are concerned. An amount of means
c^uite beyond that subject to the control of the society is clearly necessary
to any effective missionary efforts for the development of horticulture
in the regions in question; and legislative assistance only would seem to
warrant an effort by the society in this direction. Such being the condi-
tion of affairs, we can only renew the suggestions of last year, that, through
a committee, or otherwise, the addresses of suitable persons in the at
present unoccupied counties of the state, be obtained, and that through
such persons copies of our annual reports be distributed to persons evinc-
ing an interest in horticultiiral pursuits, so long as a surplus of such vol-
umes shall remain in our hands.

" We further suggest that these volumes be supplied to county and other
local agricultural societies, on the same terms as to horticultural organiza-
tions, to be by them offered as premiums upon horticultural exhibits at
their annual fairs.

THE ANNUAL FAIR.

" Within the past year an International Exposition association has been
organized at Detroit, with abundant capital, grounds purchased aud per-
manent buildings constructed, in which, in September last, a highly suc-
cessful fair was held. Upon invitation, the executive board of this society
assumed the management of the horticultural portion of the exhibit,
including fruits, flowers, plants, and vegetables. The working up, bringing
together, and conducting of this department was mainly done l)y Secretary
Keid, to whom great credit is due for its effective management. The work
of the society has been warmly complimented by the management of the
fair. Particulars need not here be specified, since these will doubtless
appear in the secretary's annual report.

"This arrangement expired with the close of the September exhibit,
hence any subsequent co-operation must depend upon a future arrange-
ment (a letter requesting i)ropositions to this end having already been
received by Secretary Eeid), which, we suggest, may very properly be left
to the discretion of the executive board. This would seem to be the more
proper, for the reason that the date of the fair for 1890 has already been
fixed for August 26 to September 5 — a period quite too early for a cred-
itable exhibit of the long-keeping fruits of our state, and hence gravely
complicating the question of our ability to make an effective horticultural
display, although a slight compensation may be found in the more favor-
able season for the displays in other departments.

NEED OF A LATER EXHIBIT OF WINTER FRUITS.

" The occurrence of this complication leads naturally to a consideration of
the fact that the dates of the annual state fairs ( at which our exhibits of
long-keeping fruits have invariably been made in the past), have proved
quite too early for the display of these in their highest perfection, and this
fact leads us to suggest the query whether it may not be possible to devise
a plan for a display of these separately, say at our annual meeting, at
which time winter and late autumn fruits may be shown in their most
attractive condition, at a time when the mass of people are most at liberty,

68 STATE HORTICULTURAL. SOCIETY.

aud when they may be reudered the most effective in securing what the
society especially needs — an increased membership.

A SCHEME FOK MEMBERSHIP.

"As another apparently very effective method of retaining its member-
ship and increasing its members, we may douljtless profit by the example
of our friends of the Ontario society, who treat their membership as per-
manent, each being held pledged to an annual renewal, while as an induce-
ment to do this, an annual distribution is made to such members, of
recently introduced plants or fruit trees, of varieties deemed promising for
that region. By means of these inducements it is understood that the
society succeeds in keeping up its membership permanently to the number
of one thousand or more.

NEED OF BETTER WORK AT WASHINGTON.

• "It is now more than four years since the establishment of a division of
pomology, in connection with the department of agriculture at Washing-
ton. It is understood that the appropriations for the maintenance of such
division have, heretofore, been insufficient; and moreover, so hampered by
restrictions or limitations as to seriously intei'fere with its effective organi-
zation and the development of its plans. The recent elevation of the
department, constituting its head ©ne of the confidential advisers of the
president, with the known active sympathy of the former president of our
State Agricultural college, now assistant secretary, together with the incom-
ing of a new congress, present a favorable occasion to press upon the con-
sideration of the responsible authorities the great and rapidly increasing
importance of this subject, and especially the urgent need of an adequate
appropriation administered by thoroughly capable persons, to the end that
this new field for governmental effort be wisely and effectively occupied.
It will perhaps be found needful that such review and possible revision be
extended to the entire horticultural machinery of the department, to insure
that all its various branches be brought to work harmoniously.

" To this end we suggest the appointment of an individual, or a com-
mittee, to devise some effective method by which this whole subject may
be urged upon the attention of congress, as well as upon the officials of the
department in question.

" There have long been in existence national, state, and even local
organizations engaged in actively working out many of the problems to
which the new division will be expected to devote much attention, while,
very probably, much valuable knowledge thus locally acquired may have
failed to reach the general public from lack of the means of general dis-
semination.

"Recently the national department has devised the plan of collecting,
epitomizing, and publishing the valuable information developed by our
various experiment stations. It seems desirable, not to say highly impor-
tant, that an intimate reciprocity be also established between the depart-
ment and the various horticultural organizations in question, to the end
that the department may obtain reports of the transactions of each, and
publish, for general dissemination, such portions of the same as shall
prove to be of general interest. An application of this character, it is
believed, would stimidate these organizations to greater efficiency and

THE NIXETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 69

prove an effective aid in inereasinu; their memberslaip, as well as their
local usefulness.

"Assuming the desirability, not to say the importance, of such affiliation,
and realizing that it is not the custom of this class of government agencies
to volunteer their good offices in similar cases, we suggest that steps be
taken to invite the attention of the department to this matter, not by this
society only, but by others of kindred character.

KELATIONS TO THE COLLEGE AND EXPERIMENT STATION.

"It is clearly important that there be thorough sympathy as well as
<;lose afiiliation between the recently established experiment station, and
the State Agricultural college, (both being under the direction of our
state board of agriculture), and this society as the representative, in some
sense, of the horticulture of the state. That this has not always, if even
generally, been the case, may doubtless be, at least in part, attributed to
-our own shortcomings in the matter. It was formerly (and so far as we
are informed, still is), by law, the duty of the governor, with the approval
of the senate, to appoint the members of this board from among such
persons as shall be nominated to him by the agricultural and horticultural
societies of the state. So far as we know, such nomination has rarely if
ever been made by this society; while it is believed that, at least in many
cases, the governor's nominations have been made in the lack, or perchance
in disregard, of recommendations from such sources.

"That the horticultural interests of the state may have seriously suffered
in consequence of such omission, will appear from the following: 1.
Large numbers, if not even the majority, of our people, regard horticulture
as a minor, side interest, of too slight importance to call for more than
incidental attention. 2. The more prominent agriculturists and agricul-
tural sympathizers of today ( and for such reason those most likely to be
selected as members of the board), are frequently if not even generally,
specialists, and as such very naturally prone to undervalue others than
their own specialty. ,

HORTICULTURE DENIED ITS JUST RIGHTS.

" The outcome would seem to have been that, even with a representative
■of horticulture upon the board, its interests have been so far checkmated
by the underestimate of the majority that, with occasional and indeed
creditable exceptions, what we deem to have been the reasonable expecta-
tions of those interested specially in horticulture have not always been
realized. Under these circumstances, horticulture has apparently proved,
in general, to be the first if not in fact the chief sufferer. The remedy for
this condition of affairs would seem to lie, first, in an organized presenta-
tion of the importance and the needs of this interest by its friends; second,
in the biennial nomination to the governor of persons who, whatever their
affiliations, can as members of the board be relied on to accord to horti-
culture its i^roper dues; third, in an earnest opposition to the appointment
upon the board of any specialist, whether agriculturist or horticulturist,
unless at least his catholicity be clearly such as shall fit him to correctly
appreciate the relative importance of each of the several interests upon
which he may he called to act — a qualification of exceedingly rare occur-
rence.

70 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

" We are by no means to be understood, in this, to assume anything^
beyond the general tendencies in the case, and we close the subject l)y
urging upon the society the importance, not to say the necessity, of exert-
ing its influence in all proper ways for the securing of the results
indicated."

The recommendations of the president were referred to a committee,
Messrs. C. A. Sessions, W. H. Payne, and D. L. Garver.

SECRETARY'S REPORT.

Following this, Secretary Reid presented his annual report, which was
accepted and adopted:

" The year which is closing brought peculiar experiences, and some quite
unwelcome, to the fruitgrowers of Michigan, in the way of total or partial
failure of crops. The grapes were everywhere either completely ruined by
severe frosts in May, or were made so imperfect in bunch as to be impre-
sentable at the fairs and almost unsightly in the markets. The peach, in
the regions where it is most extensively cultivated, was nearly a complete
failure, while everywhere else it was productive. It seemed strange
indeed, for a deiiizen of Allegan or Van Buren county, where peaches are
nearly every year grown by the millions of baskets, but where not enough
for home consumption grew this year, to journey eastward and find peach
trees in bearing clear across the peninsula, where ordinarily they fail three
years out of four. Exceptions to this general statement were certain varie-
ties in favored localities in southern Kent, western Allegan and Van
Buren, and the new plantations in Berrien, besides this specially blessed
and flourishing region of Oceana county, where nearly every peach tree,.
and every one of the plums, bent beneath its burden of perfect fruit. The
strawberries were few but profitable, the raspberries and blackberries
plentiful and fairly remunerative except in Berrien county, where they are
grown by the square mile and dumped into Chicago at the rate of 8,000 to
12,000 cases daily. But pears were everywhere, in large yield and perfect
condition, and I heard of no grower who lost money by them. The state
of Michigan is, I believe, soon to grow more pears, and become more
famous for them, than any other state in the Union, as she already pro-
duces the very best in quality. The apple crop, supposed to be from fifty
to sixty per cent of an average, must have been considerably more, and
sold at highly satisfactory prices. For some reason, a climatic one, possi-
bly, the fruit was freer than in several previous years, from defects caused
by fungi or the codling moth, this desirable condition being heightened by
use of arsenical spray, which is fast coming into recognition as the fruit-
growers' best and strongest ally in the battle with insect foes.

"Yet while on the whole the year has not been one of the best, and in
many important pomological regions was one of the worst, there seems to
be no halt in the march of Michigan pomology. There is no preceptible
flagging of interest among fruitgrowers, and no doubt as to the profitable-
ness of pomology in the future. There are indications that the spring
planting of trees and vines will exceed that of any previous year; and this
will, I think, be specially the case with the apple and the pear.

"In connection with this sustained and advancing interest in horticulture
it is gratifying to know that the aft'airs of this society, which has been such
a jDotent factor in this result, are in a far more hopeful ^ate than at the

THE NINETEENTH ANNHJAL MEETING. 71

annual meeting one year ago. Not that they are all we could wish, in some
respects, but they are very much better than it was with good reason
feared they would become.

THE ANNUAL FAIE.

" Immediately after the organization of the Detroit International Fair
association, correspondence was begun with their officials with a view to
secu^'ing with them a relation similar to that which was long sustained to
the Michigan state fair. Our proposals were readily accepted and details
were arranged upon a visit to Detroit by Prest. Lyon, Mr. Garfield, and
myself. In brief, the agreement was the offering of $2,300 in premiums and
allowance of §1,550 for expenses. The result was in all respects satisfac-
tory, and even gratifying, to both this society and the Exposition manage-
ment. The large premiums offered drew exhibits from other states, and
the efforts of President Lyon secured a considerable number of sub-trop-
ical fruits which excited a remarkable degree of interest. In some features
the exhibit surpassed any other in the society's history, and on the whole,
it is but fair to say, was a great credit to the state. I would be undutif ul
should I omit special mention of the grand part taken by Oceana county in
this fair, both by your horticultural society and Messrs. Gebhart and
Sessions. The plum exhibit was almost marvelous, exciting the wonder
of all visitors, many of whom were loth to believe the beautiful fruits were
produced in Michigan — while but for Oceana county our show of peaches
would have been meagre indeed. Nor should mention be omitted of the
substantial aid rendered us by the State Agricultural college, in its great
show of fruits, vegetables, and samples of products of other departments,
exhibit of its methods and apparatus of instruction, etc. From the very
beginning this college has been to our society a willing and powerful friend
and deserves in return our heartiest and constant support, not on this score
alone but because of its intrinsic and increasing merit as a school of agri-
culture and horticulture.

The total of premiums awarded was §1,366.25, and §126.73 of the expense
fund was unexpended and left in the hands of the Exposition association.
The advantage gained was not in form of a large balance in our treasury,
such as sometimes resulted from former fairs, but from the expense fund
was paid nearly all the salary of the secretary for the year, which other-
wise could scarcely have been provided (and the society crippled in its
work as a consequence), and a prestige gained which can not fail of still
better results in the future. We have been invited by the Exposition
managers to submit proposals for conducting their horticultural show the
coming yeaa*, and immediate steps should be taken to close an agreement,
for work should begin at once. Already we have assurance of very fine
exhibits from without the state, and from within it as well if we are spared
from the incursions of the Frost King. The early date of the Exposition
for 1890 (Aug. 26 to Sept. 5), is in some respects to our disadvantage, but
in others quite the contrary.

•

THE ANNUAL REPORT

was issued very late — a month later than any of its predecessors, I believe
— a result, I may as well confess, due undoiibtedly to the fact that we had
"a new hand at the bellows." I am admonished by that phrase to counter,

72 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

in the interest of my immediate peace and personal safety, to explain that
there is in it no willful intimation that the papers the Report contains, and
the debates it chronicles, are mere pectoral wind. The demand for the
Report is pleasingly active and our receipts from it are already nearly as
great as in other years, with good prospects of further increase.

THE FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.

The amounts and sources of receipts appear Ijy the treasurer's report
and make a quite acceptable showing, both as to their amount and the bal-
ance on hand. During the year two life members were added, and I feel
confident that a little effort will result in a considerable increase.

An analysis of the expenditures shows a division of the total according
to the following classifications:

Expenses of the President's office S66 55

Secretary's salary 200 00

Expenses of Treasurer's office 3 37

Expenses of Library including librarian's salary 73 67

Expenses of Executive Board , 112 08

Annual fair 33 05

Printing and stationery 35 85

Volumeof 1887 1 50

Volume of 1888 15 00

Exchanges 7 90

Incidentals and quarterly meetings 11 55

Secretary's postage 43 21

S672 93

The receipts having been $715.89, there remain in the treasury $42.96,
with no demands against it for any expenses up to date.

ANNUAL REPORT OF TREASURER.

To the Officers and Members of the State Horticultural Society:

With pleasure I present my annual report.

In the Treasury Dec. 4, 1888 S342 03

Received from branch societies 112 20

Annual memberships , 44 00

Interest on bonds and mortgages 128 00

Donations 100

Volumes of 1888 and sale of fruit 24 66

Sold one fifty-dollar bond ." 64 00

Total $715 89

Paid 27 checks, amounting to 672 93

Balance on hand $42 96

There are 205 life members, the fund therefrom amounting to $2,050 00

Invested as follows:

Seymour mortgage $1,000 00

Lytell mortgage .• 300 00

Jacob Swell mortgage 300 00

W.A.Cook mortgage 350 00

U. S. Bonds 100 00

Total . $2,050 00

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

73

Received from all sources

Paid 27 checks, amounting to._

Balance in treasury ..

All of which IS submitted.

Grand Rapids. Dec. 2, 1889.

8715 89
672 93

842 96

S. M. Pearsall, Treasurer.

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF LIBRARIAN.

To the Executive Board and Members of the State Horticultural Society:

I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report as librarian of the State
Horticultural society, for the year ending December 1, 1889. The following tabulated
statement shows the number of our reports which have been received and distributed
during the past year:

Years.

1872

1873

1874

1875

1876

1877

1878

1879

1880

1881

1882

1883

1884

1885

1886

1887

1888

No. of books in lib-
rary Dec. 1, 1888...

No. of books received
during 1889

25

1

2

67

36

1

477

68

766

775

1,941

2,693

1,747

964

1,090

6,000

Total ..

25

1

2

67

36

1

477

68

766

775

1,941

2,693

1,747

964

1,090

6,000

No. of books distrib-
uted during year .

2
23

1

2

3

64

3
33

7
470

9
59

13
753

14
761

16
1,925

15

2,678

18
1,729

23
941

1,090

686

No. of books in lib-
rary Dec. 1, 1889....

1

5,314

There was a very great demand for the volume of 1887 by the members of the last
legislature, ownig to the article by President Lyon, "History of Michigan Horticulture."
I could have disposed of double the number if they had been on hand.

The followiiig books have been donated to the library and received
through exchanges during the year:

HORTICULiTUBAL, REPORTS.

New Jersey State Horticultural Society, 1SS8.
Illinois State Horticultural Society, 1888.
Minnesota State Horticultural Society, 1888.
Iowa State Horticultural Society, 1888.
Missouri State Horticultural Society, 1888.
Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, 1888.

AGRICULTURAL REPORTS.

Connecticut Board of Agriculture, 1888.
Kansas State Board of Agriculture, 1887, 1888.
Maine Board of Agriculture, 1888.
Agriculture of Pennsylvania, 1888.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Schedule of Prizes of Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 1889.
Kansas State Crop Reports, 1889.

The following books were received from President Lyon, as an addition
to the Lyon library, and are now at the Agricultural college:
10

74 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Rural New Yorker, 1888. complete.

Vick's Monthly. 1888. complete.

Canadian Horticulturist, 1888, complete.

Horticultural Art Journal, 1888, complete.

Popular Gardening. 1888, complete.

Prairie Farmer, 1888, complete.

Country Gentleman, 1888, complete.

American Garden, 1888, complete.

Rural Californian, 1888, complete.

Michigan Farmer, 1888, lacks Xos. 7 to 12, 13 and 14, 16 and 17.

Western Rural, 1888. lacks No. 2.

Orange Judd Farmer. 1888, \ol. IV., Nos. 11 to 26.

Gardener's Monthly for Jan., 1888.

BOUND VOLUMES.

American Journal of Horticulture, Vol. 1, 1867.
American Journal of Horticulture, Vol. 2, 18G7.

Very Respectfully.

T. H. FoRSTER, Librarian.

The report was accepted and ordered to be placed on the record of the
meeting.

HONEST MARKETING.

Consideration of the first topic of the programme, "Methods of securing
honest and satisfactory packing, transportation and marketing of fruits,
and protection of growers' interests," was begun by R. Morrill of Benton
Harbor, who remarked that precept upon precept had been offered upon
this question, but with no preceptible gain. The main trouble, perhaps,
is that the dishonest packers are not here, and probably do not read, so we
have no way to reach them. Legislation would be unavailing; and as he
knew of no remedy, he would like to hear from some wise men who have
knowledge of a preventive of the evil of dishonest packing. Western
Michigan has the worst reputation of any known in the Chicago market.
Every sort of deception is practiced. The peck has become both a quarter
and a fifth of a bushel; the barrel holds both twelve and ten pecks; and
quarts are both wine and dry measure, with pints the same. The only
possible cure for this ( if indeed it be possible ) is to convince the users of
"snide" packages that they lose money by the practice. The apple-
growers of interior Michigan use full barrels, and the prices they get excel
those paid for the ten-peck barrels by 25 to 50 cents, so that sum is paid
for the half bushel difference. Dishonesty rules equally in the packing.
Even bagas aie known to have been used for stuffing in apple barrels,
which are always well faced, however. A brand is soon known on the
market and honest, even packing is appreciated. South Water street
buyers are an exceptionally shrewd lot of men. I have noticed that when
they come to buy they first clear out the fruit which by honest packing
has become standard. They take this without examination and many
refuse even to look at that which is of bad reputation. Such are worked
off by the commission men in some way and with but little attention. If
a commission merchant is swindled by a shipper, and has to make up for
worthless fruit to the buyer, he is pretty sure to make himself whole on
that shipper's next lot, and he ought to.

Transportation is cheaper from western New York to Chicago than from
western Michigan, and largely because the railroads dislike to haul back

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 75

empty the cars tliey have taken east with freights of grain or other pro-
ducts. Here, I nnderstand, rates are not unreasonable, while at Benton
Harbor the boats afford us active, and often severe, competition.

The best protection for the shippers' interest is that which each can pro-
\4de for himself; and he can protect himself if he starts right and con-
tinues so.

ANOTHER GROWEE's EXPERIENCE.

N. B. Farnsworth of Shelby: When I came to this county eight years
ago I knew nothing of such growing of peaches as is now carried on. I
was first interested in fruit growing by an article by President Lyon on
best location for a peach and plum orchard; I became anxious to possess
an orchard, and so came here, selected land, cleared and planted it, and
this year had fruit from 412 trees which had borne also each of three pre-
ceding years. We must have honest growers — men honest alike to them-
selves and to their trees; and to have honest packing, we must have honest
peaches to pack. This year, of my Red Cheeks, select fruit, none meas-
ured less than 8^ inches and from that to 10; Stumps, 9^ to 10^; Susque-
hanna, 9^ to 11. Before sending any fruit to market I named my place
Mount Pleasant Fruit Farm, got a stencil of it, notified my merchant of
the brand, and and authorized him to open packages and show them to
buyers, returning if found unsatisfactory. My first returns were sixty
cents per basket, but ran up to $1.50 and $1.60 at the last. Mr. Farns-
worth contrasted these results with those that are sure to follow poor culti-
vation, insufiicient thinning or none at all, and the marketing of small and
imperfect fruit mixed with better grades. Of course, said he, the smaller
fruit must be shipped, but pack it uniformly and honestly, and not send a
mixture and call it select fruit.

PRICES AND PRACTICES.

Mr. Morrill told how his first shipments brought low prices, but bet-
ter rates followed when the merchants found his brand was good and his
standard kept up. But the fact remains that the majority of growers do
not thin their trees, and the trouble is to get at them. They have all
sorts and sizes on one tree, and can not keep the big ones from getting on
top in the baskets. Some men will adopt a brand, notify their merchants
and write a guaranty, but keep up the stuffing process, or resume it after
a little, trading upon their reputation. Mr. Farnsworth's fruit went to the
best hotels and sold instantly and at any price. But all the lesser grades
should be equally uniform. I saw, two years ago, a firm handle 80,000
baskets of peaches in a day, and the good ones went very quickly. I heard
the inquiry of a buyer, "How many Hinmans have you?" "Over one
hundred," was the answer. The pencil was run down the whole lot and
they were accepted without examination. [Reference is made to D. W.
Hinman, a Saugatuck township fruitgrower.] After such fruit was dis-
posed of, at about forty-five cents per basket, the rest was shoved out
unceremoniously, at 22 cents toward the last. There may have been some
good fruit among it; but if so the shippers of it had established no reputa-
tion and prftbably had not tried to get one. Mr. Morrill unreservedly
condemned the fifth basket, in part on the ground that the fourth is more
profitable, and urged growers to insist on having their baskets smooth
inside.

76 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. Farnsworth: I made two grades and gave away the culls, putting
my name on the selects only; but the seconds were uniformly packed and
brought from thirty to sixty-five cents per basket. I used fifths for the
selects, sewed tarlatane over them, and the 412 six-year trees yielded 360
bushels which sold for §1,064.70.

R. Skeels, Hart: I packed three grades. in fifth baskets, got from
eighty-five cents to SI. 50 per basket, and sent the culls in bushels which
sold for S2.50 to»S3.25 each.

R. Morrill: Do either of these gentlemen know of any man who delib-
erately "stuffs" fruit?

There was a profound silence and then a wide smile.

E. J. Shirts, Shelby: In the express ofiice myself and sons handled
seven eighths of all the fruit shipped from Shelby. A few shippers got
very high prices. The baskets were called fifths but in fact were only
sixths or sevenths, and yet some of these shippers talked louldly about
"snide" packages. He told of much dishonest packing, and said the
trouble is with the men, not with the peaches.

C. A, Hawley, Shelby : Among growers in my vicinity, I do not know of
one who intentionally defrauds; but some buyers do so. Mr. Hawley
urged growers to combine to secure better rates and conditions of transpor-
tation, and was sure they could be obtained, but by combination only.
Last season, said he, we shipped by three diff'erent ways to Chicago and
Milwaukee, and so frittered away our influence. When we agree as to
what we want, and unite in demanding it, we shall have it. •

Mr. Garfield to Mr. Morrill: Do you consider wine measure an hon-
est one for fruit?

Mr. Morrill: No, it is the beginning of the "snide." If we are to use
the fifth basket, we should make it standard. The capacity of the barrel is
legally defined, yet the ten-peck barrel is constantly used. The strawberry-
growers of Barnesville, Ohio, use the standard quart, and pack their fruit
upon honor, and I have seen sixteen-quart crates of Sharpless berries from
them sell for $8. From Benton Harbor go immense shipments of berries
of all sorts — from 8,000 to 12,000 crates daily — yet the honest packer is the
exception.

The chair appointed as a committee on fruit exhibits, Messrs. Garfield,
Cordley, and Bos.

Following this animated discussion, was a paper by Mr. C. A. Sessions
of Mears, upon

PEACH GROWING IN OCEANA COUNTY.

" You will all agree with me that the peach is the choicest fruit grown
in our latitude, and when it can be successfully cultivated it is the most
profitable. [I presume my plnm-growing friends will say nay to the last
statement.] With the improved methods for canning and evaporating,
the increased facilities for transportation, the large increase in the
number of consumers, and the gradual and rapid decline in its production
in the far-famed New Jersey and Delaware orchards, there can be no
doubt of its profitableness in the future where it can be successfully grown.

" Having stated these well-known facts, we will call youu attention to a
brief review of its history in Oceana county, covering a period of twenty-
two years.

THE XIXETEEXTH ANNUAL MEETING. 77

THE FIRST OKCHAKD. .

" The first orchard planted for commercial purposes was by the writer,
in the spring of 1867, upon Little Point An Sable. During the two follow-
ing seasons other large plantings were made, and by men who had no
practical knowledge of peach culture. Our trees grew as well as could be
expected, with the care they received, and when they reached the proper
age they bore good crops of fruit.

" Everything moved along in the usual way until the winter of 1874
and '75, when, on the 7th of February, an arctic wave swept over the
country, and wrought widespread destruction; and not only to the buds,
but whole orchards were destroyed all through the Michigan peach-belt,
wherever they had been planted on unsuitable lands.

" Our orchards survived that winter, and in spite of the extreme weather
(the coldest we have known for eighteen years), the more hardy varieties
produced some fruit, and one small orchard on the extremity of Little
Point Au Sable produced a full crop of Hale's Early and Early Crawford
peaches. This orchard was planted on an abrupt western slope facing
the lake.

RAPID SPEEAD OF PEACH-GROWING.

"About this time a number further in the interior commenced planting.
Some of these gentlemen were more thorough, and they succeeded so well
that others were induced to plant; and since about 1880, peach-growing
has been one of our established industries. Nature seemed to move along
in the even tenor of her way, until the winter of 1884 and '85, when
another arctic wave swept over the Michigan peach-belt and destroyed a
large number of trees where they had been planted on unfit or unsuitable
lands. There were a number of young Oceana county orchards that came
out of that winter without the loss of a single tree, and from that date to
the present time the number of trees planted and the product have
increased at a wonderful rate, and now peach-culture is one of our leading
industries.

THE METHODS OF CULTIVATION

" Are about as numerous as the planters, and the results bear about the
same degree of regularity. Perhaps a few suggestions right here would
be much better than to give the methods generally adopted.

" In the first place, great care should be used in the selection of the
ground, to get the proper elevation with good atmospheric drainage; then
a thorough preparation of the soil, this followed by a judicious selection of
varieties of healthy, well-grown trees. This must be followed with the
greatest possible care in planting, and that succeeded by a very thorough
cultivation of the soil. Our careful orchardists examine their trees twice
during the summer and destroy all grubs found working in the roots — or,
more generally, upon the Isody of the tree just at or a little below the sur-
face of the ground. Our best growers practice a system of cutting off
about one third of the previous season's growth, for the first three years
after planting. This gives the tree proper shape and prevents the top
outgrowing the root and body. There should be a careful thinning of the
fruit, in all overloaded trees, for two reasons : First, to prolong the life of

78 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the tree ; and second, to produce a large and more uniform fruit. As to
the proper heiglit to form the head of the young tree, there is a great
diversity of opinion; but the tendency seems to be toward lower heading,
and this plan is adopted by our most experienced growers, because, first, it
conforms to the natural tendency of the tree, which is to branch out very
low; second, the trees are not affected so much by the high winds and the
fruit is more easily gathered.

" The results so far have been very satisfactory to the growers, so much
so that the coming season will see the peach orchards of Oceana county
doubled in size."

A DISCUSSION OF VARIETIES.

•

Mr. MoERiLL: Will Mr. Sessions name his choice of eight sorts of
peach?

Mr. Sessions: So far as they have been tested here I would choose
Waterloo, Hale (very successful here, not better anywhere in Michigan,
and none pays better), Barnard, Early Crawford (some are setting Crane's
Early Yellow and Lewis), Stump, Oldmixon, and Hill's Chili. None
later than these can be regarded as successful here. Some also do well
with E-ivers and Jacques.

Mr. Farnsworth asked for a description of the Lewis and it was given
by the secretary, together with its history. It resembles Hale in appear-
ance and quality, but is much larger and a free-stone. About fifteen years
ago, N. W. Lewis got of H. J. Ray of Coloma, Berrien county, trees of
what was called St. Joe sugar peach. They were seedlings of Hill's Chili,
and all came true to name except one, which was the parent tree of the
Lewis. It is not valued for quality but because of its season, no other
peach ripening with it. Hence it is valuable for market.

President Lyon made some disparaging remark concerning the quality
of the Lewis, whereupon said

Mr. Morrill: The fact is, Mr. Lyon has a too fastidious taste. To
him a good Red Canada apple is scarcely good enough, yet to many it is
acceptable ; and so it is with the Lewis peach. No other ripens at its time,
and to the general public it is satisfactory.

Mr. Lyon protested that while the Lewis has certain commercial merits,
and its season is in its favor, it is not desirable to plant sorts that will pall
the public taste and make people think all peaches bad.

Mr. Farnsworth: Were I now to set a new orchard, I would choose
Hale, Yellow Rareripe (the earliest yellow peach, hardy and of good
quality), Large Early York, Snow's Orange or Barnard, Red Cheek,
Stump, Oldmixon and Hill's Chili. Of the latter sorts, the three preced-
ing Chili are white peaches, but if thinned well they will be large and sell
high. Don't look on the groiuid when thinning, or you will be frightened
and stop. I would set a few Susquehanna for fairs, etc., for it is the
largest and finest peach grown in the United States.

Mr. Morrill: Why omit Mountain Rose?

Thos. Braman: At the time Lewis ripens here we have also much finer
peaches, though it does well with us. I would plant Crane's Early Yellow
instead of Yellow Rareripe; and in place of Lewis, Burrill's Yellow, a new
peach.

E. J. Shirts commended Jacques.

C. A. Hawley gave as his choice, in setting an orchard, either Alexander,

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 79

Amsden, or Waterloo; Hale, a few Rivers, Mountain Rose, Oldmixon,
Stump, Barnard, a few Snow's Orange, Early Crawford (though Red
Cheek may be preferable), Jacques, Bronson, Hill's Chili, and Smock.

SOME OTHER POINTS.

T. S. GuRNEY of Hart: I know of peach orchards in this vicinity that
have borne for twenty-three years without a skip. I have heard much
talk aboiit elevation and air drainage, but know some orchards on hights
that do not do the best. I would like further light on the subject.

Jas. Brassington of Hart: As a first requisite I would set on high
ground, air drained, with proximity to the lake; next comes wise choice of
varieties, and next good care. I know of an orchard in Newaygo county,
which, three years ago, yielded 5$3,000 worth of peaches. We wonder how
this can be done, so far away from the lake, but the location was highly
favorable.

President Lyon: While cold air will naturally flow away from an eleva-
tion, there must be room, an outlet for its passage from the vicinity, for it
forms very rapidly. Some years ago the society met at Pentwater and
took a trip up the river to Sammons' Landing. We found scarcely a per-
fect leaf on the peach trees along the lake, while inland they were in quite
the ojjposite condition, though supposed to be under the same influences.
We wondered what made the difference, but learned afterward of the
prevalence, for several days, of raw, cold winds from the lake, which were
undoubtedly the cause of the injury.

T. S. Gurney: That was an exceptional circumstance. It has not
recurred since.

C. A. Sessions: The damage was only to certain varieties, in the greater
part, but only those close to the lake suffered much. The Crawfords were
nearly exempt, but all others suffered severely and never recovered. Very
little or nothing of the kind has been seen since.

Mr. Morrill: Have you any yellows?

Several voices: No, sir!

E. Stanhope of Mears, and T. S. Braman of Hart, each described a case
of disease corresponding to yellows. Each promptly cut the infected tree
and no more of the malady appeared.

Mr. Morrill: There is only one way — take out the doubtful tree.

Adjourned till 7:30 p. M.

Tuesday Evening Session.

The second session, that of Tuesday evening, of the annual meeting, was
occupied wholly by consideration of maple-sugar making, save that the
audience enjoyed a cordial address of welcome by Dr. H. J. Chadwick,
president of Hart village, and response by C. W. Garfield, and was enter-
tained with excellent vocal selections by the M. E. choir.

Dr. Chadwick alluded to the tendency of the men of the times to dissem-
inate knowledge, the result of discoveries, and spoke of the impression,
which had been too general, that all engaged in rural pursuits are "moss-
backs." In the latter respect, however, a change is in rajjid progress, and

80 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

horticulturists and farmers are comiiio- to the front in lei^islation, in i)nblic
affairs, and in hio-h official station. He dwelt at some length upon the
unsatisfying (quality of other piirsuits than those which take men out of
doors and into communion with nature, and closed with an effective recita-
tion of "Cleon and I."

Mr. Garfield first referred to the influence and results of the society's
work and meetings, and spoke of the impetus given to horticulture in
Oceana county by the results of this year's croj)s and sales. The great
value of the apple crop of 1889 engaged his attention, and he remarked
that it had been almost the only help of farmers in a year of general dis-
aster to crops. In Eaton county, many well-posted persons said, it was
equal in value to all the grains combined. "Is it not, then, worth while to
cherish an apple tree? and to have and sustain horticultural societies?
But there is a field of horticulture aliove that of the pocket, and it should
not be forgotten in discussing these commercial features."

Prof. A. B. Cordley, of the Michigan Agricultural College, was intro-
duced, and delivered the subjoined lecture upon

MAPLES AND MAPLE SUGAR.

" The full value of a sugar-bush is too little appreciated. Many look
upon such forests as a hindrance to progressive farming, while others
deem them of value only for the timber which they may yield. Both
practice the same method — or lack of method — and clear the land as
quickly as possible.

"If I can stay this waste; if I can show that it is for your interest as
fruitgrowers, to preserve at least a portion of your forests; and if I can
show that the maple sugar industry may be made to pay a larger dividend
than anything you are likely to raise upon the land after it is cleared, the
object of this paper will be fulfilled.

"To this end I shall attempt to show, (1) that you need forests as w^ind-
breaks and as a means of storing and distributing atmospheric moisture
more evenly; (2) I shall describe, in as few words as possible, the appa-
ratus needed and the methods of manufacture practiced in our best sugar-
bushes; (3)1 shall show what has been done, and is being done, from a
financial standpoint, in Michigan sugar-bushes.

NEED OF FORESTS AS WINDBREAKS.

"A windbreak is a great advantage to a fruitgrower, if properly situated
and constructed. Much of the increased difficulty of raising fruit in Mich-
igan, in late years, is no doubt due to the greatly diminished forest areas.
With nothing to break their force, heavy winds sweej) uninterrupted over
the orchards, carrying away moisture, at the same time that they break
down the trees and increase the supply of cider apples. All windbreaks,
however, are not beneficial. If too dense or improperly located, they may
do more harm than good. They should be open, especially on elevated
tracts. It is their province to check or break the force of the wind, not
stop it. For this reason, deciduous forest trees are preferable to evergreens.
They also permit better atmospheric drainage.

"As a means of storing and more evenly distributing atmospheric moist-
ure, forests are important. A fruitful season is one of abundant and well

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL. MEETING. 81

distributed rainfall, but there is a rapidly growing belief that the condi-
tions governing this distribution are changing as our forests disappear, and
that forests are becoming more destructive and droughts more severe. If,
then, you need forests, Prof. Davenport says, 'It is evident, from the stand-
point both of public economy and private enterprise, that the trees that
should receive our fostering care, are those that will sometimes yield a
reven^^e to their owner. Trees whose timber is valuable, or that yield
valuable products, exert, fully as well as do worthless ones, the beneficial
effects upon soil and climate. For forestry purposes proper, those trees-
are most valuable which yield a revenue without loss of the tree itself.'
The maple meets this requirement. Timber trees yield a revenue only at
death, but the maple declares, as an annual dividend, one of the most whole-
some, nutritious, and delicious articles of food, which needs only to be
known in nil its ])urity to command the market.

BEST UTENSILS MUST BE USED.

"To obtain the greatest dividend it is essential, in the manufacture of
maple syrup, as in everything else, to practice the best methods, and to put
upon the market nothing liut the best quality of syrup. No product of the
farm or garden can vary more in quality than maple syrup. It can be
found of all shades of color and of flavor, from the pure amber-colored
liquid produced by our best sugar-makers, to the almost black ' real maple
sugar' produced from the sap, leaves, insects, etc., gathered in open wooden
troughs and boiled doMai in open kettles, while the wind filled the attend-
ant's eyes with smoke and the sap with ashes.

"Such a process requires but little skill and less explanation. Leave the
troughs or buckets hanging on trees or lying on the ground near by, during
the summer and wdnter. They will be wanted in the same place next
spring. Let your sap-gatherer, if you have one, remain in the woods till
wanted. Be sure and never wash your buckets, pans, or kettles from the
commencement to the close of sugaring. We will guarantee the result.
Sugar-making won't pay. But if we are determined to make the best
article possible, we have a more ditHcult task. We must remember that in
sugar-making, above all else, 'cleanliness is next to godliness,' and take as
our motto, 'neatness and dispatch.' To secure these reciuisites, a sugar-
house is necessary. Comfort, convenience, and ijrofit, all unite in urging
the construction of such a house in every sugar-bush. We can not swing
a kettle to a jjole in the open air, where it is exposed to all the storms of
early spring, and to all the dust which a chance gust of wind may choose
to deposit in it, and exj^ect to make the best or even a passalile quality of
syrup. For the same reason, the sugar-house should consist of more than
one room. The boiling-room should be as neat as any kitchen and should
be separated from the woodshed by a light partition, that no dust from
splitting wood may be admitted. The store-trough should be partly within
and partly without the house. This facilitates emptying the gathering-
tank, while it is convenient for running the sap into the pans or evaporator.
It should be moveable and so arranged that, in the early part of
the season, wdien the weather is cold, the larger part can be
in the house to prevent the sap from f]-eezing, while in warmer
weather the larger portion may be outside to keep the sap cool and
sweet. It should be tin-lined, or if not, it should be painted both inside
and out and frequently scalded and scrubbed. The cover should fit as

11

82 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

closely as possible, not only to prevent access of dust, but to prevent the
sap from being exposed to the light. In fact sap should always be kept in
closed vessels until it enters the evaj)orator. The cove;* of the store-trough
should always extend to about a foot of the outer end. In the opening
thus left should hang two bags, one within the other, to receive and drain
the sap as it flows from the gathering tank. The inner one may be made
of 'factory,' but the outer one should be made of canton flannel with the
nap inside, that it may entangle and retain any small particles of foreign
matter that may pass through the first strainer. The trough should be at
least as high as the top of the evaporator, so that by means of a tul)e it
can be emptied without tipping or jumping.

USE AN EVAPORATOR, NOT KETTLES.

"No sugar-maker can aft'ord to use kettles. 'What is worth doing at all
is worth doing well.' Maple syrup can not be well made in iron kettles.
The long, rectangular pans, still in common use, are not objectionable, yet
even they are a relic of the past. 'Neatness and dispatch' is our motto.
Dispatch and the old-time pans are not in accord, hence we can not afford
to use them. The utmost dispatch is possible only with an evaporator.
These have many advantages over the pans. With the latter the same saj)
is boiled over and over before it is reduced to syrup, so that any impurities
it may contain become thoroughly steeped and incorporated with the
whole, while with the evaporator a small quantity at a time is quickly
converted into syrup. The evaporator saves fuel, not to speak of the
saving of time to the person who presides over the boiling-room. A-bove
all, by rushing our sap to syrup as quickly as possible, and not mixing it
with partially reduced syrup, we prevent that contact with the air which
gives so much of the dark color to syrup.

"Probably one of the fastest boiling evaporators is the Champion. Its
chief advantage, however, lies in the arrangement of the pans. These con-
sist of a large, corrugated, stationary pan, and three or four smaller mova-
ble ones, all connected by siphons. By this arrangement, the last or
sugaring-off pan of one day may be made the first sap pan of the next day,
and thus do away with the lime nuisance. Malate of lime, so annoying to
sugar-makers, is deposited only wdien the sap is reduced to good syrup,
hence it is readily redissolved when the cooled pan is placed where it
receives the thinner sap.

BEST METHODS OF TAPPING.

"In tapping, several points that affect the quantity and quality of the
sap obtained may be noted: ( 1 ), experiment has shown that it is the depth
and not the size of the cut that influences the flow of sap; (2), the
smoother and more perfect the cut, the better the flow of sap; (3), the
nearer the ground the tree can be conveniently tapped, the larger the
amount of sugar; (4), the place to be tapped should be sound, should be
as nearly vertical as possible, that the bucket may hang plumb and should
preferably be on the south or west side of a tree; (5), the bore should not be
over one and one-half or two inches deep, for while a deep cut yields more
sap it is greatly inferior in quality. Formerly an ax was thought the best
instrument to tap with, but now it is used only for rossing, and for that
an adz is better. In rossing, care should be taken to remove only the

o

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 8

rough outer bark, leaving the inner or bast layer to fit closely aroimd the
spout to prevent leaking. In tapping, use a sharp curved-lip bit, not over
onehalf inch in diameter. This secures the smooth cut so necessary for a
good flow with very little damage to the tree.

"The spile or spout, like anything else used in the sugar-bush, ilhistrates
the law of the survival of the fittest. From the ghastly ax-cut and the
basswood spile, to the auger-hole and wooden spout, was a long stride in
the right direction; but it was far from reaching the goal arrived at by the
sugar-makers of today. While the latter was far in advance of the former,
it lacked much that is required in a good spout. True, it kept the hole
from drying up, but it would not hold the pail. Worst of all, it soon
soured, and so came the false notion that only the first run would make
the best syrup. For this reason alone, if for no other, all wooden spiles
should be banished from every sugar-bush and their places supjjlied with
some of the many excellent metal spouts. Probably the best of these is
Post's Eureka spout Tuade by C. C. Post, Burlington, Yt. These are made
of galvanized iron, are*very strong, and do not rust. They are so held in
the tree by three flanges, that no sap-vessels are plugged; yet, if properly
driven, they never leak. Best of all, they hold the buckets directly and at
the same time allow us to

COVER THE BUCKETS.

" Covers are the least and yet the greatest improvement made in the
sugar-bush. Perfect neatness can not exist in the sugar-bush unless the
buckets are covered. They exclude rain, snow, dirt, insects, etc., from the
sap, and also tend to prevent freezing. Several styles are sold, but a
square jjiece of board, large enough to cover the pail, is as good as any-
thing. For some reasons it is the best; if the opposite sides are painted
different colors, it will save many steps, for in gathering sap the covers
can be reversed so that one who uses his eyes need not go twice to the
same tree. He can see by the color whether it was been visited or not.

"In hanging buckets we should see that the top is horizontal. A care-
less man may waste more than his wages each day from lack of care in
this respect. Tin buckets are best. They are lighter than wooden ones,
are not so liable to leakage, have no hoops to lose off, and are much more
easily and thoroughly cleaned. Never use less than twelve-quart pails —
sixteen-quart pails are best. The original cost is but little more and
much sap may be saved that would be wasted by smaller pails overflowing.

POINTS IN GATHERING SAP,

" The main thing in sugar-making, after seeing that all utensils are
<,'lean and covered, is to gather the sap as soon after it leaves the trees as
possible. Gather as often as you can, even though there is but a quart in
each pail. It will make more work, Init it will pay in the quality of the
syrup. Ozone, the active coloring matter of the air, must be allowed as
little contact with the sap as possible, if we desire a light-colored syrup.
Many use a large cask or wooden tank mounted on runners for gathering-
sap. The same objection may be raised to this that applies to all wooden
vessels used in sugar-making. It is likely to absorb the sap and become
sour. The best gathering-tank can be made of galvanized iron. The top
should incline strongly down from the circumference to form a funnel, or

84 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

it may be slightly concave with a strong two- or three-inch rim to prevent
slopping in filling. In the center should be a hole three or four inches in
diameter, over which a screen should be fitted to strain the sap as it enters
the' tank. This can easily be made l:)y allowing the edge of the iron around
the hole to project upward a short distance, forming a rim over which may
be fitted an inverted funnel-shaped cup, full of small holes. To make the
strainer still more perfect we can stretch a piece of cheese-cloth over the
rim l)efore putting on the cap. For convenience in emptying, a short
piece of gas pipe can be screwed into the side of the tank near the bottom.
To the outer end of this is screwed an elbow, to which is fastened a long
arm reaching to the top of the tank. When this arm is perpendicular no
sap can escai)e; but, on driving alongside the store trough, it can be brought
to a horizontal position and the tank emptied by the force of gravity alone.

BOILING, STORING, AND PACKING.

•' Before proceeding with the boiling, see that the evaporator is perfectly
clean. At the commencement of the season, and at the beginning of each
'run,' fill the evaporator with water, build the fire, and thoroughly scald
and scrub the pans. After a thoroiigh washing the water may be drawn
off and the sap allowed to flow" in until it is about two inches deep. To
secure the most rapid evaporation, and hence the lightest-colored syrup,
keep the sap in the pans as shallow as possible and still prevent burning.
As the work progresses, the sap must be dipped back from the syrup end
until, in the back end of the evaporator, it is thick enough to draw off. If
we use a Champion we have only to remove the back siphon for a short
time and so keep the syrup shallow in the back pan.

" It is something of a question to decide how thick to make syrup. If
too thick, it will crystallize on the bottom of the cans. If too thin, it lacks
flavor. When thought to be thick enough, a gallon may be drawn off* and
weighed. If while hot it weighs ten and one-half pounds, it will weigh
eleven when cold, and is thick enough. In drawing the syruj) from the
evaporator, pass it through a flannel strainer. It will remove nuich of the
lime.

'' Then run it into cans for market and seal it immediately. Many prefer
to seal it boiling hot. This gives a better flavor, though a little more of
the lime is retained.

" Never attempt to store syrup in wooden vessels. They are sure to
impart a woody flavor. One-, two-, foiir-, and ten-gallon tin cans are best.
These should close with a screw cover. Then, by fitting a piece of paste-
board into the cap, we can seal them air-tight.

" I have said nothing about sugar-making, because in general it don't
pay. Thirty gallons of sap will make one gallon of syrup. This will sell
for from $1 to $1.50 according to cpiality. The same sap will make about
seven or eight pounds of sugar, which at the most will not bring more
than one dollar, with all the extra work and expense thrown in.

A WORD ABOUT MARKETING.

"The last, but not the least important, work of the sugar-bush, is market-
ing the product. This is a science. The rules applicable to marketing-
other articles apply here. Manufacturers study the wants of their custom-
ers — try to suit their tastes. They place their goods before the public in

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 85

the most attractive shape and advertise them. Why should not sugar-
makers do the same? Do not take black-strap syrup, or equally dark sugar,
to market, and then complain that sugar-making does not pay. Produce
an article as light-colored as most honey, and take only the best to market.
Yalue your reputation more than dollars, and more dollars will come.
Have your name and guaranty upon every can, and if your syrup is
good it will soon sell itself. To advertise your goods, imitate the yeast-
cake fiends. Put up generous sample packages and send them to a few of
the wealthy men in the towns where you wish to establish a trade. Their
orders will soon follow ; and moreover, they will form centers from which
the flavor of maple syrup will tickle the palates of their friends. Prof.
Davenport says : ' A few years ago we filled an order for two gallons from
a little town in this state. Last year it took one hundred gallons to sweeten
that same little community. There is an inherent quality in good maple
syrup that sells itself.'

AFTER ALL, IT PAYS.

"The question of most interest to all is, does it pay? Can we afford to
invest a sum sufficient to purchase the outfit necessary for making the l)est
quality of syrup? Will it pay to leave a portion of our land uncleared for
a sugar-bush ? That depends on the man. If he is careless, and thus des-
troys or disguises the true majjle flavor, the profit will be largely dimin-
ished. The profit depends much upon the quality, for that is the factor,
above all others, that regulates the price. No profits can arise from making
an inferior article. If a person is willing to exercise the care and energy
necessary in growing and marketing the best fruit ; if he is willing to do
faithfully all that is implied in our motto ; to produce a ' guilt-edge ' article,
then syrup-making will pay. As proofs to substantiate my statements, I
quote the words of two Michigan sugar-makers, men whose knowledge and
exjoerience can not be c[uestioned.

"Prof. Davenpokt says: 'We tap one thousand trees which are scattered
over forty acres of land. It is by no means a choice piece of timber, as the
same number might, and often do, stand on twenty acres. Besides, the
land and cash investment is about $750.

"' Our annual product sells for from $350 to $500, with an average of
about $400, from which we deduct expenses as follows:

Labor, fuel, etc., $100.00

Wear of apparatus 15.00

Interest on $750 at 6 per cent — 45.00

Total cost of manufacture $160.00

a ii

• This leaves an average annual net profit of $240. As all expenses have
been deducted, the $240 may be considered as the income from an invest-
ment in forty acres of maple timber, which is six per cent, on the value of
the land at one hundred dollars per acre. This is above its market price.
If the money value of the land be $50 per acre, the investment yields a
dividend of tw^elve per cent.

" 'These may seem small figures, but we must consider that the business
needs at the longest but about six weeks' supervision in the year, with less
than four weeks of actual work, and that at a time when men and teams are
not employed to advantage upon the farm. Bear in mind also that this is

86 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

done upon land that costs nothing besides the original purchase moneys
without clearing, draining, or improving.

"'In the light of these facts, are not the results most gratifying? What
other farm product, with so little outlay of time, kbor, and money, will pay
twelve per cent, on the actual value of the land?'

"Prof. Cook's results are equally encouraging. He says: 'My bush
of (500 trees occupies about twenty acres. At $40 per acre this would
make $800. My house cost SI 50; evaporator and arch, $150; buckets, $120;
spouts, $20; gathering tank, $10; store-trough, $10, sled, $10; covers, $12;
and incidentals, $5. The interest on this at ten per cent would be $130. Add
to this $10 for wear and tear, and $35 for wood and labor, which is ample,
as the work of the farm is not pressing in these early days, and we have
the total cost of the manufacture as $180. Mr. Chamberlain gives the pro-
ceeds per tree as fifty cents. I would place it at forty cents, and when we
remember that a single tree has yielded six gallons of syrup, in a single
season, and that a whole bush has averaged two gallons to the tree for a
single, though exceptional, season, this seems a moderate estimate. This
would give us $240 from our 600 hundred trees, which is $60 above ten
per cent on the capital invested, and all with no risk.'

" These are good showings, but they are not the best. A sugar-bush
may be considei*ed a })ermanent investment, which will continue to pay
larger and larger dividends from year to year. Sugar-makers have a
monopoly and can keep it. From the nature of the case, over-production
is impossible. The area of maple jn'oduction is pretty well developed, and
if the whole product were converted into maple syrup there would not be
enough to sweeten the griddle cakes of the United States for one week.
Fruit-raising may become unprofitable, from over-production, but there
will never be a surplus of maple syrup. The supp% is steadily decreasing,
the demand is steadily increasing. All we have to do is to make a 'gilt-
edge' article, and let people know we have it, to be sure of 'gilt-edge
prices."

SUGAR-MAKING IN OCEANA COUNTY.

T. S. Gurney: Sugar-making should have been a source of money-mak-
ing to Oceana farmers, but most of them cut oflf their maple trees in
fancied pursuit of wealth; but it is not yet too late to make it a source of
great revenue. Mr. Gurney rehearsed his early recollections of sugar-
making with troughs of ash, basswood, and walnut, the latter since worth
$100 per 1000 feet; of how they cut the tree half through in tapping it,
and turned the troughs up against it to wait for the next season; of the
iron kettles, big fire, burned sap, and the milk, eggs, pork, etc., used to
cleanse the dark stuff. But the processes have been revolutionized and
now there is scarcely anything more profitable than sugar-making to the
man who owns a "bush." Mr. Gurney said he had 600 or 700 trees on
about ten acres, the tract being worth half its value for pasture, and last
year, from the sugar, he got $110 net and the work was done by another
man "on shares." He has a good eighty-acre farm he would like to rent
for $100 per year, yet those ten acres yielded him more than $110.

F. J. Russell: Twenty-five years ago every farmer made sugar. Now,
not one in twenty-five does so, yet we have much maple timber remaining,
and I conclude the industry has lapsed because it don't pay. In the south-
ern part of the state, sugar-making is easier work than here, because the

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 87

ground freezes and there is little snow, while here the snow is two to three
feet deep and the ground unfrozen when it comes time to make sugar.
Another difficulty is the excess of lime in the soil and hence in the sap
also.

Prof. Coedley: Oceana comity has taken premiums for the (quality of
her sugar, and the Champion evaporator obviates the lime nuisance.

' S. Reynolds of Hart: I tap 300 trees, only part of the number that
stand on forty acres, and make more from them than from my twenty-five
cleared acres. If I tapped all there are on the forty acres, I could make
more than from any four forties in the county. It is hard work, with
snow three and onehalf feet deep, but it is the most profitable of all my
work.

8. M. Peaesall of Grand Ptapids: Have you ever heard of "buddy"
sugar? I had some once, but it was from foul buckets, not from the buds.
To be profitable, sugar-making must be a very clean process. A single
leaf will color sap so that all the pork and eggs in the world
will not cleanse it. Keep it wholly clean and you can get syrup
and sugar perfectly white. The least burning or souring can
never be removed, and no matter if you have ten or fifteen barrels of
sap left at night, you must kee}) at work at it till it's all used up. Sugar-
making can be made profitable if a j)erson is tough enough to wallow
through the snow and be up all night, and if he can be constantly careful.
Ten gallons of syrup per day can be made, and that means ten dollars for
a day's work. It's grand.

Prof. Coedley: The dark sugar is sweet, of course, but not so sweet as
the white. By imperfect processes and by fermentation, some sugar is
turned to glucose, whicKis only two fifths as sweet as sugar.

T. S. Gueney: I do^ot think the snow is as bad as it used to be. As
the country clears up, fiie snow blows out of the woods to some extent.
The unfrozen state of the ground is an advantage, and the snow keeps the
sap cool and free from souring. We have a short, continuous season in
cool weather, and can make as much per tree as can be made in Ohio.

F. J. Pussell : But it is a difficult matter to break roads through three
feet of snow, with horses, and then, after a fresh fall, through eighteen
inches more. But if a man can sit around, and take a big share, and have
somebody else to do the work, it's all right.

Adjourned till 9 o'clock, A. M.

Wednesday Morning Session.

At the Wednesday morning session, after the appointment of Jas. F.
Taylor, Albert Jackson, and Thos. Wilde as a committee on resolutions,
Prof. L. P. Taft read the following valuable paper upon

DISEASES OF THE PLUM.

'' A\ e hear a great deal nowadays regarding the restriction of immigra-
tion of Chinese, and of others who are not likely to be desirable citizens;
and serious as the results may be to the country, if the stream now tending

88 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

to our shores is allowed to continue unchecked, it will be even more dis-
astrous to the plum orchards of Oceana county if the various fungous dis-
eases which have caused plum culture to be almost abandoned in many of
the eastern states shall gain a foothold in their midst.

" It therefore behooves each and every one to stand up for restricting
their immigration, and not only to be able to recognize them on their first
appearance, but to acquaint themselves with the best methods of destroy-
ing them. It may seem absurd to warn the fruitgrowers of this section of
the state, where diseases of the plum are unknown, against harboring them,
but other portions of the country have also thought themselves safe, and
at last woke up with their fruit rotting and their trees dying around them.
Forewarned should be forearmed. Secure as the plum crop may seem in
this section, it is by no meaus siire that it will always remain so, as at any
time one or more of the diseases that have proved disastrous in other
localities may appear here.

"Although other fruits may have more diseases attacking them, none are
subject to as virulent ones. The plum has some half dozen plant para-
sites, any one of which, if allowed to become firmly seated, will destroy the
crop and perhaps the tree itself. Some of them attack the trunk and
branches, others the fruit or the leaves; and in one case the blossoms,
leaves and fruit are attacked by the same one. These diseases are caused
by the development, within the tissues of the plum, of minute plants that
feed on the juices of their host, and by thus depriving it of its nourish-
ment, greatly weaken it.

" These microscopic plants are known as fungi, and from the fact that
they live on animals and on other plants, many of them are called para-
sitic fungi. AVe generally associate with the idea of a plant, certain
organs that make up its structure, as the root, stem, leaves, and fruit, and
although they are greatly modified in their forms, the fungi, such as the
mildews, rusts and smuts, possess such organs, the only ones that are
lacking being the leaves.

"Our common plants feed on various mineral substances taken up from
the air and soil, which must be changed into organic compounds before
they can be used for the building up of the plant. To perform this is the
principal function of the leaves. The fungi, feeding on the sap of other
plants, that has already been prepared by the leaves, have no need for
leaves of their own; and Nature, being very economical, has not taken the
trouble to supply them, or if they formerly possessed them they have
gradually atrophied through disuse. The toad-stools and puff-balls belong-
to one class of fungi, but in most cases their structure is very minute, and
can only be made out by means of the microscope.

GERMINATION AND GEOWTH OF THE FUNGI.

"The roots of the fimgi, or the parts by which they obtain their food
from their host, are minute, thread-like organs. In some fungi they enter
the tissues and penetrate the cells of which the plants are made up. In
others they pass around between the cells, through the so-called inter-
cellular spaces, and instead of entering the cells they send out short
branches, or suckers, called haustoria, which pass through the cell wall
and extract nourishment for the purpose of building up the structure of
the fungus. In still a third class, as in some of the mildews, the threads
remain on' the outside of their host, but the haustoria penetrate the ejjider-

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 89

mal cells. These threadlike organs make up the body of the fungus,
forming what is known as the mycelium.

"As soon as the fungus gets a good foothold, it prepares for its multipli-
cation and dissemination. For this purpose it develops a number of
upright shoots, or hijpluv, that correspond to the fruit-stalks of flowering
plants. If the fungus is one that lives within its host, these burst through
the epidermis or emerge through the stomata, and at their extremities the
spores are produced. The method of their production is very simple.
Either the hypluTe separate by means of cross-partitions, so that they
form a number of oval bodies resembling a string of beads, or they branch
and at their extremities the spherical or elliptical spores are produced.
These spores are minute bodies, varying in size from those that are barely
visible when magniiied with a microscope one hundred thousand times, to
others that can be made out when increased a few diameters.

"The number of spores that can be produced by a fungus is almost
beyond computation. From a single spore, a plant body may develop
which in a few days will give rise to millions of spores, and each of these,
if given the right conditions, may repeat the operation, and so on for
weeks and months. They are light, and floating about in the air are often
wafted long distances by the wind.

"While seeds of most of our higher ]>lants require a period of rest
before they can make a perfect development, the spores of fungi only
recjuire })roper conditions for immediate germination. If they fall upon a
moist surface they are ready for development, and with a proper tempera-
ture this takes place very rajjidly. If the spore falls on a plant that it can
use as a host, and finds there the proper conditions, it will push out one or
more mycelial threads, which will branch, and. according to their habit,
will spread through the tissues or remain on the surface and send their
haiistoria down to obtain nourishment.

"In addition to the numeroiis generations of the conidia, or summer
spores, that have been described, most plants, toward the close of the
season, produce what are known as winter spores. These are usually oval
bodies, with a thick cell wall, and for protection a number of them are
l^acked away in what are known as spore cases. These in turn are
enclosed in a thick receptacle. The organs in which the winter spores are
dexeloped are genevally sporangia ov pen'fJiccid. The latter is the most
usual form.

USE OF FUNGICIDES.

"It may be well at this point to speak briefly concerning the use of
fungicides, in general, for the destruction of fungi. When a fungus has
once gained access to the interior of a plant, no fungicide can be applied
that will destroy it. If, on the other hand, the fungus is without the plant,
or the si)ores are attempting to gain entrance, we have at our disposal a
number of very efficient remedies. For a long time it has been known
that sulphur was a valuable fungicide, and various compounds of sulphur,
usually in the forms of sulphides and sulphates, are now used for this
purpose. Among the mixtures that are used for the destruction of fungi,
the following have proved valuable:

12

90 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

BORDEAUX MIXTURE.

Sulphate of copper -4 pounds.

Lime 5 pounds.

Water 2'2 gallons.

EAU CELESTE.

Sulphate of copper 1 pound.

Ammonia 1 pint.

Water 22 gallons-
Simple solution of sulphate of copper, one pound to 22 gallons of water.

MODIFIED EAU CELESTE.

Sulphate of copper 2 pounds.

Ammonia 1}4 pints.

Carbonate of soda i 2 pounds.

Water 22 gallons.

SULPHIDE OF POTASSIUM.

Sulphide of potassium 5 ounces.

Water 10 gallons.

" If these solutions cau be used at tlie right time, any of them will do
the work, as they will destro}^ every spore or particle of fungus with which
they come in contact.

"The Bordeaux mixture will probably have the most lasting effect, but
the lime injures the appearance of the fruit, if it is applied after it has
developed.

" For ordinary work the different forms of eau celeste or the copper
carbonate will be found well adapted.

" For a long time these remedies have been used in France for the
destruction of fungi, and through the experiments and reports of our
national Department of Agriculture they are coming into general use in
this country.

THE BhACK-KT^OT—PlowHghtia morbosa.

" The disease that has been most destructive to cultivated plum trees is
commonly known as the black-knot. It receives its name from the dark,
wart-like swellings that it causes on the trunks and branches of plum and
cherry trees. It seems to be particxdarly destructive to our wild choke-
cherry, whose trunks and branches are often literally covered with its
unsightly knobs.

" The disease is of American origin, and for a long time has been a
serious hindrance to plum culture in many parts of the country.

"The plum orchards of Europe have as yet escaped its ravages, but
it is likely at any time to appear there. It is somewhat particular in
its choice of host plants, as it is not found on the wild black cherry,
(Prunvs seroUna), while it is of frequent occurrence on wild red,
(P. Pennsylvanica) and choke-cherry (P. Virgiiiiana), and on the
American (P. Americana) and beach (P. marifima) plums. For a
long time the nature of the disease was unknown, but it was generally

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

91

thought to be caused by iusects,
as the ]>lum curculio and others
frequently deposit their eggs in the
excrescences, soon after they form^
and the larvae, later on, hollow out
the knots.

" The fungus was first described
by Schweinitz, who called it Sjihd'ria
morhosa. Afterwards, however, it
was placed in the genus PJowr'ujldia.

"Even were it not known to be a
fungus, it can be shown that it was
not the work of insects. Among
the proofs commonly given are, (1)
the galls caused by insects have no
resemblance to the black-knot; (2)
the insects found in the knots are of
various species, and are often found
on trees that do not show the knots ;
( 8 ) knots are often found in which
there are no insects, and the insect
larv?e are never found until the
nots are half grown.

''While this of itself proves that
the insects are not the cause of the
sw^ellings, it may be added that, on
the other hand, the microscope will
reveal in every black-knot the char-
acteristic workings of the fungus.

" As the knots on the cherry have

Fig. 1. Black Knot. Plou-rightia morhosa, 8acc. „i- .i,fi,, ,1i#'^i.Q-i-.f QT^»T^oQTQnr.o fv/^-iTi
1. Stem of plum tree with knot upon it, as it appears ^ Sllglltiy Cllttereut appeaiauce tlOm

in the fall and winter those ou the plum, it has bccu claimed

i. Perithecium with mycelium, a. n, between the , j i p n i ji t

cells of the stem, and covered with filaments bearing that the lUUgUS that CaUSeS the dlS-
spores, b, at their extremities. Section made in May. „ ^ ,• ,^j j-i, ^ „„,„, ,•„ 1^^4-1^ ^„„^r,

3. Filaments and spores, (.couidia) more highly ease IS UOt the Same Ul both CaSCS.

magnified. The micToscope, liowever, sliows that

*. Section through a cavity containing stylospores. , . -, ^. -, . i ■ ,

After Fariow. they are identical m their structure.

" The fungus appears on one side of the branch, and as nature makes an
attempt to repair the injury to the tissues, the entire branch is often
greatly swollen. The knots are usually from two to four inches in length,
l)ut sometimes they reach a length of ten inches or more. They are first
noticed in the spring, before the buds start. They appear as slight swell-
ings, and, bursting the epidermis, they enlarge rapidly and form a green^
pulpy mass, which soon solidifies and gradually turns brown. If a section
of a young knot be examined in the early spring, there will be found in
the cambium, or new layer of wood, twisted bundles of mycelial threads.
These feed on the juices designed for the nourishment of that portion of
the branch, and it will not form a new layer of wood, although the other
side of the branch, if there are no threads present, will make the usual
growth.

" Soon after the knot has formed it will be found thickly dotted with
minute rounded protuberances. These are the peritlwcia, and a pocket
microscope will show them to be covered with fine hair-like appendages, at

92

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the top of each of which one or more ovate spores are produced. These
are the conidia, or summer spores, and are produced in vast quantities for
several weeks.

" Within the perithecia, as
winter approaches, may be
found great numbers of elon-
gated sacs or asci in each of
which eight spores are found.
They ripen in midwinter or
early sj^ring and will germin-
ate and develop into a fungus
the next summer.

"Besides the ascospores and
conidia, there are several
other means of reproduction
possessed by this plant.
Among them are the stylo-
spores, which are developed
from the inner walls of cavi-
ties located between the pefi-
fJiecid. They are on slender
stalks and have a coiupound
spore in four parts or cells at
the end.

"Spores are also produced
in the s^wr mag on in which are
organs much like the perithe-
cia, but, instead of the asci,
•they produce slender fila-
ments.

"Still another form are the
jrijoiidia spores, which are
pushed out from cavities in
soft, wormlike masses.

"The periilu'cia may be
likened to the pistils of flower-
ing plants and some of the
other organs undoubtedly cor-
respond to the stamens.

"With all those methods
of propagation, the black -knot
needs but half a chance, to spread devastation through our plum and
cherry orchards, and constant watchfulness is necessary to keep it in check
if it once gains a foothold.

"The first thing to be done should be to destroy all the choke-cherries
and wild plum trees in the vicinity. The orchards should be examined
frequently, during the growing season, and if a knot appears, the branch
should be cut ofp several inches below the knot, and burned. Cutting off
the knots and leaving them on the ground will do no good, as the spores
will develop the same as if on the tree.

" If the knots are on the trunk, where they cannot be cut out without
injury to the tree, they should be pared ofl^ smoothly and the cut surface
and surrounding bark painted over with linseed oil. This will destroy any

Fio. 2.— Black Knot.

1. Section tlirongh diseased stem, tiln)wing niyceliuin.

2. Spermaaonia.

3. Asci and spores.

4. Perithecium with asci.
5 and 6. Ripe Ascosijores.

7 and 8. Ascospores germinating. Aft«r Farlow.

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

93

spores that may be present and will not injure the tree. In case an orch-
ard becomes badly infested it would be well to spray it thoroughly with
sulphate of copper, either alone or in the form of eau celeste.

" If the black-knot makes its appearance in a locality, concerted action
on the part of all will be necessary to keep it down, but if all join in the
work and fight it in a systematic way it can be exterminated.

THE BROWN m)T. -Moniliafnirtigena.

"In some localities great injury is done to the plum crop by a disease
called the brown rot. Although it has been known for a long time, it is
only about ten years since the first accurate description of the fungus that
caused it, was given.

Fig. 3.— Brown Rot of Cherry. Monilia fiuctipeim, Pers.
•

1. Disea.aeil leaf showing spots made by fungus, upper side.

2. Ditto, underside.

3. Bunch of cherries attacked by fungus.

a. Cherry which was diseased the year before and has liung on the tree

over winter.

b. b. Green, healthy cherries.

c. c. Diseased cherries with the blossom, d, clinging tu the fruit.
After Galloway.

"The cherry, peach, apple, and other fruits, as well as the plum, are

D4

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

attacked, and in some cases the flowers, leaves, and branches are also
affected. It has been claimed by some persons that only frnits that
have been injured by insects are attacked, but there is no ground for this
belief. The condition of the trees may. however, do much to determine
the extent of the injury, as, if they are perfectly healthy, they will be less
likely to be attacked; or, if the fungus does make its appearance, the
amount of the injury will be lessened.

"The plant body of this fungus consists of colorless threads that are
frequently branched and partitioned off into cells. These threads pene-
trate the tissues beneath the cuticle, and the portion atacked, whether
flower, leaf, or fruit, takes on a brown color. At first the spot is small, but
it rapidly spreads until the whole is infected.

"After three or four weeks the portions attacked begin falling. The
flowers and young fruits change into a soft, rotten mass, and if, in dropping,
they strike on the leaves or healthy fruits, they stick fast and communicate
the disease. Some of the fruit frequently' remains on the trees until the
next spring.

" If the conditions are favorable, with plenty of moisture, the conidia are
formed, resembling to the naked eye minute tufts of cotton. Under a
microscope the spores appear as nearly spherical bodies, forming branching-
chains. The new cells are
formed at the tips of the
chains and keep dropping
off. They have strong vitali-
ty and have been known to
terminate when two vears
old.

"The remedy for the rot

is to gather and burn all

^ infected flowers and leaves.

The trees should also be

,,_l ?>«'«» sprayed with some form of

copper solution, just before

the buds start in the spring.

The sj)raying should be re-

^ „ „„„„,. peated in two or three

Fio, 4.— Structure OF Hrown KoT OF Plum.— From drawing ^ , i -p • £ i.i

by Butterfiekl, Class of '91. M. A. ('. Weeks, and 11 SlgHS OI tiie

fungus are noticed, one or two more applications will have a good effect.

PLUM BLADDERS OK FOCKETS.—Taphrina pruiii.

" Nearly three hundred years ago this disease was described, so far as its
outward appearance goes. At that time it was quite destriictive and its
virulence increased, and its territory widened, in the meantime. Various
causes have been given for it, including insects, a surplus of moisture, and
improper food.

" The name has been given from the fact that the fungus produces an
abnormal development of the fruit, resembling a pouch or pocket. Soon
after the fruit sets, the infected fruits swell slightly _ and become nearly
globular. Later on they elongate and often become irregular or curved.
The pockets become permaturely colored, and later take on a gray, wrink-
led a[)pearance. The stone does not form, and a hard, dry shell is all that
the fruit will consist of by the first of July. When this stage is reached
they soon drop from the tree.

<z

iryi ^ < « r ;'m. Te €

p So. v^ e S "-p lAJ i tt cj .
'»M <y c e / / 4 /•w <! « il S o J-

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

1 2

95

Fig. 5. Plum Pockets. Taphrina pruni iFckl.) Tal.

1. Branch showing iniJated jiliims.

2. Section throus+i the outer surface of a pocket, showing the mycelium in
the tissues.

3 and 4. Surface view of mycelium between epidermal cells and cuticle.
.5. Section showing young asci just pusliing through epidermis,
f). Asci in different stages of development, one containing spores.

7. Asci enlarged, showing development.

8. Spores germinating. After Sorauer.

f' "There are several species in the genus Taphrina, and each of them
causes abnormal development in some portion of its host plant. In addi-
tion to causing the pockets, this same fungus attacks the leaves and young
branches, producing the same changes in them as in the fruits. In addi-
tion to the European plum (Pniiuis domesfica), it attacks the Canadian
(P. Americana), the Chickasaw (P. Chicasa), and the beach (P. onar-
itima) plums, besides the dwarf cherry (P. puniila), the wild black cherry
(P. serotina), and the choke-cherry (P. Virginiana).

"This fungus is rather peculiar in its workings, as it does not destroy

96 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the fruit in entire orchards, but seems to pick out particular trees and con-
tine its ravages to them, recurring every year.

"The mycelium spreads through the tissues and finally its hypluc are
pushed out through the epidermal cells. Early in the season these produce
conidia, but later on the ascospores are })roduced in enlarged hyphae. The
infected plums should be gathered and burned, and any branches that show
signs of the fungus in their tissues should be cut ofP. In severe cases it
"would be well to head back all the previous year's growth and work in
around the trees a liberal amount of wood ashes. It would also be well to
spray the trees with sulphate of copper.

POWDERY MILDEW OF THE PLV i^l.-Podosphoera n.nj<antha.

" This fungus has quite a range of host plants, among them the haAV-
thorn, four species of cherry, three of plum, the peach, apple, quince, sev-
eral species of spiraea, shad-bush, blueberry, and persimmon.

"The leaves of cherry trees are particularly affected. The fungus
appears in midsummer, on the new shoots and leaves. The latter are
attacked on either or both sides, and are sometimes entirely covered with a
mealy-looking fungous growth.

"The mycelium is made up of slender, white, branching threads, wliich
do not enter the tissues themselves, but send down their haustoria into the
epidermal cells. The summer spores are borne on rather stout hyphse, and
are produced by being cut off from the stalks by means of transverse par-
titions. The conidia drop off, and, falling on a moist spot, they germinate,
and if this place be the leaves of one its host plants, a new fungus is formed.

^'The j)cril}i<'cin, in which the winter spores are produced, are formed
where two of the filaments intersect. At first they are colorless, but they
gradually turn brown. The walls of the periihecia are made up of a large
nmnber of cells. These are somewhat rounded on the outside and give the
}>('rifli<'ci(( an appearance something like a rasberry. From some of these
cells, appendages are given off, which consist of several cells and have
curiously branched tips. The appendages vary in number from three or
four to as many as twenty. In this perithecium is a single ascus which
contains eight ascospores.

"This mildew, like all other powdery mildews, thrives best in hot, dry
seasons. The spores require moisture for their germination, but they
develo}) to best advantage in seasons of drouth. These mildews are among
the easiest of all fungi to destroy, as their gr<jwth is entirely outside the
plant, and any form of copper or sulphur can reach and destroy them.
The sulphide of potassium, applied whenever the finig-us appears, is one
of the simi)lest remedies.

SHOT-HOLE FUNGUS— Sepior/a pruni.

" Our plums and cherries, and sometimes our peaches and apricots, suffer
toward the close of summer from a premature falling of their leaves. This
is usualh' most noticable either in a very dry or in a very wet season.

" If the fallen leaves are carefiilly examined they will generally be found
to contain a greater or lesser number of small round holes, like shot-holes
in appearance. These have been caused by a fungus which in some cases,
produces (piite serious effects on the trees. It has inflicted a two-fold
injury. It has robbed the tree of its food and has weakened it by the
premature loss of its leaves. The spots at first are brownish red and gen-

THE XIXETEEXTH ANNUAL MEETING.

97

Shot HoU

ft [i/ricolOk

u

erally less than a tenth
of an inch in diameter.
Although the fungus can
be seen from either side,
it works principally in
the lower tissues of the
leaf. There the conidia
are developed and toward
spring brownish winter
spores will be formed,
which will
the new leaves

germinate on

as

they

W ht^tli M. »«■ at ' " 1 at 1 J

Fig. 6. Shot-Hole Fuxfics {Septoria pruni)
From drawing by Stewart, class of '89, M. A. C.

during May and June, many of the spores will be destroyed.

The fallen leaves

should be raked up and

, , , burned, and if the trees

plum leaf. ' _

are sprayed once or twice

CONCLUSIONS.

"Although the development of the various fungi, within the tissues of
the tree or fruit, is the real cause of the diseases just discussed, the con-
ditions under which the trees are growing will have much to do with the
amount of injury inflicted. A soil that is too wet or too dry, or that does
not furnish soluble food in proper proportions, will cause a derangement
of the vital functions of the plant and will both invite the attack of fungi
and permit them to ravage at their will. If these unfavorable conditions
can be changed, and the plant strengthened, it may be able to resist all
attacks of the fungi, or to so hold them in check that the injury will be
much reduced. The following treatment will then be seen to be a perfectly
rational one.

"1. See that the land is properly drained, either naturally or artificially,
before the trees are j^lanted.

"2. Try to retain a sufficient supply of moisture during the summer
droughts. This can l)est be secured by frequent shallow cultivation.

"3. Provide a liberal amount of proper food for the trees. For all fruits,
and in fact for all plants, one of the best fertilizers is unleached wood
ashes. For bearing orchards these should be applied broadcast, early in
the spring, and plowed or harrowed in. Fifty bushels per acre will make
a wonderful difference; and if they can be cheaply obtained, three or four
times that quantity can be applied with profit.

"•1. Thin the fruits so that they will not be in contact. This will pay of
itself in the increased size of the fruits that are left. It will lessen the
strain on the vitality of the tree, and in case rot sets in, its destructiveness
will be greatly reduced.

" 5. In case a f ungus^of any kind appears, remember that it is a minute
plant which developes innumerable t[uantities of spores or seeds ; that they
are wafted about by the wind and will convey the disease to great distances,
destroying, if unmolested, not only the present crop but the orchard itself.
The following remedies then should be used on their first appearance:

" a. Cut off and burn all diseased portions.

''5. Spray the affected trees with some approved fungicide."

13

98 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This paper of Prof. Taft, the reading of which was received with warm
applause, was followed by one by Benton Gephart of Hart, president of
the Oceana County Horticultural society, uj^on

PLUM GROWING IN OCEANA COUNTY.

"The first thing necessary and of much importance in plum culture is
to have or procure suitable land on which to plant the trees. By this
I mean a good, heavy, sandy loam, and still better if mixed with clay, and
not the white drifting sand among the pine stumps on our lake shore.
Prepare the land just as you would for any other large fruits for planting.
Pulverize the soil thoroughly and keep it in a good state of fertility.
Plant the trees from eighteen to twenty feet apart, and give them a good
and thorough cultivation each season. In bearing orchards, plow the
ground in the fall or spring each season, being careful not to break any
large roots. Cultivate with a spring-tooth ciTltivator or harrow, early in
the season, as then is the time that plum growth is made. A bearing-
orchard requires more cultivation in a dry season than a young one. As
to suitable varieties for orchard planting, I would say that there are a
great many varieties of plum growing in our section of country — perhaps
fifty or more different varieties in all. Many of these varieties are in
bearing, for which the growers have no correct name, and quite a number
of these unknown varieties are large, fine, and beautiful plums to grow
for market. To select a standard list for orchard planting I should choose
the following varieties, named in the order of ripening: Washington,
Bradshaw, Duane's Purple, Prince Englebert, Union Purple, Lombard,
Genii, Quackenbos, Purple Egg, Coe's Golden Drop, Reine Claude,
Shropshire.

"Of new varieties the Genii and Shipper's Pride appear to be promising,
being both medium to large, fruit a dark purple with heavy bloom, having
excellent shipping qualities, and are immensely productive. Also the
Field for early and Stanton for late are prolific and very promising new
l^lums. The Japanese plums are also on trial, and have fruited some.
The Botan seems to be the most promising. This is quite hardy, a very
early bearer, and seems to be productive with the exception of wet or cold
seasons. During these unfavorable seasons the blossoms seem to blast, or
else do not fertilize properly, as it does not bear much fruit in such
seasons. The fruit is early, large, of beautiful color, and of a fine flavor.
There are also many other new varieties on trial which have not fruited as
yet, such as Moore's Arctic, Naples, Mariana, Victoria, Hudson Egg,
Niagara, etc.

HISTORY OF PLUM CULTURE IN OCEANA.

"The history of plum culture in Oceana county is really more than I
am able to give, not being an old pioneer of this coiinty, especially in plum-
growing. I do not doubt in the least there are plum trees in Oceana
county which are 30 or 35 years old, and which produced twenty good
paying crops during this time. But this the writer knows to be a fact,
that we have trees that are 20 and 24 years of age which have produced
fifteen big paying crops of fruit, and the trees are healthy and in full vigor
yet, some trees yielding as high as six bushels per year. Plum culture in
Oceana county is a small item in comparison to other fruits, both in the

THE XIXETEEXTH AXXUAL MEETING. 99

number of . bushels produced and value received from tlie fruit. The
reason for this is because of the small bearing area. AVith the exception
of a very few old trees or orchards, nearly all the orchards to which I shall
refer are quite young and not in full bearing age, being only from six to
twelve jears old.

"During the years 1873 and 1874 we had very heavy crops in some few
bearing orchards, and the trees shed their foliage before the fruit was ripe,
leaving only the fruit upon the trees to ripen, which did not mature or
ripen and color up in good shape. The trees having overborne, (shed-
ding of the leaves, prematurely, lessening the vitality of the trees) during
the severe cold winters which followed those seasons of 1873 and 1874,
nearly all the trees that were thus aifected and stood on cold and wet
ground were killed out. But trees or orchards that were not overloaded
and held their foliage and were on elevated ground, came through these
severe winters, are all alive to-day and in good bearing condition.

"As to the prodviction of fruit, or profit there is in a good pluui orchard,
I can not do the matter better justice than to submit the account and sales
of fruit of the leading plum orchards in the county during the last three
years, giving the number of bushels of fruit produced and the amount of
profit received for the same:

"Orchard No. 1, containing 70 bearing trees, from 8 to 15 years old
from setting — one tree being twenty years old, and having produced from
860 to s75 worth of fruit or net profit during these 20 years. Said orchard
has produced in

1887 122 bushels, sold at 8-3.20 per bushel, net S390

1888 80 bushels, sold at 3.00 per bushel net 240

1889 214 bushels, sold at 2.00 perbushel.net 225

31G $8.58

"Orchard No. 2, containing 60 bearing trees from 12 to 18 years old.
This orchard has produced seven good paying crops in succession.

1887 130 bushels, sold at .32.3.5 per bushel, net S292

1888 130 bushels, sold at 1.80 per bushel, net 234

1889 100 bushels, sold at 1.80 perbushel.net 180

"Orchard No. 3, containing 70 bearing trees from 6 to 10 years old,
mostly coming into bearing, produced in

1886 37 bushels, sold at 82.25 per bushel, net 8 83

1887 83 bushels, sold at 2.45 per bushel, net 208

1S89 55 bushels, sold at 2.09 per bushel, net 143

" Orchard No. 4, containing 180 trees, being 8 years old, has produced
in three years 447 bushels. Proceeds received from same, J3844.

"Orchard No. 5, containing 110 trees, being 10 to 15 years, some few
trees being 24 years old, and having produced not less than 15 paying
crops ; has produced in three years 472 bushels ; amount received, 'S787.

" Orchard No. 6, containing 20 bearing trees, being planted 12 years, and
has produced during the last three vears 133 bushels ; amount received,
S266.

" The value or profit of a good plum orchard dejDends somewhat on the
varieties, the seasons, and markets, just in accordance to all other fruits, as
some seasons the fruit will sell from SI to S3 per bushel in the market.

"But to put the subject in flattering figures, or to more fully illus-

100 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

trate what can be done in plum culture, I will put the matter in the
same ratio and figures that some of our great potato growers or seed
houses estimate their choice new varieties and yield or profit per acre.
The writer knows of two plum trees which, when nine years old, and the
second crop which they had produced, yielded $18 in cash. Figure
this at 135 trees per acre and you have the small sum of $1,215 per acre
the second year in bearing. Or otherwise take certain trees which have
yielded to the grower in net cash during twenty years from setting the
trees, $75 per tree, and at 135 trees per acre it would amount to $10,125
per acre in a period of twenty years.

"As to the number of premiums and grand diplomas this county has
taken on the plum, they are quite numerous. It has received the silver
medal or diploma at the New Orleans fair, captured all the premiums
awarded at the late Detroit Exposition, and always carries off nearly all the
premiums awarded at our state and district fairs, and was never known to
fail wherever its fruit has been exhiljited.

"Therefore plum culture has reached the top round of the ladder, or its
climax, in Oceana county."

DISCUSSION OF PEOF. TAFT's TAPER.

Mr. MoPiKiLL: At what stage of the disease are the black-knot spores
ready for their work of contagion?

Prof. TATi'T: The knot begins to blacken in May. Soon afterward can
be seen upon it little brown protuberances, the summer spores. There are
four sets or crops of spores, the winter set ripening in January. There are
probably a million spores in any one of these specimens, a thousand in each
little black spot. Linseed oil will completely kill the spores, and cutting
is effective where it can be so done as to remove the whole of the knot.
Cut a foot below the knot, to be perfectly safe, and burn the cutting. I
would not cut a large limb, but pare it and paint with oil. Linseed is as
fatal to the knot as kerosene and is not, like kerosene, injurious to the
healthy bark. Do not bud from affected trees. The buds will be weak if
not diseased. Either raw or boiled oil may be used, and should be applied
as soon as possible after the knot appears. The worms found in the knots
are not the cause, but are bred therein after the knots appearance. Wood
ashes, sown broadcast, are the best manure for bearing trees.

Benton Gebhart said he once cut knots from two young trees, applying
to one turpentine and to another linseed oil, and no more knot appeared.

C. A. Hawley: I have had good success with plums in valleys but not
on hills. I plant eighteen to twenty feet. If placed too thickly the
trees take all the moisture from the ground and cause drouth.

T. S. Gurney: Plum culture is so profitable that many more will soon
engage in it. I know of an orchard of one hundred Lombards. This sort
was marketed at a comparatively low price. The orchard hung full and I
was much surprised at the large size of the fruit — the largest I ever saw.
The owner watered them daily for four weeks and thought he made $20
to $30 per day. The trees were thinned, the crop was 300 bushels and
netted $500 to $600.

Mr. Morrill said he had heard certain talk from which he inferred that
black-knot existed extensively in the orchard of an Oceana county man
who refused to take it out. If this is true, this boasted Eldorado of plum-
growing will soon be extinct.

THE XIXETEEXTH AXXUAL ^lEETIXG. 101

Albert Jackson inquired as to the feasibility of planting plum trees in
depressions of the peach orchard. Mr. Hamilton told of the success of
J. P. Wade of Ganges in this practice, even with the TTild Goose, which
fertilizes better than when planted alone. He advised the pulling out of
peaches of small or unproductive sorts and the planting of plums in their
stead.

EEPOET ox president's MESSAGE.

The following report upon the president's message was read and adopted :

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the State Horticultural Society:

Your committee to whom was referred the president's address would recommend:

(1.) That the portion relating to the extension of horticultural work in the newer
portion of the state be placed m the hands of the secretary of this societj', to be disposed
of as may in his judgment be for the best interest of all concerned.

(2.) That the part referring to the relations of this society to the Detroit International
Exposition be referred, as the president suggests, to the executive board of this society.

(3.1 That as to the portion relating to the division of pomology, in connection with the
agricultural department at Washington, we urge that we as a society request of our
members of congress that they use all reasonable means to secure larger appropriations
and more effective action.

In accordance with the suggestion relating to the appointment of a suitable person or
committee to call the attention of our members of congress, we recommend that the
society take immediate action.

Further, in view of the great importance of the horticultural interests of the state,
and the commanding influence and position they have attained, we heartily approve of
the recommendations in regard to a proper representation upon the state board of agri-
culture.

All of which we respectfully submit.

C. A. Sessions.
Wm. H. Payne.

D. L. Gakver.

NEEDS OF POMOLOGY IN NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE.

President Lyon called upon C. AY. Garfield to open the discussion uj^on
that part of the address which referred to the bureau- of pomology in the
department of agriculture at Washington. Mr. Garfield said:

" I recognize the fact that it is a great deal easier to criticise a method than to origi-
nate a better one, and that often we are too ready to find fault with men who manage
affairs, not knowing the difficulties that beset them, or appreciate their endeavors, per-
haps, to bring about the very state of affairs for which we are clamoring. But we are
all aware, also, that an administration is moulded in its purposes largely by the emphat-
ically stated wishes of those who are considered able advisers. It is in pursuance of this
last thought that I briefly call your attention to the division of pomology in the national
department of agriculture and ask you to consider thoughtfully the resolutions the
adoption of which I shall move at the close of my remarks.

" The advance made in American pomology has been, up to this time, the voluntary
contributions of individuals or societies devoted to the cause. A great deal of credit is
due to the efforts of public-spirited men like Warder, Thomas, Wilder, Gold, Barry,
Brackett, Budd, Gibb, Munson, Berckmans. and Lyon, and the proceedings of the Amer-
ican Pomological society are the records of the rapid progress of our pomology for the
past forty years. All honor to the men and organizations that have accomplished so
remarkable results. The department of agriculture, which as organized in 1S64:, and
for some years thereafter accomplished little beyond the gathering of statistics and
bringing into line an array of facts with little cohesiveness, has gradually differentiated
its work until specialists are now laboring in limited fields with able assistants, and
rapidly, by means of wide observation and carefully conducted experiments, securing
information of inestimable value to the agriculture of our country. It was with this
excellent work in view that prominent fruitgrowers urged the organization of a special
division, the efforts of which should be confined to pomological work.

102 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

"Under the administration of Commissioner Coleman the division of pomology was
organized, and while many were expectant of early results that would justify the bring-
ing into existence of the bureau, there were others who said that government aid would
not only accomplish much in the progress of pomology, but would tend to check volun-
tary labor in this direction; all agreed, however, that everything depended upon the
management of the section and all hoped that valuable work would be done.

"The results have been unsatisfactory, giving due consideration to the fact that it
requires a good deal of time and energy to get the division into working order and that
without precedent the pathway of investigation must be "felt along" very carefully,
and still there is room for serious criticism, and this is finding abundant expression just
at present. Secretary Rusk and his able assistant, Willits, are besieged with urgent
requests for a better showing for the expenditures in the division, and are both of them
deeply interested to have all accomplished that could be desired. Now, I do not hesi-
tate to say that in the absence of a model or method to copy it is of absolute importance
that the pomologist be a man of national reputation as an organizer, as well as an expert
in the field of American pomology. Unless such an one can be secured the work had
better be turned back again into the hands of the American Pomological society, where,
without funds, progress has been commendable if not wholly satisfying. Commercial
pomology ought to receive a decided impetus through the aid of this division, and the
production and distribution of newer fruits and knowledge of their adaptability to var-
ious sections should receive prominence. But one of the crying needs of American
pomology is a thorough education of the interested people, with regard to the adapta-
bility of the best points to various localities, the gathering and dissemination of infor-
mation that is awaiting the intelligent labor of the statistician. This can be done only
in a partial and unsatisfactory way by voluntary efforts of societies and may be thor-
oughly and admirably clone by a well-organized and equipped bureau. Information of
this sort will eventually become distributed through communities. A newspaper man
may interview a successful fruitgrower and publish what he is willing to impart of his
methods, and the readers who are seeking this information become enlightened thereby.
But we need an organized method of securing this kind of information from wide areas
and, best of all, it needs assimilation, and this requires the services of experts. It is
difficult to go into the details of our needs in this direction. But one thing is certain:
A broadminded man with a wealth of experience and a command of resources to stand
at the helm of this division can do for the pomology of our country what has been
accomplished in other sections of agriculture.

"I beg to submit the following preamble and resolutions:

" Whereas, It seemed desirable by many people interested in the progress of Ameri-
can pomology that a bureau of pomology be created under the auspices of the national
department of agriculture; and

" Whereas, In deference to the opinion of these specialists a division of pomology
was organized in immediate charge of a government pomologist; and

" Whereas, Thus far very little has emanated from the division of value to American,
pomology, although considerable time has elapsed since its organization and it has
been fairly well supported by government; and

" Whereas, This dearth of results seems to be largely due to a lack of clear insight
into the needs of pomology and etficient and well organized efforts in subserving them,
therefore

''''Resolved by the Michigan State Horticultural society. That our president and secre-
tary be instructed to prepare a memorial setting forth the facts as to our disappoint-
ment in the jjresent condition of the bureau, and its lack of efficiency, and ask that it be
placed in immediate control of the most skillful pomologist in our nation who can be
induced to thus serve the government, and that ample appropriations be asked of con-
gress to secure results that will compare favorably with the other admirable divisions of
the department of agriculture.

'■^Resolved, Tha:t a copy of this memorial be forwarded to the present secretary of
agriculture."

President Lyon remarked that Mr. Vandeman, who is the gentleman
referred to in the resohitions, is an intelligent and conscientious man, yet
there is apparently a lack of effective work in certain directions in which
it should be done. Michigan has a high standing in pomology, and it is
therefore incumbent upon her pomologists to make their influence felt
on this subject.

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 103

The resolutions were heartily supported by remarks from prominent
members of the society and unanimously adopted by a rising vote.

BLACK-KNOT IN OCEANA COUNTY.

It having been understood that no black-knot existed in Oceana county,
the secretary took with him a very large specimen from an Allegan county
plum orchard which had been ruined by the disease, and Prof. Taft pro-
duced two smaller ones. But upon sight of these, several growers recog-
nized them as like what they had met in certain orchards but presumed
to be nothing serious. There was one exception, however, the orchard
of Mr. Tower, southwest of Hart, which had been totally ruined by the
disease.

Mr. Gurney called upon Mr. Tower to describe it. He said his orchard
comprised 500 trees situated on clay loam soil with clay subsoil, three miles
from the lake and 80 to 100 feet above it. The trees, chiefly Lombards,
came from Geneva, New York. Mr. Tower reported them diseased, but was
told to set them out at risk of seller. He did so and 300 lived, 200 more
being furnished and set out. Though they had the best of care, none were
as thrifty as they should have been. The first stage of black -knot appeared
in the second year, and in the third year it showed at its worst. He cut
off the knots but knew of no other remedy, and shaved them off from one
side of a trunk or large limb, only to find them the next year upon the
other. The disease progressed so fast that he could not keep up with it.
In the fourth year the orchard bore fruit, but inferior and in small quanti-
ties. The trees began to die in four or five years and were dug out and
thrown away or burned. This year ( the beginning was nine or ten years
ago) there was not a pliim. The soil was new and as good as any in the
county. Other trees on his place were infected and killed, and the nearest
plum orchard half a mile away, is now in a like condition.

Thomas AYilde : Black-knot is a very dangerous enemy to the plum. In
New York he had seen the plum orchards entirely killed by it, and again in
Kalamazoo comity this state. In New York it was thought the spores
were carried on birds' feet. '\\'liere it becomes very bad, the best thing to
do is to cut out the trees and begin with new healthy ones.

It was the opinion of Prof. Taft that Mr. Tower's trees were diseased
when they came from the nursery. The roots of the fungus grow one year
before making their appearance outside.

Prof. Taft : If Mr. Tower should now cut out and burn all his trees it
would perhaps be safe for him to plant again in two years. I would as
soon plant that plat as the next one; yet, if spores then still existed, black-
knot would be likely to reappear.

Mr. Tower had at first said he meant to cut out and burn his trees next
spring, but by the appeals of several members, under the energetic lead of
Mr. Morrill, he was induced to say he would do so immediately; and his
good resolution was greeted with hearty applause.

104 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Wednesday Affernoon Session.

First to engage the attention of the society upon the opening of its fourth
session, AYednesday afternoon, was the annual election of officers.

For president, the secretary was instructed, by a unanimous rising vote,
to cast the ])allot of all for T. T. Lyon of South Haven. It was done,
applause accompanying.

Messrs. C. J. Monroe and L. D. Watkins were appointed tellers and a
ballot taken for secretary, with resiilt that Edwy C. Reid received every
vote cast.

L. W. Pearsall was unanimously re-elected treasurer, the secretary cast-
ing the ballot.

By the same means, R. Morrill of Benton Harl)or was chosen member of
the executive board in place of W. A. Brown of the same place, resigned.

The other vacancies on the board (the terms of W. K. Gibson of Jackson
and H. W. Davis of Lapeer expiring) were filled by election of L. D. Wat-
kins of Manchester and Prof. L. R. Taft of the Agricultural college.

Chas. W. Garfield was chosen vice-president.

A telegram of greeting was received from the Missouri State Horticul-
tural society, in session at Lebanon, and by direction of the meeting an
answer was retitrned by the secretary.

ARSENICAL SPRAYING.

Taking up the subject of arsenical spraying, the society listened to the
following paper on the subject by Prof. A. B. Cordley of Michigan Agri-
cultural college:

"The plum curculio can be successfully combated by spraying with
arsenites. Until the last few years entomologists have maintained that
this was impossible, and, from what was known of the life history of the
curculio, it seemed that the statement could not be denied. It was argued
that as the female curculio placed her egg within the fruit, the larvae, when
hatched, is beyond the reach of poisons, and no account was taken of the
fact that the mature insect is a leaf -eating beetle and can consequently be
poisoned. Even Achilles had one vulnerable point. The curculio could
not hope to be less susceptible.

"Horticulturists, however, having secured such satisfactory results in
destroying the codlin larvse, with the arsenites, came to the conclusion that
equally good results could be obtained by spraying for the curculio. The
results have shown that this supposition was not entirely unfounded.

EXPERIMENTS AT MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

" For the last two years, under the direction of Prof. Cook, I have con-
ducted experiments to determine the value of arsenites in this warfare;
but, owing to the limited facilities in the shape of bearing peach and plum
trees at the college, have failed to demonstrate to my entire satisfaction
many points of interest. Two years ago we sprayed both cherry and plum
trees three times — June 6, June 12, and June 20. We used London
purple, one pound to one hundred gallons of water. The result was that
none of the cherries and but few of the plums were stung, and I think
most of these were stung before the first application, or at least before the

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 105

poison liad had time to take effect, for we noticed the crescent mark on
some of the plums while spraying. The foliage of the plum trees was not
injured even by this strong mixture, but after the second spraying the
foliage of the cherry trees was somewhat burned, and after the third
spraying the injury was severe.

"This year we repeated the experiments, but, owing to my unavoidable
absence from college just at the time the spraying should have been done,
the experiments were worthless, as far as killing the curculio was concerned,
though we obtained some interesting results in regard to the effect of the
arsenites upon foliage.

EXPERIMENTS IN OHIO.

"For definite practical results in fighting the curculio, we had best turn
to the work of the Ohio experiment station. Prof. Weed experimented
upon a small cherry orchard of seventy-five trees, the fruit of which had
previously been much injured by the curculio. One half of the trees were
sprayed three times with London jjurple, one pound to one hundred gallons
of water, with no injury to the foliage except on two trees, upon which
the liquid had been forced in a solid stream. The trees on the other half
of the orchard were left as checks. At picking time one thousand cherries
were taken from each of eight sprayed trees and seven thousand five
hundred were taken from seven of the check trees. Of the former only
three and one half per cent, were stung, while of the latter fourteen and
one half per cent, were stung. Prof. Weed therefore states that so far as
one experiment goes, it shows that seventy-five per cent, of the fruit on the
sprayed trees, liable to injury by plum curculio, was saved by the treat-
ment with London purple. In a bulletin lately received from Prof. Weed,
I find that he has repeated his experiments this year with practically the
same results. j

" Prof. Weed's experiments upon the plum were not so extensive, but
seemed to give equally good results. Last year he sprayed plum trees four
times with London purple, one pound to one hundred gallons of water,
with some injury to foliage. He says: 'The fruit on all these trees was
almost free from injury, the limbs hanging so full that it was necessary
to artificially thin the fruit to prevent their breaking. The check trees,
unfortunately, did not set a full crop, but a large proportion of what did
set was injured by the curculio.'

"This year Prof. Weed repeated the experiments on plums, except that
he used only one pound of London purple to one hundred and sixty gallons
of water, and added the Bordeaux mixture as a fungicide. No check trees
were left in the orchard, on account of the fruit-rot experiment, but two
plum trees on the grounds, a short distance from the orchard, were left
untouched. The latter set a good crop of fruit, but it was entirely ruined
by the curculio, not a single plum being left to mature. The crop in the
orchard, however, was immense, one half the fruit on many of the trees
being artificially thinned and still bearing so much that the limbs bent to
the ground and in some cases broke on account of the great weight.

SUCCESS SEEMS ASSURED.

"These experiments seem to show conclusively that the curculio can be
successfully combated with the arsenites. The questions now to consider

14

J 06 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

are, which one of the arsenites shall wo use? How strong shall we nso it?
And when shall we apply it to be most effective and yet produce the least
injury to the foliage? I was sorry to learn, yesterday, in conversation,
that many are advocating the use of white arsenic. Don't do it. Don't
use it yourself nor advise others to iise it. It is more dangerous to handle
than London purple or Paris green, and is more injurious to the foliage.
To be sure, it is the arsenious acid in London piirple and Paris green that
makes them valuable as insecticides, and we may say that, this being so,
we will buy white arsenic and thus know what we are getting and how
strong it is. The truth is, however, that we will be no more certain of
getting a uniformly strong article than were we to buy London purple or
Paris green, for all can be adulterated equally well. Besides, relative
strength is not the only consideration. Relative effect on foliage is far
more important. The arsenious acid in Paris green is in combination with
copper and is very insoluble, only about one part being soluble in twenty-
five thousand parts of water. The proportion of soluble arsenious acid in
London purple seems to be somewhat greater. Both London purple and
Paris green remain in suspension in water, and if thrown upon foliage in
moderate (juantities produce but little, if any, injury under ordinary
circumstances. If a heavy rain follows soon after spraying, however, the
ammonia in the rain water probably renders the arsenious acid more
soluble. It is dissolved, enters the tissue of the leaf, and the foliage is
'burnt.' White arsenic, being more soluble, does not need the aid of rain
in its destructive work. Spray it upon a tree, in I don't care how weak a
solution, provided it is strong enough to kill the curculio, and I am sure
the foliage will suffer. Paris green is preferable to Loudon purple for the
same reason that the latter is preferable to arsenic — /. c, less of the
arsenious acid is soluble.

AS TO STRENGTH OF SOLUTION.

"The question in regard to how weak a solution we can use and still be
effective, is more difficult to answer. Until last season we have experi-
enced but little injury from using one pound of London purple to one
hundred gallons of water, and tliat is certainly effective. Eesults all over
the state the past season, however, show that we can not safely use so
strong a mixture. We sprayed both cherry and plum trees, at various
times, from May 20 to June 12, with London purple, the strength of the
mixture varying from one pound to one hundred gallons of water to one
pound to two hundred gallons, and the foliage was injured but very
slightly, if at all. June 24, we sprayed peach, apple, and plum trees with
one pound of London purple to one hundred gallons of water. Pain
followed the next day and the injury was very great. From July 5, to July
10, we sprayed peach, pear, and cherry trees with one pound of London
purple to two hundred gallons of water. In every case the foliage on the
peach trees was badly injured. Jiily 11 we sprayed peach trees with Paris
green. We used one pound to one hundred, to two hundred, to two hun-
dred and fifty, and to three hundred gallons of water. In the first propor-
tion the injury to the foliage was slight. In the others none at all. From
these experiments it appears, first, that London purple is much more injur-
ious to foliage than is Paris green; second, that peach foliage is much
more susceptible to injury than is that of the apple, plum, pear, or cherry;
third, that we may spray apple, phim, pear, and cherry trees with London

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETEs'G. 107

purple, but should never use it stronger than one pound to one hundred
and tixty gallons of water; fourth, if we use the arsenites on peach trees,
use Paris green not stronger than one pound to two hundi'ed and tifty or
three hundred gallons of water.

"The question now arises, will these strengths be effective? Prof.
Forbes has fouml, in some breeding-cage experiments, that four days after
spraying foliage with Paris green in various proportions, the results were
as follows: One pound to one hundred gallons of water killed forty-eight
per cent, of the beetles, one pound to two hundred gallons killed thirty-
three per cent., one pound to three hundred gallons killed twenty-seven
per cent., and one pound to five hundred gallons killed eighteen per cent.
From these residts we may infer that, proWding we can be equally success-
ful on a large scale, Paris green in as weak a mixture as one pound to
three hundred gallons of water may be advantageously used to poison the
curculio, and we believe so weak a mixture will not injure the foliage of
any tree, not even of the peach. In spraying pear, plum, apple, and
cherry trees, a much stronger, and hence a much more effective, mixture
may \ye used. Probably, however, one pound of Paris green to two hun-
dred gallons of water will be found strong enough for all purposes. Mr.
Payne of South Haven found that, forty-eight hours after using Paris
green in this proportion, on jarring the treps threefourths of the curculio
that fell were dead.

WHEN TO SPRAY.

"When shall we spray? Prof. Osborn of Iowa, after conducting some
experiments in poisoning the curculio, says: 'They show, if an\'tliing,
that the insects are able to continue their work for some days after having
fed upon ix)isoued fruit.' Other experimeutei-s have come to practically
the same conclusion. We must, therefore, spray as early as possible; for,
if the insects are able to live several days after being poisoned, they may
do much damage after the spraying. Of course we must not spray before
the blossoms fall, unless we spray before they appear, or we will kill the
bees, and bees are great aids to fruitgrowing; but the sooner we spray
after the blossoms fall the better. It is evident that if we can kill a large
proportion of the insects before the fruit is large enough for them to
attack, the battle will be won.

'• In closing, let me say that a great many carefully conducted experi-
ments will yet have to be made before we can satisfactorily answer many
of the questions relating to this subject. I hope to be able to conduct
some of them next spring, and hope you will all aid in the work. It will
be a benefit to the state, and to each of you personally, if you will all care-
fully conduct experiments upon this subject and forward the results to the
experiment station. There the results can be compiled and sent out in
the form of a bulletin, thus reaching a much greater number of fruit-
gi'owers than would be the case if each one were to conduct his experi-
ments independently and publish the residts only through the medium
of his local society."

PROF. L. H. BAILEY ON SPRAYING.

Following this. Secretary Reid read a paper by Prof. L. H. Bailey of
Corufll university, on the same subject, which is here subjoined in full:

108 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

" The efficiency of arsenical spraying for tlie cnrculio may be considered
as established beyond doubt. In this, as in other new enterprises, mistakes
have been made, but they have rarely been grieyous, and they have all
aided in the final solution of the problem. The practice of spraying for
the curculio is a result of success in spraying for codlin moth, although
there is record of its suggestion even before Paris green was recommended
for the canker worm. Three important problems have perplexed the culti-
vator in this connection. First, it has been supposed, both by fruitgrowers
and most entomologists, that the adult curculio does not eat, and therefore
is not susceptible to poisons; second, the strength of mixture to be applied
has been from the first a moot point; third, the composition or material
which it is best to use has also been a point of discussion.

"Several investigators have shown beyond question that the adult cur-
culio feeds promiscuously. It will eat leaves, fruits, and flowers, not only
of the stone fruits but of other plants. It has also been proved, by (,'xper-
imenting with the insect under confinement, that arsenic in any form is
fatal to it. It is therefore evident that the proj)er application of arsenical
spray to plants upon which the insect feeds must prove effective.

PEOyED TRACTICALLY EFFICIENT.

" That arsenical sprays are efficient in practice has been proved for a
number of years by fruitgrowers. In fact, the practice was first urged by
growers themselves, and they have incited the investigations which have
recently been made by experimenters. All the experiments of the last
two years have confirmed the statements of growers who have succeeded
with the spray. Professor Forbes of Illinois was the first scientist to
perform definite experiments upon the curculio. In 1885 he sprayed
apple trees to combat the codlin moth, and incident ly observed that the
injuries of the plum curculio, which had attacked the orchard, were
lessened about onehalf. The first distinct record of the applica-
tion of the spray to stone fruits, for the express purpose of combating
the curculio, appears to have been made by Prof. Cook in 1887. He
sprayed four plum trees with Paris green, and found that a benefit appeared
to come from its use, although no untreated trees were observed as a
check. The first publication of critical experiments, however, was made by
"Weed in July, 1888. During the present season he has repeated the
experiments with great care. His tests were made on Early Richmond
cherry trees, and fruits of both sprayed and unsprayed trees were
individually examined for traces of the curculio. Of 24,000 cherries
examined from sprayed trees, 360 were infested; while of 24,000 from
untreated trees, 1,483 were infested, showing a benefit from the use of the
spray of 75 6-10 per cent. Among the conclusions which he drawls from
his experiments, are the following: 'About threefourths of the cherries
liable to injury by the plum curculio can be saved by two or three
applications of London purple in a water spray, in the proportion of one
ounce to ten gallons of w^ater. A sufficiently large proportion of the plum
crop can be saved by the same treatment to insure a good yield, when a
fair amount of fruit is set. Spraying with the arsenites is cheaper and
more practical than any other known method of preventing the injuries of
this insect.'

"In October, 1888, Prof. Cook again published experiments, which
showed that plums are benefited by the spray.

THE XIXETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 109

"In July last, Prof. Forbes piiblislied results o£ experiments, and states
that 'there can certainly be no further question of the liability of the
curculio to poisoning by very moderate amounts of either London purple
or Paris green.'

"In August last, Prof. Cook published his third group of experiments,
which confirm his former results. He remarks, however, that 'in the case
of very frequent rains the jarring method will not only be cheaper, but
more effective.' The last report of the U. S. entomologist records tests by
both Professors Alwood and Osborn. Both experimenters found that the
spray checked the ravages of the curculio. Alwood's tests were made upon
Green Gage plums, and Osborn's were made in Iowa upon several varieties
of native plum.

"These experiments all go to show that spraying for the curculio is a
success. It is not to be expected, however, that such signal results can be
obtained here as upon the codlin moth. The codlin moth deposits its
eggs in the eye of the fruit, while the young apple is still erect. The
poison lodges in this cavity and the young larvae is at once destroyed.
The curculio, on the other hand, punctures the side of the fruit, and most
of the fruits upon which he works have smooth skins. It is, therefore,
more difficult to place the poison at the point of operation. Yet it is no
doubt true that the insects are killed by the poison upon the 'leaves as well
as by that upon the fruit.

APPLICATION TO THE PEACH.

" Until the present season, experimenters have not turned their attention
to the peach. But during the past two years fruitgrowers in various parts
of the country have sprayed peach trees, and for the most part they have
injured their trees. This fact has opened again the question of the proper
strength of the spray. Cook has published the best experiments in this
connection. He finds that ' London purple is more injurious to foliage
than is Paris green ; and white arsenic ( arsenious acid ) is more harmful
than either. This is doubtless owing to the soluble arsenic, which is quite
abundant in London purple and almost absent in Paris green.' I have
observed the same in recent experiments. As j^each foliage is especially
susceptible to injury, it is advisable to use only Paris green upon it. For
economic reasons, as well as to avoid injury to foliage, the recent tendency
is toward weaker mixtures. It is probable that a pound of poison to 250
gallons of water is strong enough for any use, while for the peach, and
other trees particularly liable to injury, a mixture of half this strength is
best. It is always necessary that the spray should be fine, and that it
should be driven into the tree with great force. The arsenites are likely
to vary in their composition, London purple especially so, it would seem,
and more exact directions can not be given. It is always best to err on
the side of safety and make a mixture too weak rather than too strong.
The common tendency seems to be quite the reverse of this, however, par-
ticularly if I may judge by the manner in which various Michigan growers
have acted upon my advice during the present season. If the application
is very thoroughly made, a weak mixture will kill more insects than a
strong one which is carelessly apj^lied.

SOMETHING DUE TO CLIMATE.

" There is some evidence to show that climate or latitude has something
to do with the manner in which arsenites act upon foliage. Experi-

110 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

menters in California and Oregon assert that mixtures must be more dilute
than those recommended for the east. I am informed by Benj. Hammond,
manufacturer of 'Slug-Shot,' who has given particular attention to the
behavior of arsenites upon foliage, that trees near the sea-cost are more
liable to injury than those growing in the interior states. But our knowl-
edge of this subject is yet too meager to allow of generalization.

''It is well established that several applications are necessary for the
profitable destruction of the curculio. There are several circumstances
which complicate the practice, however. Spraying trees while they are in
bloom, although it may destroy some curculios, appears to be fatal to bees,
and there is aj^ossibility that it may interfere with pollination. On the
other hand, there is some indication that in midseason the spray is more
harmful to foliage than it is early in the season. But if the poison is
sufficiently diluted, no harm is to be feared. Spraying three or four times,
at intervals of a week or ten days, or oftener if heavy rains occur, appears
to be the best practice.

WHAT IS CONCLUDED.

" The following conclusions of the whole matter, so far as our present
knowledge extends, may be drawn: First, the adult curculio eats foliage,
fruit, and flowers; second, arsenic is fatal to the curculio; third, experi-
ments and experience prove that spraying stone fruits, in a proper manner,
checks the ravages of the curculio; fourth, both London purple and Paris
green are efficient, but it appears that London purple is often more
injurious than Paris green — white arsenic is more injurious than either;
fifth, one pound of poison to 250 gallons of water makes a strong enough
mixture for general use, while for spraying the peach a weaker mixture
should be employed; sixth, the spray should be very fine and should be
applied thoroughly and with great force; seventh, spray should be applied
three or four times after the blossoms fall, at intervals of a week or ten
days, or oftener if heavy rains occur. Trees should be carefully examined
before each subsequent application, and if they have been injured by the
previous application, the mixture should be diluted."

DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER.

President Lyon asked Mr. Cordley which, in his opinion, caused the
injury to the foliage in his experiments, the first application or all together.

Mr. Cordley : I can not say as to the plum leaves, but in cases of the
cherry the damage seems to be cumulative.

Prof. Taft : In certain experiments I found the old leaves hurt and the
younger ones unharmed. Old leaves were hurt by a mixture of one pound
to 500 gallons and killed by one pound to 250 gallons. It seemed that the
older the leaves the more they suffered.

Prof. Cordley: A mixture of one pound to 100 gallons was applied
early and did no hurt, while one pound to 250 gallons, later, was harmful.

Prof. Taft : Curculio sometimes appear ten days before the trees bloom,
and so it might be well to spray once or twice before blossoming.

Thos. Wilde: I use white arsenic or corrosive sublimate, but I allow
no one to use either for me, and I make each succeeding application
weaker. Yet I do not recommend arsenic, because it is not easily obtained
pure; and besides, it becomes air-slaked and more soluble and so one can
not be sure of its strength. An arsenic solution, too, when the sun comes

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. Ill

out, burns holes through the leaves or burns their edges. I find corrosive
sublimate very efficient.

Mr. MoPiEiLL: The matter seems to settle into about this: On peaches
we may not use arsenical spray until further experiment; with plums we
may do so with safety but are not yet wholly certain of its value.

Mr. Gaefield: Prof. Bailey seems to ignore the fact that Prof. Saunders
of Ontario, made experiments in spraying and reported the same to a meet-
ing held at Woodstock in 1886.

J. F. Tayloh : I am still in doubt as to the advisability of spraying any-
thing but apples, except as an experiment. One of my neighbors hurt
some of his pear trees but not others by the same solution. I sprayed
plums, using one pound to 200 gallons, and again in one week. I could
then see some injury. In another week I found harm was done to all the
trees, and the leaves withered and dropped, new ones appearing. I got no
phims, but do not know whether the solution was too weak, too stroiig, or
whether the curculio were harmed. I put the same mixture upon Flemish
Beauty and Bartlett pears, and upon apples, and it seemed well adapted to
them. It did not hurt the trees, but rain soon washed it off and so it hurt
not the moth also. I sprayed these trees but once. So, as there are so
many uncertainties, we must go cautiously.

Prof. CoRDLEY : One reason for failure is that spraying is not done early
enough for the curculio. Prof. Weed of Ohio found good results from a
half bushel of lime in one barrel of water, sprayed on till the trees were
wdiite. It was not wholly destructive to the curculio, but still was benefi-
cial.

E. J. Shirts : I have had spraying done but will never do so again. I
greatly prefer jarring. It is done nearly as quick, and when I get hold of
a curculio and pinch his head off, I know I've got him.

PLUMS — CURRANTS — GOOSEBERRIES.

Replying to a question as to preferable sorts of plums, currants, and
gooseberries, Mr. Shirts said the best four plums are Lombard, Magnum
Bonum, Quackenbos, and Pond's Seedling. Of currants he preferred Red
Dutch, Cherry, and White Grape.

Thos. Wilde : I am troubled by mildew of my gooseberries. The Indus-
try and all the large sorts are subject to mildew.

Mr. Garfield : I have the Triumph. It is very large and no mildew
has yet appeared.

Prof. Taft : It is likely that both the Triumph and the Industry would
do well here, but both mildew at Lansing. As to currants, I commend Fay
and Yersaillaise.

Mr. Garfield : All depends on soil. I have Long-bunch Holland and
Victoria, while a neighbor on heavy soil, does well with Fay and Yer-
saillaise.

Mr. Morrill : Red Dutch seems the favorite currant in my vicinity, the
Victoria next, the latter seeming to be free from borers.

Mr. Taylor : I started Red Dutch but found it too small. Victoria suc-
ceeds better, but not so the Cherry. Houghton and Industry gooseberries
do well, a little sulphur stopping mildew.

Prest. Lyon : Along the lake shore the borer seems to take all young
currant settings, regardless of variety.

112 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

THE INEVITABLE PEACH QUESTION.

The question of locality for a peacli orchard, with water and air drainage,
having been raised, Mr. Taylor said the preference in his vicinity ( Doug-
las )was for elevations, as long as there were any, but latterly peach trees
have been planted everywhere. Low land and air drainage do not go
together in nature. High land, well drained is the best. The next levels
are often good if they have proper water drainage, giving the roots dry soil,
But there is much about all this to learn by experiment, even
after you think you know all aboiit it. This year the lower places
and heavy soils were best, though for the first time since 1875.
Select first the high lands, next the elevations that are above cold air on
frosty mornings. We never suffer when the wind is off the lake and it
is then never below zero. Our severe weather comes from the northeast
and at such times the mercury goes to sixteen degrees below zero, though
only for a short time — an hour or so. If I were planting a hill I would use
only the east and west slopes; I would not use the southern slope, while the
north and northeast are worst of all.

A. Hamilton: Yes, you should have yellows commissioners in each town-
ship; for, even if no yellows is known, some may exist, and it is safest
therefore to have commissioners. I would prefer to get peach trees from
districts whei'e no yellows exists, but if I could not do so I would not fear
to l)uy of careful nurserymen in districts where the disease does prevail.
In western Allegan county we have yellows, but almost every grower buys
trees at home, feeling safer to purchase of men they know. Some have
bought in New York and Pennsylvania, but yellows has killed all the orch-
ards there. In nearly all places where peaches are largely grown, yellows
prevails. Nurserymen here at home know the disease and are careful, and
that is why, in my county, nearly all growers buy at home.

To a question as to whether Hill's Chili pits could be relied upon to pro-
duce trees of that variety, Mr. Garfield said: There is a providential
arrangement by which nurserymen get a living in this world, and this
question seems to be aimed at them. I know of one case in which this
way of getting Hill's Chili trees was tried, wdierein the general type was
preserved and some were superior, but most were below the average Hill's
Chili.

Thos. Wilde : They are often better than the original tree, and so
with Hale's. But such a result is not certain, neither is it advisable to
get trees this way except as an experiment.

Mr. Jackson: Once set a lot of Chili seedlings, but my experience was
the same as Mr. Garfield cited.

horticultural LITERATURE.

Inquiry for horticultural periodicals which can be recommended,
brought several replies, Mr. Taylor, to whom the question was referred,
saying it was hard for him to answer, not being well enough acquainted to
make comparisons. Two things we all wish to know are, what is the
experience in our own locality? and next, what is done elsewhere? I
know no publication which meets these requirements as well as does the
Allegan Gazette. Beyond this I can scarcely say, but there are several,
each having some good point. I take, besides the Gazette, Popular Gar-
dening and Rural New-Yorker.

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 113

A. Hamilton: I like Green's Fruit-Grower for outside information, but
for west Michigan growers there is nothing equal to the Gazette. I get
more value from it than from any other.

Mr. MoEEiLL: I like to have quite a list. AVith me the Rural New-
Yorker stands high because of its experiments and investigations. Popu-
lar Gardening is also a favorite, but I do not know how Michigan growers
can learn of all that is going on in their own state except by the Gazette.

Prest. Lyon: It is hard to get reliable information from our horticul-
tural journals because so many are devoted to blowing some man's horn.
Consequently, I am afraid of the advice of any paper whose publisher is
interested in sale of trees, plants, etc. The nearer home you can get a
reliably conducted paper the better.

A recess was taken till 7 :30 p. m.

Wednesday Evening Session.

The session of Wednesday evening, was to have l)een occupied by a lec-
ture on Canadian Horticulture, by Alex. McD. Allen of Goderich, Ontario,
but word was received that on account of sudden sickness of his brother,
his attendance was impossible. This was much regretted, both on account
of the speaker and the subject; but the question box was full and recourse
was had to that.

CHOICE OF VARIETIES OF PEACH.

1. In setting an orchard of 1,000 peach trees, what varieties would you
recommend ?

Alexander Hamilton: For a succession, covering the longest time,
from earliest to Smock, I would set Waterloo, Elvers, Hale, Crane's Early
Yellow, Barnard, Early Crawford, Engle's Mammoth, Bronson's, Hill's
Chili, and Smock. I would omit Late Crawford because it is a shy bearer
and Engle's Mammoth and Hill's Chili take its place.

J. F. Taylor: I would not set Waterloo, having had better results
from AYilder, a peach of the same general sort. I would also omit Early
Crawford, as it does not do well upon my land — Late Crawford does better.
Both Early and Late Barnard are desirable, but much depends upon
locality. Oldmixon does nicely with me after the trees are six years old.
I W"ould include Bivers, but not to be shipj)ed far, and they must be picked
at just the right time. I do not know how to fill between Chili and Smock,
unless I used Golden Drop or Switzerland; yet the time of ripening of all
these will vary by localities, season, age of tree, etc. I would plant in an
orchard of 1,000 trees, 20 or 25 of the earliest sort chosen and of Hale's
and Bivers; 100 or more of Crane's Early Yellow (time of ripening of
Lewis is very nearly that of Crane's Early Yellow, and the latter is much
the better peach, yet some would prefer Lewis or Mountain Bose ) ; 100
Early Barnard ; 100 Jacques ( for my ground ) ; 100 Late Barnard ; 100
Chili; 100 Bronson's Hill's Chili; 100 ^Engle's Mammoth; 100 Golden
Drop; 100 Smock; and 25 of a peach bought as Allen — a yellow peach
with beautiful red colors. Advantages of a continuous succession of
15

114 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

varieties through the season are, refuge from rot or other disaster which
may fall upon some one variety; you can keep your name in the market
through the season — unless you ship by number so that no one will know
who sent the fruit; and you can keep men, who must be employed by the
season, constantly employed. The list I have given will ripen from the
20th or 25th of July till the 10th of October, in western Allegan near the
lake shore, but a little earlier inland. The Stevens Rareripe was bought
by a neighbor who calls it one of the best. It bore the second year,
ripening at the close of the Chili season, and is a large white peach of the
type of Stump.

POSITION OF ORCHARD AS TO FENCE OR WIND BREAK.

2. In setting a peach orchard on the southeast corner of my farm, near
woods, how close to the line fence should I set the first trees ?

Messrs. Taylor, Pearsall, and others said, ten to twelve feet; same
distance as in other places for turning; eighteen to twenty feet.

3. On the north, south, and east sides of the square ten acres I intend
to set to peach and plum trees, is a hedge row of young maples, six to
twelve feet high. Shall I leave them to grow, or clear them out?

J. F. Taylor : Set the fruit trees twenty feet from the maples and let
the latter stay to protect the fruit trees from wind.

President Lyon: If it is in an exposed location, leave it; but if better
circulation of air is needed, thin it out.

Mr. Hamilton thought the hedge would injure the fruit trees by taking
sustenance from them, and jjrotection from the lake is not needed.

trapping moths, curl leaf, careless handling.

4. Would it be of any use during the season the codlin moths are laying
their eggs in the apple, to keep lanterns setting in pans of water and
burning all night in different parts of the orchard, especially on warm
nights ?

A member: No, not by any means; you can't fool them that way; but
plenty of our friends are caught by that method.

5. At a certain stage of growth of the peach leaf, when it is young and
tender, if there comes a frost, does that cause it to make a heavy, morbid
growth, and consequently curl up and finally drop?

President Lyon: Leaf curl is not the result of frost, but of cold, damp
weather, which promotes growth of the disease.

Prof. Taft : Leaf curl is caused by the same fungus that produces plum
pockets, and probably could be destroyed by the means described for cure
of that disease.

6. Should we have a law that, when an expressman takes the liberty to
throw a basket of fruit over ten feet, the owner of the fruit shall have the
liberty to hit him with a club?

Several voices : Yes !

K. A. Burnett of Chicago: I would rather have the fruitgrower do it
than that anyone else should try.

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 115

CULTIVATION A KEMEDY FOR CURCULIO.

7. As the curculio is now destroying the plum, peach and apple, and as
they hibernate in the ground near the surface, and are quite tender while
in the larval state, would it be a good plan to harrow repeatedly and roll
with a heavy roller during this period?

Prof. Coedley: I think dragging would be beneficial; I have seen it
recommended.

President Lyon : Plowing four or five inches deep, bringing the curculio
to the surface, will kill them; but curculio travel and it may be doubted if
such means would materially decrease the next season's Supply.

Prof. Cordley: The mature insect hibernates less than one inch under
the ground, or merely under a leaf.

Mr. Morrill: Late plowing keeps off cutworms and other insects.

ProL Cordley: These are larvae, but the curculio are adults in the
winter time; they do not prepare a case, cyst, nor anything in which to
pass the winter.

USE OF "snide" packages.

*

8. Whereas, the "honest farmer" is sometimes tempted to ship fruit in
fifth baskets, for the purpose of getting the same price that his brother
gets for a peck basket, shall we petition the legislature to make a law
forbidding the manufacture or use of any other measiire than bushels,
three-pecks, half -bushels, pecks, and half-pecks'?

A member: California solved the question by selling everything by
weight.

C. J. Monroe : There has been legislation on this subject but it has not
been enforced. A barrel and basket are designated by law, and contracts
in those terms must be filled with standard legal packages. Opinions in
the legislature were that we cannot legally prevent the manufacture or
sale of packages of any size, but fraudulent representations may be pre-
vented.

R. A. Burnett, commission merchant, Chicago: Experience is teaching
that it is not profitable to ship in small packages. One reason is that the
light packages crush down and are injured. Half bushels go through as
sound as when they started. I have known the fifth basket come in as
heavy as the peck, but because it was better packed. Small packages, too,
are often broken. I do not think there is as much net monev from under-
size as from standard packages. There is no demand in a w^holesale way
for packages of less than a quarter bushel. We now sell but little to
retailers, our trade being more and more with jobbers. Call for bushels
is increasing from the interior, from dealers who find it best on all accounts
to buy in that size and repack, doing so because they get their fruit in
better shape. Most of the bushels are scant, however, yet the so-called
bushel basket is the honestest package on the market to-day.

nursery stock— rose chafers.

9. Is it advisable for the fruit growers of Oceana county to purchase
their nursery stock, particularly peach trees, from traveling salesmen, mor«
generally known as jobbers?

116 STATE HORTICL'LTUE-\L SOCIETY.

Mr. Morrill: I should say, decidedly, uo, luiless they have more
money, time, and land than they know what to do vrith. The "jobbers"
often commit outrageous frauds, and four or five years must pass before
the fruiting trees make yoti aware of the swindle.

10. Eose chafers: Can their ravages upon the peach and other fruits be
successfully combated? If pyrethriim will destroy them, give quantity
and time to spray?

Prof. Corpley: I have had no experience with the rose chafers on
peaches, but have killed them elsewhere by dusting of phyrethrum; but I
understand this can not well be done on peaches and spraying will be
necessary.

Judge Eussell asked about some young peach trees whose trunks he had
found punctured with a series of holes in a straight line up and down; he
had been told it was the work of the borer.

Prof. Taft: Perhaps the insect which did it is the tree cricket. If so,
nothing can be done but to cut of the affected parts. It does no harm
except to hatch, come out, and lay eggs for more "snowy crickets."'

President Ltox: I have seen this before but have not known of serious
trouble fi-om it.

Mr. Morrill suggested wrapping with fine wire cloth to keep out this
and other egg-depositing insects, the borer included.

Mr. Hamilton had seen something like this, and thought a wash of car-
bolic acid would both keep otf the moth and kill the larvse.

report ox FRriT EXHIBIT.

After accepting the following report concerning the fruit on exhibition,
anel adopting report of committee on secretary and treasurers reports, and
a resolution favoring Chicago for the world's fair for 1S92, the meeting
adjourned till 9 o'clock Thureday morning.

Your committee charged with the duty of examining and reporting upon the exhibit
of rural products upon the tables, beg leave to report as follows: The exhibit is not
large, but a few valuable things are presented. Mr. E. J. Shirts of Shelby shows six
varieties of ai^ple — Jonathan, Ehode Island Greening, King, Stark. Gk)lden Russet, and
Roxbun." Russet: Vicar of Winkfield pear: nine varieties of plum in solution, and one
variety of cherry. Mr. A. Bos of Ottawa county, contributes one variety of apple, the
Twenty-Ounce Pippin. T. T. Lyon, South Haven, one plate of beautiful Kings. W.
H. Barry of Shelby a very tine section of comb honey. D. S. Garver, Hart, shows nine
varieties of apple. King, Spitzenburg, Roxbury Russet, Talman Sweet. Pomme Gris,
Rhode Island Greening, Peck's Pleasant. Baldwin, and Fallawater: two cans of peaches;
three cans of cherries: two cans of raspberries, a display of dent corn, and samples of
two varieties of oat, two varieties of wheat, one of clover, one of red top, one of orchard
grass. A line dish of Anjou pears from some unknown party was found upon the
table. The plate of Pomme Gris apple, to which the committee would call the especial
attention of the society, is of a variety not often seen upon tables, but a most delightful
one for home use. The Fallawater and Talman Sweets are exceptionally well grown.
The specimen of corn is a dent variety that has been developed by selection, and ripens
regularly in Oceana county.

Chas. W. Gak field,
Arexd Bos.
a. b. cordlet,

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 117

Thursday Morning Session.

The closing session of the meeting was much more fully attended than is
usnal to the closing hours, and was opened by a paper by Mr. Rowland
Morrill of Benton Harbor, upon

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT OF THE COMMISSION MERCHANT ?

" We consider this a very imjjortant question, and I am very glad that
we are to have both sides of it presented here today for our consideration;
and I hope it may give all of us a better understanding of the methods of
conducting our business from beginning to end, and a chance to correct
such errors and evils as may have crept into the business on both sides.
We say both sides, as we imagine it will be a very difficult matter to write
on this subject without including a few things that we should not expect
of the commission merchant, even from the growers' standpoint. We have
a right to expect a great deal from him as he is in the business for our
convenience and his profit, and of course he would like to see us prosper
at the same time, as our prosperity means increased business for him.

"There are different grades of commission merchant. One very large
class is composed of men without capital, credit, or character. Our only
suggestion regarding this class is that we should use every means we have
to find them out and steer ourselves and friends clear of them. The
better class are, as a rule, shrewd, cautious, and reliable men and are in
the business to stay. These men we find to be indispensable partners, and
with them we must deal and from them we should exp»ct just what we
would of any partner who had a stated portion of any joint business
assigned to him. In return he has a right to expect of us thoroughly
honorable and courteous treatment in all things.

"As I understand it, the object of these papers and discussion is to
point out and suggest remedies for such defects as exist in the business,
also to study the situation and see if there is not some means of economiz-
ing in certain expenses, as the constantly decreasing profits of the grower
seem to demand.

"our partner" and some of his PECULIARITIES.

"We entrust to our commission man the duty of furnishing ways and
means for disposing of our crops to the best advantage and expect him at
all times to be well posted on the markets; and he should have had
experience enough to judge pretty correctly of the markets in the near
future, that he may make few mistakes in holding stock or pushing sales.
In the matter of commissions, I feel that the time has come for our
partner to reduce our expenses somewhat in this line. Chicago is rapidly
approaching New York in size and volume of business, and certainly no
city has better facilities for handling produce. Still, the old war-time rate
of ten per cent, is charged, while I am informed that such business is done
in New York and other eastern cities at five per cent. ; and the fact that
our partner often finds it convenient to send some fellow, who is out of a
job and too lazy to do anything useful, among us to sound his praises and
tell us how to do our business, and allow him a salary of $50 to $75 per
month and expenses of perhaps $100 per month, all to come out of our

118 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

produce, as pay for making a nuisance of himself; or perhaps some tired
citizen is employed as a 'local.' His business seems to be somewhat of a
combination of solicitor and 'spotter.' He will take an easy drive out in
the forenoon and tell us what to do. In the afternoon he loafs around the
depot or dock to see if we obey his instructions, and finally collects about
three per cent, of our money from our partner, claiming his commission
on all shipments from our port to his employer, perhaps, and the chances
are that he does not know a Baldwin from a Burbank.

"This system may do for the south — in fact I am satisfied it is 'business'
there ; but to the intelligent fruitgrowers of Michigan it is an imposition
on good nature, and now we ask our partner to dispense with him and
reduce commissions to as low a figure as he can, consistent with a safe and
honorable business.

OBJECTION TO CARTAGE CHABGES.

"Another item in the account, which is against us, is the cartage — a small
matter it may seem to some, but in the aggregate it is a large matter. I have
before me the account of sales of three commission houses for half -bushel
cases of berries. One charges one cent cartage, another one and one half
cents, the other two cents. The one charging me one cent has sold for me
many years. I am acquainted with the man who has his carting contract
and he is very prosperous. I do not know whether he gets all the cartage
charges or not, but he certainly gets no more. Now, regarding the man
who gets two cents. Does it actually cost two cents, or is there another
item? Now let us ask our partners if they will not reduce these rates to
actual cost, mak«e it uniform, and relieve us of the impression that our
partner is taking an unfair advantage of us. He may say it is impossible
for him to do these things, as it would be against the rules and customs of
the street, and all others would combine against him, thereby ruining his
business; and so they would, but in union there is strength. Have we not
ten or more partners on South Water street, who will join us in an agree-
ment to reduce commissions and cartage to the lowest consistent rates for
all Michigan consignments, keeping all their solicitors out of the state, we
to give the matter publicity through the press and use our influence to
help their business? In substance, we to do the soliciting for ten or more
firms which shall pass our inspection as to reliability, character, etc.,
and give the shippers of the entire state the benefit. The objection may
be urged that shippers of other states would raise a serious objection to
this condition of afii'airs. This need not be the case, as the same plan
might be open to them. It can readily be seen that this does not contem-
plate any injury or loss to our partners; but it does contemplate a large
weeding job—/, e., the stopping of all leaks and the taking of all of our
business out of the hands of unreliable and dishonest commission men and
placing it in the hands of those who will strive hard and honorably to
further our joint interests.

AUCTION SYSTEM OF SALES.

" Another matter which will soon be pressing the commission men hard,
is that of selling fruit at auction. It has been tried in various places and
has generally given satisfaction, especially so in New York during the past
season. I believe some enterprising man will soon try it in Chicago, and

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 119

he will be well supplied with produce, at least until the success or failure
of the plan is determined. If not, some combination of growers will
undoubtedly try the experiment, and it should be put to the test early next
season.

" There are points connected with this business which could be profit-
ably considered here, but if we attempt to do too much at once the proba-
bility is that all would come to naught, thereby defeating our purpose.

WHAT WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT,

" As I stated before, there are a few things which we should not expect
of our partner, which are too often asked of him. We should remember
that he stands between two tires, one from the growler and the other from
the buyer, and we must not expect him to protect us from our own ini-
quity in any form. If we use "snide" packages we must not expect him
to get as good prices as he would for standard packages. If we will insist
on stufiing the bottoms of our packages with inferior fruit, we should not
expect him to lose a customer on account of that, but he should make the
customer satisfied at our expense, even if he has to even it up from later
shipments. We must not blame him, if we send him a consignment with
strict orders to sell at once, if he sells low ; or, if not finding a buyer, he
takes the lot himself at its market value. I have frequently heard ship-
pers complain that they receive sales while they know the goods are still
in the store. Sometimes this is their own fault, as they compel the mer-
chant to take this course in order to hold their trade, and we m;ist expect
him to buy at a safe price.

" There is one feature of the business, which is sometimes ] .racticed, that
we object to most decidedly. That is the practice of making selections
from consignments for storing, leaving the seconds to be worked off,
thereby injuring the sale of the lot; and in such cases proper prices are
soldom attached to the first selection.

" With these few suggestions we will turn our partner over to the tender
mercy of the growers assembled here, asking all to be just and courteous,
and let us see if some practical, substantial benefit cannot be worked out
of this matter."

THE COMMISSION MERCHANT'S SIDE

•

Of the case was presented by Mr. George W. Bamett, of Chicago, in the
following paper, which was read by the secretary:

" The relations existing between the fruitgrower or shipper — for in this
paper I use the terms interchangeably — and the commission merchants are
of a peculiar nature.

" I do not propose to take any exceptional, extreme, or contracted view
of the subject, but a plain consideration of their present relations to each
other, and what may fairly be expected by the fruit shipper from his
agent.

"Many considerations at once come to the front, that have a vital bearing
on the question, such as: Are there any mutual obligations? Has the
commission merchant a right to expect any thing from the grower? And
what should not be expected of the commission merchant?

"But the wording of the subject seems to preclude any discussion of
anything but what the shipper should expect.

120 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

" I will only remark, obligations are never fill on one side and if some-
thing is required o£ the merchant by the shipper, then, in all fairness,
something is required of the shipper by the merchant, and no obligation
commences or becomes of force until this is agreed on.

" I will, however, confine myself within the narrow limits of the ques-
tion, and trust the discussion will cover the point only hinted at — the
mutual relations that exist.

" I cannot at present do more than to barely refer to the matter of gen-
eral marketing. The preparing for market, the picking, packing, packages,
delivery to transportation company, all these are outside this paper and
must be dismissed with a bare mention.

"The shipper must see to the delivery of goods in good condition, and
to taking a receipt in good order, for the law recognizes the transjDortation
company as the agent, and under the control and direction of the consignor,
and the consignee can have no control of the shipment (unless delegated
by the consignor) previous to arrival at its designation.

WHERE THE MERCHANT'S DUTY BEGINS.

"Clearly, then, the commission merchant's duties, and what can be
expected of him, begin at the point of destination. There his responsi-
bility begins, and there we must take up the discussion.

" It must in all fairness be conceded that everyone shall stand the con-
sequences of his own acts, and common prudence will say that the grower
must make his selection and decide for himself.

"What are the qualifications he desires in his chosen agent?

"During the season of marketing, the average grower, who produces
three fourths of the siipply, is so engaged in the work of gathering and pre-
paring his fruit for market, that it becomes a physical impossibility for
him personally to attend to and supervise his marketing — that is, to see
that it is sold to the best advantage or to those who will pay the highest
price for it.

"It will be conceded without argument, I think, that the great volume
of fruit marketed is in large cities. As the consumer buys in small quan-
tities, and largely on credit, there must be some one who is conversant
with his financial standing, and his tastes, who will undertake to supply
the grades of goods wanted, in quanties to suit, and to extend such credit
as he may require.

" This point is often overlooked — that the great bulk of fruit is sold on
credit; yet the shipper and transportation companies are the only parties
who can command cash payment.

"Being 100 miles or more from the consumer, the grower can not
properly do these things, and as a fact they can only be done by those in
daily contact with the customer, and then not always with safety.

"Nor can the average groiver safely trust his goods to the retail dealer,
for he demands more or less credit, and his responsibility, in a financial
point of view, must often be closely scrutinized and collections must be
promptly made to reduce loss to a minimum, as all commission merchants
can testify.

"The retail dealer, then, is a necessity, and some one who can supply
the retail dealer, regularly, is a necessity also.

"In the selecting of his agent from among the abundance from which to
choose, the shipper exercises his own judgment, and makes up his own

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 121

iniud on the matter. In this act, and in the manner in which he performs
it lie the secret of his success or faihire as a shipper.

"The financial standing should be inquired into, location of the firm,
sufiicient store facilities, character passed upon, and experience estimated.
From these the shipper should make his choice, and this being his own act
he should not blame anyone else for his failure to exercise his right.

"Should I be asked 'What should the shipper expect of the commission
merchant ? ' in these particulars, I would answer, first, sufiicient capital for
the i-equirements of the business — present and immediately prospective;
second, a location somewhere within the usual range of trade in fruits, the
nearer the center the better, unless some special reason can be shown to
modify this point; third, facilities as far as storeroom is concerned suffi-
cient to well care for business entrusted to him; fourth, character, which
each will judge, but an honorable, clean record; and fifth, business exper-
ience that will avoid mistakes as much as possible.

" A failure to exercise this prerogative will in reason put a bar to any
complaints on any of these points.

"Having made his selection of an agent, but unable to leave his orchard,
he sends by servants, the transportation company, for an agreed compensa-
tion — for care and carriage — his products to be sold to the best advantage
and for prompt returns.

"The requirements, as far as actual performance is concerned, are
expressly understood and agreed upon, or implied in the contract, and the
order is about as follows : First, on arrival in the city and the transporta-
tion company is ready to deliver, a prompt, speedy, and careful removal of
the shipment to his place of business — this being jDerformed on his own
responsibility and risk.

"The next requirement is a proper exposure and offering for sale in as
good condition as possible, presenting the best points consistent with
honesty, and inducing buyers to pay all they will for the fruit thus offered.

"This sale is made for cash, and to the party who will pay the most. In
the nature of the case, credit cannot be given by the seller on the authority
of the shipper, and at his risk, for it is impossible for the shipper to pass
upon the responsibility or credit of the buyer. Although, as before stated,
the fruit must largely be sold on credit, in our own case less than one
third of our sales are for sjwf cash.

"In effecting this sale, the ability of the salesman is tested. A correct
judgment in the estimate of the market value of the goods offered for sale
is the great point to be exercised by the seller. This valuation thus placed
must be the result of a knowledge of the supply — the probable or actual
demand; the quality of the goods, and the condition at the time of the
offering for sale, whether morning, noon, or evening — the opening, the
closing, or the middle of the market hours.

"It is thus seen that the value of the goods is measured by human
judgment alone, without cost of production taken into consideration.

"The shipper has a right to expect sound judgment from his correspond-
ent, and all reasonable efforts to find a purchaser. But the only way to
force sales, is to drop the asking price so low as to tempt the unwilling
customer to buy. Bear in mind, however, there can be no absolute
uniformity in judgment, when fallible men are concerned.
16

122 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

DUTY IN MATTERS OF SAIjE.

" Receivers with practically tlie same conditions surrounding them will
form different opinions, and when all are compelled to act independently
scarcely any two men will make the same estimate of the same conditions.

" I say, then, while sound judgment of values should be required and
expected, no absolute standard can be set up that can be reasonably
exacted, for any standard or measure of valuables that is claimed to be
fixed has been arrived at by a series of calculations, whether mental only
or expressed, that in different minds will produce different results.

" Suppose any single barrel of apjjles be taken as an example, no matter
whether one of a carload or only one of a ten-barrel lot. It may be fancy
and will suit the finest trade, perfect in every respect ; but the value would
depend not only on the judgment of the seller but also on the judgment of
and needs of the would-be purchaser, whether the caterer to the millionaire
or the hawker in the street.

" Should berries be considered, time would be a very essential element;
whether morning, to be in time for all customers ; or afternoon, when most
have their wants supplied — whether a half hour before the train leaves, or
just as the train starts. All have their bearing on the values and must be
considered.

"As in political economy the value of one man's possessions can not be
fairly taken as the basis for calculating a nation's wealth, so no single con-
signment can be set up as the market price on any particular date, and
the shipper can not reasonably expect the returns to conform to any stand-
ard short of the average.

" The sale having been effected to the best judgment of the dealer, the
shipper has a right to returns within a reasonable time. Having sold for
cash, the money is in hand to pay for the same, and after deducting the
freight and other charges agreed on, tacitly or by express agreement, with-
out delay, the net proceeds should be placed in the possession of the
shipper.

" What the shipper should expect of right of the commission merchant
after his shipment reaches the city of its destination, then, is, first, carefiil
and prompt receiving of the goods from the transportation company;
second, sound judgment in the sale for the highest price obtainable for
cash ; third, prompt remittance of the proceeds less the agreed charges.

"This finishes the transaction of the selling of the goods. Now, if you
will add to this the protection of the shippers' interest in locating and
arranging for the collection of 'shortages,' claims for 'damages,' and other
matters of like character, we have all that can reasonably be expected for
the regular rates of commission.

CERTAIN MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS.

"When the usual advices of prices, supply and demand are furnished, it
is outside of the regular requirements. And when this question is touched
upon, it opens up what I have already mentioned, that the mutual obliga-
iions between intending shipper and supposed receiver are created, which
should be recognized.

"The law recognizes certain principles that must be respected. Com-
mon sense has also general rules that all recognize, and one of these is
' you can not expect to get more than you pay for, ' and if you pay for a

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 123

stipulated portion of work, tuhen that is performed the obligation ceases,
and anything that costs must be paid for in addition.

" The demands of unreasonable shippers, is bearing, now as heretofore,
legitimate fruit, which was emphatically voiced last year, in the discussions
on marketing fruit.

"Responsible firms are growing more and more averse to the existing
state of affairs, and boldly say that the commission will not pay for the ser-
vice exacted, and show more and more disposition to buy at home of those
who promise more than the responsible house can afford to perform, with
the inevitable result of throwing the business into the hands of those who
are financially irresponsible, and who by fair promises obtain the shipment,
but do not always fulfill all the conditions fairly expected of the commision
merchant.

UNREASONABLE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUESTS.

"On this question of unreasonable requests, or requirements, of the
commission men, I have a little experience that I wish to relate. It seems
that the commission merchant is supposed to know everything; at least, if
he does not know anything, that he has the time, and opportunity, and
inclination to do or find out everything or fill orders for anything.

" We have had men who wanted us to advance them money on their word
to buy land on which to raise a crop of fruit, promising when grown they
would send us their products. We have had men who wanted us to furnish
them with a stock of goods, which they would sell to growers for fruit and
vegetables, and that they would shij) us the fruit and vegetables in pay-
ment for the same,

"I recollect one instance where a man down in Florida wanted us to fur-
nish him means to go into business, saying that there was ' a good thing
in it.' By the way, it reminds me of a request we got from a Florida cor-
respondent, who wanted us to hunt up an apparatus for finding a sunken
treasure, as Captain Kidd is supposed to have buried a lot of gold some-
where along the Florida coast, and he wanted us to hunt up and send him
the machinery or instruments to find it.

"Another man wrote to us as 'commission men,' and wanted us to go
and buy a set of second-hand faro chips, saying no doubt in Chicago there
would be some second-hand sets that we could buy very easily. Rough on
us, wasn't it? Another party wanted us to furnish him money to rig him
out a boat to go into the fish business, he to send us the fish when caught.
This seemed to us worse than catching the tradifional hare.

"Only last week a party wrote us from Kansas, asking us to look through
all the pawnbrokers' shops in the city of Chicago, and get him a second-
hand gun; and, if we would do so, he would send us the game that he
should kill in payment for the same. Men have asked us to furnish them
means to pay off mortgages on their places. In one case we did so, and
the mortgage was adjusted, and we were left out in the cold, without
security for our money and the ' wind is whistling,' and he tells us ' whistle
for your money.'

" Now, I don't believe that these are ' requirements' that should be asked
of a commission merchant. I don't believe a commission merchant should
be asked or expected to advance money on growing crops. If the dealers
at home, who know the party, will not advance him money, or means to

124 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

carry him, it seems to us there is something, if not exactly ' rotten,' at least
'half grown' or ' unmerchantable.'

WHAT THE MERCHANT SHOULD REQUIRE OF THE SHIPPER.

"In the paper which has been read, I confined myself very closely to the
discussion of what could and should be expected of the commission
merchant. The innumerable side issues that crowded upon me were reso-
lutely set aside, and no doubt a great many will think that a great many
items should be reasonably expected of the commission merchant other
than those mentioned.

" We are accustomed to doing a great deal more, yet there seems to be
an idea that there is no obligation on the part of the grower whatever.
The goods are considered — and truly — his own, to do with as he sees fit.
Calling attention to the remark that I made, obligations are never all on
one side : If something is requiredof the merchant by the shipper, then in
all fairness something is required of the shipper by the merchant, and no
obligation becomes of force until this is agreed on. By common consent,
it is considered that it is the duty of the commission merchant to advise
intending shippers of the prospects, the supply, the demand, to keep them
posted on what is going on, and to suggest a course of shipment; but if
this is to be considered as one of the requirements fairly to be asked of
the merchant, then, on the other side, the commission merchant should
have a claim on the shipments of tJie shijjpers that would pay him for his
worJx and trouble. In other words, if the shipper asks information which
the dealer is to impart, and which may be, and probably is, of value to the
shipper, then the shipper should be willing to concede the right of the
dealer to his shipments until there is good cause to the contrary.

"Another point I would mention, and that is, no shipper has the right to
expect that a commission merchant should falsify in order to make him
money — in other words, to swindle or cheat a huyer for the benefit of the
grower.

SOME TOUGH SPECIMENS OF THE FRUIT SHIPPER.

"During the last three months we have had many examples of this,
which have come under our observation or personal experience. Let me
cite one or two. A firm in Quincy, 111., believing that there was some
money in grapes, went to Villa Kidge, 111., and contracted the entire crop
of 1889. They made careful estimates as to what there was to be placed
on the market, and practically secured the entire crop. It is fairly to be
presumed that they made conditions that the goods should be well packed
and well handled. In fact, we had it from one of the firm that such was
the case; yet hundreds — yes, thousands — of baskets were filled in on the
bottom with broken, loose, and inferior stock, and the top of the baskets
fixed up in good shape, so that to all appearances (unless poured out) they
were all right. The result was, as we understand, a loss of some thousands
of dollars, directly traceable to this fraud. Two thousand baskets of this
stock were placed in our hands for sale on account of the purchaser, and
while the top of the baskets showed fine, firm, sound grapes, the bottom
was unfit to feed the hogs; and this, too, with a fair crop. I presume the
seller at home had a good home market.

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 125

" Now, I liokl that no shipper has the right to expect full prices, or fair
prices even, for such stock. The remark 'fit to feed to hogs' reminds me
of another incident. A gentleman came from Pontiac, 111., to inquire about
a shipment of ten barrels of apples. He looked wise, made his inquiries,
and said that they were good stock, but on being questioned somewhat
closely by me, ( as I expressed some surprise that apples should be shipped
from that point here, Chicago), he said it was a lot of apples taken from
an orchard into which a lot of hogs had been turned to eat them up ; but
he 'thought it was a pity that they should be allowed to eat them, conse-
quently, they had picked up some and sent them to Chicago' — to obtain
good figures of course. I remarked with considerable warmth that Chi-
cago did not feel complimented by having hog food sent in as first-class
friiif, and further remarked that we were fully aware of the general charac-
ter of the fruit, but did not suppose that he would rob the Jiogs and make
us the medium of selling the goods. ,

" Allow me to cite another instance, this bearing on the question of the
prices and the standard to be fixed. On Saturday, Nov. 30, 1889, a man
prominent among the fruitgrowers within the territory of 'west Michigan'
who has packed thousands of barrels of apples for this market, said in con-
versation with me in referring to a lot of apples which he had sent us, that
we had sold his seconds or culls for a matter of about $1 per barrel net
(which was a good price), but also made complaint on our sales because a
competitor on the street sold the same grade of stock for $1.88 per barrel
gross. Yet at the same time, that is, during the same period covered by
these sales, we had bought No. 1 stock of the same firm at $2.10 to $2.15
per barrel, our transactions covering some seven or eight hundred barrels.
Here was a difference of at most 37 cents per barrel between first-class
fruit, such as the best trade would use, and what he Jiimself characterized
while si^eaking of them, as being ' viost scand(dous' stock to pack for any
market.

"I can not for one moment admit that truth, honesty, or even decency
would allow me to ask such a price for goods of the character mentioned
above, as would be anything like what was expected by the shipper in the
case mentioned.

" I hold very emphatically that the shipper has no right to expect some-
thing for nothing, has no right to expect honest treatment from starvation
prices, any more than I would ask a man to work for me for nothing, and
board himself. I hold that the shipper has no right to expect his com-
mission merchant to sell inferior and worthless trash at prices anywhere
near the prices of good, honest-packed fruit. I hold that the shipper has
no rigid to expect us to swindle our customers here, and thereby ruin our
trade, for the benefit of a man who would put up such fruit in the manner
described above. I hold that we are occupying a position between tiro
men whom ice are to consider as lionest, and the dollar of ttie purcliaser
is worth $1 ivortJi of fruit as represented; that no standard shall be set up
because a man chooses to swindle his purchaser here, that shall brand
some one else as a thief or careless because he does not come up to the
standard in prices. I hold — well, a great many other things that might be
mentioned, that come up as illustrating this point, but this is all that is
necessary for me to say on the question. Fair, square, honest treatmenty
is what should be expected from all hands."

126 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV.

WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY.

Taking up the discussion of these papers, Mr. R. A. Burnett of Chicago,
said he had nothing to add to Mr. Barnett's defense of the commission
merchant. He highly complimented the intelligent interest taken by
fruitgrowers in their business, which seemed equal to that shown by
Chicago people in obtaining the world's fair. "While the commission of
ten per cent, may seem large," said Mr. Burnett, " it must be recollected
that the expense of a solicitor is $4 to $5 per day, and it costs six per cent,
to market the fruit after it is in Chicago. So, after paying the solicitor,
nothing is left, and that is why I quit the fruit business, or at least for
eight years have made no effort to secure fruit consignments. I do not say
others should not solicit, but for myself I have found the other plan the
better. Capital, credit, and character are, as Mr. Morrill says, the first
essentials in a commission merchant and grower. The commission
merchant has to work long hours and hard. I do not know of less than
ten per cent, being taken in the east, except on heavy products and large
lots. Merchants there can not afford to take less. Cartage should be
reduced to the minimum, but custom has established the rate charged.
Many lots are small, and now every depot and dock in the city has to be
watched. I do not keep a dray of my own, because when I did the horse,
dray, or something else was continually sick, broken, or otherwise out of
condition. I found it much more profitable not to do so. The drayman
has several rigs and so avoids these inconveniences and does the business
promptly and with few" mistakes. Last year the first efforts were made at
selling fruit at auction — California fruit. The system is growing in favor
and the sales will be better attended this year than they were last. But
Michigan fruit is more perishable and must be disposed of the same day it
is received. This w^ould work against the auction system, and small ship-
ments are another drawback. It is as easy to examine and determine the
character of a large lot as of a small one. In auction sales, small lots
would be likely to be ' lumped ' together and sold, and some of them be too
low and some too high. But I care to throw no cold water upon the
auction system. It may prove to be better than the commission plan."
Mr. Burnett spoke j)leasantly of Mr. Barnett, and commended him though
his next door neighbor and competitor.

Mr. Morrill: It was with me only a matter of information as to the
rate of commission in New York, not of experience. Why does one dray-
man prosper at one cent per package though others charge two cents? I
do not believe commission men establish rates 100 per cent higher in one
case than another. They must divide with the draymen — or is it with the
shipper ? [ Laughter. ]

Mr. Burnett: They do discriminate between "produce" and fruit by
100 per cent.

Mr. Morrill: Is it necessary to have solicitors?

Mr. Burnett : No, I think not.

Mr. Morrill: AVhile we wish to weed out irresponsible commission
men, we wish also to be rid of the ec^ually bad shipper. I think about
three per cent, of the ten go to a man, the solicitor, of whom we have no
need.

To this Mr. Burnett assented.

Mr. Morrill: The matter of sales by auction will grow till we know

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 127

whether it is a system we want. I do not assume that we do, necessarily.
Could not the fruit, at such sales, be easily sorted, as boat companies sort
it, each kind of fruit by itself?

Mr. Burnett: In my opinion, that is a very feasible business proposi-
tion. It is a matter of agreement among consignors — the auction matter
— if the growers agree in requiring the fruit to be so sold.

Various brief remarks were made, none of a nature complimentary to
the commission merchant; whereupon, said

Mr. Burnett: You need not mince matters on my account; and I wish
to say something in return upon the character of the ordinary shipper. I
receive a consignment from a man, treat him fairly, and he agrees to con-
tinue with me; but next day a solicitor is listened to and the fruit sent to
some other merchant, and thereby I am disappointed and my business
deranged. Honest and well-meaning growers often lose money by such
changes. I once received a consignment of peaches in half bushels, from
a grower in Hart. They did not "show up" well and so I opened a basket
to show to a customer. They proved to be fine and he took the lot at $2
each. That consumer came daily but found no more such fruit. If that
shipper had continued sending he would have gotten more than the market
price. He should have done so if he had any more. Commission men —
good ones — try to please good consignors, those whose fruit sells high; for
if it sells at $2 the commission is twenty cents, while if it sells at twenty
cents the commission is two cents (and the good fruit sells the easier) yet
the cost of handling is the same.

Jas. F. Taylor: What is meant in this discussion by the "average fruit-
grower"?

Mr. Morrill: We all know him and no definition is necessary. He is
a man who deliberately sorts and "faces up" to swindle; and three fourths
on the lake shore are of this kind. They are better in the interior.

Mr. Burnett: I am shy of agreeing to this, but I will not dispute it. I
gave up soliciting fruit for another reason; I could never know what or
how much I would receive from day to day.

Mr. Morrill: I have bought peaches in Chicago for my own use, and
in ten years I have not got more than five baskets that were straight
packed. The best fruit goes out of the market at once, and after nine or
ten o'clock there is no 'straight' fruit on the street, though plenty of the
other kind.

J. M. Haight of Shelby: 'What average advance will an honest packer
get, year by year, over the shyster?

Mr. Burnett: He gets more than the market rate, right along. Mr.
Morrill's melons bring twenty-five cents more per case than others just as
good, because they have an established reputation. The loss on bad goods
is pretty evenly distributed between the grower, commission merchant, and
buyer.

Mr. Burnett spoke in favor of large baskets for peaches of evary grade
but fancy fruit. There is an increasing demand and preference for the
bushel basket.

Much talk ensued, each speaker commending honest packing, and it was
urged that even the poorer qualities should be uniform in size throughout.
Mr. Burnett explained the various evil results of "stuffing," among others
the loss to the merchant who, on the basis of two or three shipments,
guarantees the quality of the next, only to find it proves to be "tailings."

128 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Poor fruit may for a time, through some deceit, bring good prices, but
such will uot continue.

Mr. Haight: It takes years to baild up a reputation. I got low prices
when Mr. Stanhope got high ones for no better fruit; but it was my first
season and Mr. Stanhope had been long known on the market. Time
remedied this however.

Thos. Wilde confirmed these views from his own experience. He had
known dishonest practices to drive men out of the market and out of fruit-
growing.

Jas. F. Taylor: One can build up a reputation quickly or slowly,
according as he proceeds. Paste a guarantee label upon each package and
your good standing is soon established. You will, on this account, pres-
ently receive letters asking for direct shipments. '.'.

THE RESOLUTIONS.

The report of the committee on resolutions was submitted and adopted:

It was with great pleasure that we anticipated a meeting of the State Horticultural
society with the peoi^le of Oceana county. We had heard of their fame as fruitgrowers,
and wished to see their faces and shake their hands. Now we have had this pleasure,
and are glad to extend to this people our grateful acknowledgement of their successful
beginning in the fruit production of Michigan. And to the people of Hart we are glad
to express our high appreciation of their good-will as extended to us through their gen-
erous entertainment at their homes, and also through their efficient committee of
arrangements which met delegates at the depot and have anticipated every want and
every work that could increase the interest of this meeting and insure its success.

J. F. Taylor,

Thomas Wilde.

A TIME OF PEACE AND GOOD WILL.

Upon motion of Mr. Peid, the society extended its condolence to Mr.
Allen of Goderich, whose attendance was prevented by serious illness of
his brother.

Mr. Pearsall made remarks congratulatory upon the great success of the
meeting and' urging all to put thoroughly into practice what had been
learned, otherwise the object of the meeting would not be attained.

Mr. Burnett expressed the greatest satisfaction with his experience at
the meeting, highly complimented the society, and especially its venerated
president; spoke of the duty Oceana owes to^the state society in return for
benefits here received, and cordially thanked the people of Hart for the
generous entertainment he had received.

With the heartiest feelings of good will, the society closed one of its
most successful and valuable meetings.

t>

PRESIDENT LYON CORRECTS FALSE IMPRESSIONS.

South Haven, Dec. 27, 1889.

To the Editor of the Allegan Gazette.

In your report of the State Horticultural society's annual meeting, in
your issue of December 21, it is stated:

"President Lyon made some disparaging remarks concerning the quality of the
Lewis [peach], whereupon said

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 129

Mr. Morrill: The fact is, Mr. Lyon has a too fastidious taste. To him a good Red
Canada apple is scarcely good enough.

Had we been so fortunate as to understand this remark of Mr. Morrill
at the time, we would doubtless have entered a protest then and there.
Failing to do so, we ask to be indulged with space to correctly define our
position.

Mr. Sessions had been called on and had given a list of eight varieties of
peach for planting in Oceana county, and the Lewis was mentioned as just
being introduced.

We do not claim to be intimately acquainted with the Lewns (which, in
Mr. Farnsworth's remarks, was compared with the Hale), but the mature
specimens which have come under our observation would by no means
equal the Hale in quality.

We by no means advocate the rejection of even so poor a variety as the
Lewis, to fill a gap in a list of market peaches, for which no better substi-
tute can be had; but w'e deem it quite certain that there are other and
better varieties of that season. Our objection to it is, firstly, that planters
are not careful to be well informed on the subject; and secondly, that they
fail to provide in advance for the obtaining of these better varieties, when
not offered ready to their hand.

It is probal)ly true that the speakers had in mind the selection of
varieties to l)e planted for market purposes; but, if so, the fact does not
appear in the report, which, owing to such omission, goes out to the general
public as a recommendation to plant even the Lewis in the family plat —
a distinction which we had long and persistently urged should ever be
kept in mind in the making up of lists for planting.

It has long been not our mere impression, but rather a positive convic-
tion, that the sale of attractive-looking fruit, but low and disappointing in
quality, has the effect, with many consumers, to so lower their estimate of
the general quality of the fruits of the locality from which these have come
as to seriously affect both the demand and the price of other and better
varieties from that region.

We have never proposed (as may be inferred from the report in ques-
tion ) that the market grower shall plant varieties of fine quality without a
careful reference to their profitableness, as well as to their general ability
to meet the requirements necessary for such purposes; but we even per-
tinaciously insist that the distinction between market and family planting
shall be so kept in mind, and so fully brought out in the society's discus-
sions, together with the peculiar qualities required for either purpose, that
even ignorant or inexperienced planters need not be misled in their choice
of their varieties for either purpose.

We think we pretty fully comj^rehend the difficulty of the process known
as " educating the market"; but that such education is not only possible
but practicable, is too clearly indicated by the demand in our city markets
for such unattractive fruits as Shaffer raspberry and Rhode Island Greening
apple, and by the increased demand for the latter in the English markets
after only a very few years' acquaintance with it.

The supplying of city markets with Pennock, Ben Davis, and even so
well-flavored an apple as Baldwin is nearly equivalent to the remanding of
fruits to the culinary department, along with onions, turnips and potatoes,
while, if these be supplemented by Melon, Shiawassee, Hubbardston, R. I.
Greening, Red Canada, et hoc genus omne, city tables will be more largely
17

130 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

supplied with them, to be extensively consumed instead of the too frequently
half decayed or immature and sour oranges and bananas which now usurp
their places. Although we confessedly speak quite at random, it is our
very decided conviction that there is no lack of relatively profitable varieties
of the character indicated, and that these woidd be freely produced and
offered by the nurseries if only they were demanded by planters.

We are also of the opinion that such a change, by the mass of commer-
cial planters and shippers, would within a very few years nearly or quite
double the relative consumption of fruits, with an increased price to corres-
pond with the improvement in quality.

We are, moreover, scarcely willing to rest quietly under the imputation
of Mr. Morrill, respecting the Red Canada apple, especially since we have
for many years been charged with having "Red Canada on the brain," on
account of having so persistantly urged the planting of it for commercial
purposes. Highly as we esteem it for such purposes, in regions in which
it succeeds, and notwithstanding the fact that, even where successful, it
has some grave faults, among which is a slight lack of rich, high flavor, we
would scarcely plant half a dozen trees for winter apples for family pur-
poses without including this.

T. T. Lyon.

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL FAIR,

HELD IN DETROIT, WITH DETROIT EXPOSITION, SEPT. 17 TO 27, 1889.

For eighteen years the Michigan State Horticultural society conducted
the flower and fruit shows of the State fair, but their union was severed
in 1887; no exhibit was made last year, and this season the society formed
a similar connection with the Detroit Exposition, the result being alto-
gether the largest and most attractive display the Horticultural society
ever made. For the first time vegetables were included, thus making the
display correspond fully to the society's work, and the surprising and
complete success seems to make sure revival of interest in the work and
welfare of a society which has done more than any other agency in putting
Michigan into the place she now occupies in pomology. We can only
speak in the highest praise of the generous and courteous treatment the
officers of this society, in every respect, received from the Exposition
management.

THE FRUIT DEPARTMENT.

The friiit display, always the main feature, comprised 3,500 plates, about
two thousand being apples, 500 pears, 300 peaches, 400 plums, 100 grapes,
and 200 sub-tropical and small fruits, and occupied about one fourth of
the space on the second floor of the building, the four tables upon which
the fruit was spread being each 2^ feet wide and nearly 200 feet long.
With the exception of some excellent apples and pears from Ohio and
Ontario, the northern fruits were wholly of Michigan production, and,
allowance being made for the unfavorable season, they fully sustained the
state's great fame as a fruit region. Nowhere else in the United States,
this year, was such a show (nearly one hundred and fifty varieties) of
apples possible. It was a bad year for peaches and worse for grapes, the
former having been nearly ruined in the great peach region of the west by
winter's cold and the grape crop was extinguished by May frosts. Never-
theless the array of peaches was large, and the grapes better than could
have been expected. On the other hand, every pear tree in Michigan
groaned under its load and the show of this fruit was not less remarkable
for its extent than its uniform excellence of condition. A salient feature
was the plum exhibit, which was of great extent and comprised a quite
unusual number of varieties. The high bloom and lovely colors of this

132 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

exhibit, wliicli came chiefly from Oceana county, caused many expressions
of admiration, and most beholders supposed the large and brilliant fruit to
have come from California.

The society's first ijrize, $50, for general collections of fruit, had four
competitors — the South Haven and Casco society, represented by W. C.
Sheffer and A. G. Galley; the Lenawee County society, the exhibit in
charge of D. G. Edmiston and H. C. Bradish; the Oceana County society
with C. A. Sessions and Benton Gebhart in charge, and S. M. Pearsall of
Grand Rapids. Some of these gentlemen and the South Haven society
also made special exhibits and collections, as well as Messrs. Emil Baur
of Ann Arbor, J. M. Blowers of Lawrence, N. J. Clinton of Windsor,
Ont., C. W. Counter, of North Toledo, O., A. A. Olds of Decatur, and G.
Truesdel of Whitmore Lake. There were many others who exhibited
single varieties.

The Oceana county exhibits attracted deep and general attention, much
to the advantage of that comparatively new but excellent fruit region.
They were particularly full in phims and peaches.

THE show's oddities.

Tlie curiosities of the show were of course the fruits from the south,
including a small exhibit sent by the national department of agriculture —
a tea plant, coffee plant, mango tree, camphor tree, and a large pineapple
in fruit. The department also sent six varieties of Japanese persimmon.
S. B. Mann of Glenwood, Fla., sent a stem of banana showing buds,
bloom, and green fruit, lemons, limes, guavas, and several kinds of Japan-
ese persimmon. From Georgia came a large lot of enormous pears, the
Kieffer, whose rich, transparent yellow and great size secured many
beholders; also LeConte and Mikado pears, pomegranates, and Chinese
quince, all these being sent by W. W. Thomson of Smith ville. Ga. One
of the most attractive things was a great bunch of dates, sent by E. Wolf-
skill, of Winters, Cal., and grown by his brother, S. C. Wolf skill, of the
same place. They were from one of the very few bearing trees in the
United States. The bunch weighed about twenty pounds.

Late in arrival, having been about ten days on the road, was a large
collection from Monticello, Jefferson county, Fla., made by George S. Van
Buskirk, a former Michigan man of Bay City. Much of the fruit spoiled
during the long delay, yet the remainder, with the accompaniments, made
a sensation when it was got in position Tuesday morning. It contained
two banana plants, six and eight feet high respectively, and a stalk from a
larger plant bearing green fruit, flowers, and buds in their peculiar purple
sheath. There were pomegranates of several varieties, larger than any
others on exhibition, more of the huge Kieffer pears, green oranges and
lemons on their branches, figs shown in the same way, Japanese persimmons
in variety, many cans of preserved fruits, with jellies, syrups, and wines.
Besides these purely horticultural products there was a bail of cotton sur-
mounted by bearing cotton plants and flanked with sugar cane, together
with corn, oats, and other grains, peanuts, fodder plants, and a lot of
dressed boards as samples of Florida timber. The whole was tastefully
arranged, and was all day surrounded by an admiring and questioning
crowd.

An exhibit peculiarly interesting to pomologists was fifty-three plates of
named varieties of Russian apple, grow^n in Iowa and sent here by Col.

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL FAIR. 133

G. C. Brackett of Denmark, that state. These apples have resulted from
eflPorts to procure from certain parts of Russia fruits hardy enough to
withstand the extreme cold of winter in the northwestern prairie states.
There is a promise of a degree of success in the experiment.

A new departure in the premium list this year was a requirement
for a peck of fruit of each entry of a single variety. At first this appeared
to be a mistake, but the array of 150 of these peck entries proved the
wisdom of the new arrangement.

The exhibit of canned and preserved fruits and jellies was not large, but
was of exceptionally fine quality.

IN flora's realm.

A floral exhibit of far greater dimensions than the society ever presented
before kept company in excellent taste with the brilliant array of
fruits. Each of the two tow^ers of this department and a large
space adjoining one of them, was filled by S. Taplin of Detroit,
with large palms, ferns, agaves, cannas, and other foliage plants,
and this gentleman also made many entries of beautiful and rare
things from his greenhouse. An elegant display of the same sort
was made by John Breitmeyer & Son of Detroit, in a central space
of the main tower. Carl Bogula of Detroit, was an exhibitor of
greenhouse plants and cut flowers; M. Wetterling of Ionia sent asters,
Joseph Dunkley of Kalamazoo some of the finest of roses, and Bev. J.
Yenning of Ypsilanti some single petunias of gorgeous colors and strange
markings, many of them deeply fringed, the result of his own hybridizing.
Joseph Zimmerman of Detroit showed an ivy of surj^assing size and
novelty of form. B. Schroeter of Detroit filled a large floor space with
ribbon borders and designs for flower beds and lawn decorations. In cut
flowers the famous house of James Vick of Rochester, N. Y., made an
admirable exhibit ( the bad season considered ) of dahlias, geraniums,
gladiolus, plilox, asters, zinnias, and a number of other sorts in less extent.
In this department some rare things from Jamaica were shown — cocoanuts
in their husks and plants of nutneg, cinnamon, alspice, and clove, all in
queer pots made of bamboo; and there was a quantity of cocoa beans
both clean and bottled and in their pods.

That part of the exhibit made by the Michigan Agricultural college
continued to the end a center of attraction, and must have resulted in
great practical benefit to the college in familiarizing the people with the
scope and high quality of its work.

THE VEGETABLE SHOW.

The vegetable show was one of rare merit in its quality and numbered
about two hundred entries. Its main features were the two great collec-
tions of Kennedy & Stillman of Hornellsville, N. Y., and George Beard
of Detroit, the former containing over 75 sorts of vegetables, and more
than six times as many specimens, was in all respects first-class, and
received first jiremium. Mr. Beard's collection took second money, but it
was inferior only in quantity. Its quality could scarcely be excelled.
These two exhibitors shared between them many premiums for single
varieties; but the first prizes for both large (white plume) and dwarf
(golden self-blanching) celery went to Mr. Wetterling of Ionia, against

134 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

three competitors. Joseph Duiikley of Kalamazoo, took second on white
plume (large) celery.

The judges were Prof. J. H. Ragan of Greencastle. Ind., secretary of
the American Horticultural society, and Alex. McD. Allen, of Goderich,
Ont., i^resident of the Ontario Fruitgrowers' association.

A collection of twelve plates of foreign grapes grown under glass by
Mr. A. Sigler, of Adrian, Mich., was an interesting feature, as likewise
were some baskets of Early Black cranberries from Cape Cod, supplied by
Dwyer & Vhay of Detroit. To the latter gentlemen the society feels deeply
obligated for many favors.

LIST OF PREMIUMS.

FRUIT DEPARTMENT.

Class 60.^- General Collection of Fruits for Family Use.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and most carefully handled general collection
of fruits affording an adequate set of varieties of each class, as far as practicable, for
both dessert and culinary xjurposes throughout the entire year, collected and exhibited
by a society or grange — Lenawee Horticultural society, first; South Haven and Casco
Pomological society, second; Oceana county Horticultural society, third; S. M. Pearsall,
of Grand Rapids, fourth. A special premium of $10 was awarded S. M. Pearsall for
tasteful arrangement of exhibit.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled general exhibit, as
above, grown by exhibitor — J. M. Blowers, Lawrence, Van Buren county, first.

General collection of Russian fruits, not less than fifty varieties, correctly labeled in
accordance with the revised nomenclature of the American Pomological society — G. B.
Brackett, Denmark, Iowa, first.

Class 61. — General Collection of Market Fruits.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled general coUection'^'of
market fruits, affording, as far as practicable, an adequate set of varieties of each
throughout the entire year, collected and exhibited by the accredited representative of
a society or grange — South Haven and Casco Pomological society, first; Oceana county
Horticultural society, second. CZ '.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled general exhibit of
market fruits grown by the exhibitor, conditions otherwise as above — J. M. Blowers,^
Lawrence, Mich., first.

Class 62. — Special Exhibits of Apples for Dessert and C^dinary Purposes.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of apples, grown
by the exhibitor, affording a choice, as well as a succession of varieties, throughout the
year, for both dessert and culinary purposes, superior quality, delicacy of texture, and
beauty, in the order named, to be the ruling considerations — J. M. Blowers, Lawrence,
Mich., second. On this entry the awarding committee reported: "The committee did
not consider this exhibit worthy of the first premium, many of the specimens being
spotted and uneven."

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of thirty
varieties of apple, adapted to the general wants of the family, including both dessert
and culinary use, conditions otherwise as above — A. A. Olds, Decatur, Mich., first.

Class 63. — Special Exhibits of Market Apples.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of five varieties
of market apple, grown by the exhibitor, without regard to succession, conditions
otherwise as in premium No. 1,000 — Emil Baur, Ann Arbor, Mich., second; N.J. Clinton,
Windsor, Ont., third.

Remark by awarding committee: " In making our awards we have exercised our
authority in withholding first honors where the exhibits were deemed unworthy."

Most profitable, best grown, and carefully handled single peck of a variety of apple
for market purposes, grown by the exhibitor. (In competing for this premium the
exhibitor is expected to put in competition only specimens of the single variety by him

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL FAIR. 135

preferred for this purpose.) — Emil Baur, Ann Arbor, Mich., first; N., J. CHnton, Windsor,.
Windsor, Ont., second.

Class 64. — Special Exhibit of Peaches.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of peaches, not
less than twelve varieties, grown by the exhibitor, adapted to dessert and culinary pur-
poses, and affording a succession throughout the usual season of this fruit — C. A. Ses-
sions, Mears, Mich., first; Benton Gebhart, Hart, Mich., second.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of eight varieties
of peach for market purposes, grown by the exhibitor, and aft'ording a succession as far
as practicable — Benton Gebhart, Hart, Mich., first; C. A. Sessions, Mears, Mich.,
second.

Most profitable, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of four varieties of peach
for market, without regard to succession, grown by the exhibitor — C. A. Sessions,
Mears, Mich., first; Benton Gebhart, Hart, Mich., second.

Most profitable, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of a single peck of a
variety of peach for market, grown by the exhibitor - Benton Gebhart, Hart, Mich.,
first.

Note on this class by the awarding committee: "The general exhibit is most remark-
a,ble for the season."

Class 65. — Special Exhibits of Pears.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of pears for
dessert or family and culinary purposes, not less than twelve varieties, grown by
the exhibitor, affording a succession during the usual season — C. W. Counter, North
Toledo, Ohio, first; W. C. Sheffer, South Haven, Mich., second; E. Baur, Ann Arbor,
Mich., third.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully bandied exhibit of eight varieties
of pear for market, with succession, grown by exhibitor — C. W. Counter, North Toledo,
Ohio, first; W. C. Sheffer, South Haven, Mich., second; D. G. Edmiston, Adrian, Mich.,
third.

Most profitable, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of four varieties of pear
for market, without regard to succession, grown by the exhibitor — C. W. Counter,
North Toledo, Ohio, first; D. G. Edmiston, Adrian, Mich., second; N. J. Clinton,
Windsor, Ont., third.

Most profitable, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of one peck of a single
variety of pear for market, grown by the exhibitor — C. W. Counter, North Toledo,
Ohio, first; N. J. Clinton, Windsor, Ont., second; E. Baur, Ann Arbor, Mich., third.

Note on this class by awarding committee: "The general exhibit of pears is creditable
and we must mention one exhibitor, entering as No. 26, as worthy of special mention
for superiority of specimens." The exhibitor referred to was C. W. Counter of North
Toledo, Ohio.

Class 66. — Special Exhibits of Pluvis.

Most judiciously selected, best grown, and carefully handled exhibit of not less than
fifteen varieties of plum for dessert or family and culinary purposes, affording a
succession throughout the usual season — C. A. Sessions, Mears, Mich., first; Benton
Gebhart, Hart, Mich., second.

Most judiciously selected, best grown and carefully handled exhibit of ten varieties
of plum for dessert, family, and culinary purposes, grown by the exhibitor, affording a
succession during the usual season of this fruit — C. A. Sessions, Mears, Mich., first;
Benton Gebhart, Hart. Mich., second.

Exhibit of most profitable, best grown, and carefully handled five varieties of plum
for market purposes, regardless of succession, grown by the exhibitor— Benton Geb-
hart, Hart, Mich., first; C. A. Sessions, Mears, Mich., second.

Exhibit of most profitable, best grown, and carefully handled single peck of a variety
of plum for market purposes, grown by the exhibitor — Benton Gebhart, Hart, Mich.,
first.

Note by awarding committee: "The exhibit of plums is one of the finest we have
ever seen, and especially for this season, and is worthy of special mention."

Class 67. — Special Exhibit of Giripes.

Exhibit of foreign grapes, grown under glass — A. Sigler, Adrian, Mich., first.

136 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Class 68. — Apples, Single Pecks.

Primate — Benton Gebhart, tirst.

Red Astrachan — C. A. Sessions, first; Benton Gebhart, second.

Sops of Wine — Benton Gebhart, first.

Alexander — C. A. Sessions, first; Benton Gebhart, second.

Chenango — Benton Gebhart, first; C. A. Sessions, second.

Gravenstein — C. A. Session, first; Benton Gebhard, second.

Hawley — Benton Gebhart, first; C. A. Sessions, second.

Late Strawberry — C. A. Sessions, first.

Maiden's Blush — Benton Gebhart, first.

Twenty-Ounce -Benton Gebhart, first.

Oldenburg — Benton Gebhart, first.

Baldwin — N. J. Clinton, first.

Esopus — N. J. Clinton, first; C. A. Sessions, second.

Fameuse — N. J. Clinton, first; C. A. Sessions, second.

Golden Russett — Benton Gebhart, first; C. A. Sessions, second.

Jonathan — C. A. Sessions, first; Emil Baur, second.

Red Canada — N. J. Clinton, first; Emil Baur, second.

Rhode Island — N. J. Clinton, first; Benton Gebhart, second.

Stark — G. Truesdel, Whitmore Lake, Mich., first; Benton Gebhart, second.

Talman — Benton Gebhart, first.

Tompkins King — Benton Gebhart, first; N. J. Clinton, second.

Wagner — G. Truesdel, first; C. A. Sessions, second.

Yellow Belfiower — Benton Gebhart, first.

Hyslop — Benton Gebhart, first.

Transcendent — Benton Gebhart, first.

Ben Davis — N. J. Clinton, first; C. A. Sessions, second.

Fallawater— G. Truesdel, first.

Colbert — C. A. Sessions, first.

Class 69. — Pears, Single Pecks.

Anjou — C. W. Covinter, first; N. J. Clinton, second.

Bartlett— N. J. Clinton, first.

Bosc — Emil Baur, first.

Boussock— C. A. Sessions, first.

Clairgeau — N. J. Clinton, first.

Clapp — C. A. Sessions, first. ^

Duchess — C. W. Counter, first.

Diel^N. J. Clinton, first.

Flemish Beauty — N. J. Clinton, first; C. W. Counter, second.

Howell — F. J. Clinton, first; C. W. Counter, second.

Lawrence — Emil Baur, first.

Louise Bonne — C. W. Counter, first; C. A. Sessions, second.

Mount Vernon — Emil Baur. second.

Nelis— N. J. Clinton, first.

Onondaga — C. W. Counter, first; Emil Baur, second.

Seckel — N. J. Clinton, first; Emil Baur, second.

Sheldon — A. Sigler, first; C. W. Counter, second.

Vicar — Emil Baur, second.

White Doyenne — N. J. Clinton, first; Emil Baur, second.

Supreme de Quimper — N. J. Clinton, first.

Superfine — Emil Baur, first.

Class 70. — Peaches, Single Pecks.

Barnard — C. A. Sessions, first; B. Gebhart, second.

Early Crawford — Mrs. Martha Babcock, Wyandotte, Mich., first; Benton Gebhart,
second.

Jacques — Benton Gebhart, first.
Late Red Rareripe — B. Gebhart, first.
Stump— C. A. Sessions, first.

Class 71. — Orax^es, Single Pecks.

Eaton Grapes, exhibited by T. S. Hubbard Co., Fredonia, X. Y. The committee of
awards reported: "The Eaton as shown is fine in both bunch and berry; quality acid.

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL FAIR. 137

but tender in pulp, and we would place it decidedly below Concord. We hope to see it
further tested, however."

Class 12. — Plums, Single Pecks.

Bavay — B. Gebhart, first.
Coe's Golden Drop — C. A. Sessions, first.
Duane's Purple — B. Gebhart, first.
Englebert— B. Gebhart, first.
German Prune — B. Gebhart, first.
Hand -B. Gebhart, first.
Imperial Gage — B. Gebhart, first.
Lombard — C. A. Sessions, first; B. Gebhart, second.
Pond — C. A. Sessions, first; B. Gebhart, second.
Shropshire — B. Gebhart, first.
Smith's Orleans — B. Gebhart, first.
Yellow Egg — B. Gebhart, first; C. A. Sessions, second.

In this class Dwyer & Vhay of Detroit made a highly creditable exhil:)it of Early
Black cranberries from Cape Cod, Mass., but did not enter it for premium.

Class 73. — Dried, Canned, Preserved Fruits, Etc.

Ten classes domestic dried fruits — Mrs. B. F. Forbes, Kalamazoo, Mich., first.

Twelve classes domestic canned fruits — Mrs. B. F. Forbes, first; Nellie Reynolds,
Greenfield, Mich., second.

Eight classes domestic pickled fruits — Mrs. B. F. Forbes, first.

Eight classes domestic preserved fruits — Mrs. B. F. Forbes, first; Sarah Fletcher,
Ann Arbor, Mich., second.

Ten classes domestic jellies — Mrs. B. F. Forbes, first; Sarah Fletcher, second.

Bottle red raspberry syrup — Emil Baur, first.

Class 74. — Collection of Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits.

Collection Japanese persimmons — W. W. Thompson, Smithville, Ga., first.

One half peck Le Conte pear — W. W. Thompson, first.

One half peck Kietfer pear — W. W. Thompson, first.

Collection jjomegranates — W. W. Thompson, first.

Collection of fruits and nuts (general) — G. S. Van Buskirk, Monticello, Florida, first.

Special exhibit of dates, olives, and pomegranates — S. C. Wolfskill, Winters, Cal., first.

Special exhibit tropical fruits — S. B. Mann, Glenwood, Fla., first.

DEPARTMENT OP FLOWERS.

Class 75. — Plants and Flowers Shown in Beds.

For best and most tastefully arranged ribbon bed of flowers, in strips or ribbons,
displayed in moss or sand, the space occupied not to exceed 25 square feet, the bed to
be entirely filled with fiowers, so as to illustrate ribbon beds in garden or lawn — B.
Schroeter, Detroit, Mich., first.

For best and most tastefully arranged bed, in moss or sand, of flowers in ribbons on
the outside and ornamental foliage plants in the center, the space occupied not to
exceed 25 square feet — B. Schroeter, Detroit, Mich., first.

For best and most tastefully arranged bed of ornamental foliage plants, in sand or
moss, occupying not to exceed 25 square feet space — S. Taplin, Detroit, Mich, first; B.
Schroeter, Detroit, Mich., second.

For best design of lawn flower bed, with flowers arranged in moss or sand, the space
occupied not to exceed 25 square feet — B. Schroeter, first.

Class 76. — Plants in Pots, Professional List.

•

Collection of greenhouse plants, 30 or more varieties — S. Taplin, Detroit, first; Carl
Bogula, Detroit, second.

Collection of stove plants, 30 or more varieties — S. Taplin, Detroit, first.

Ten double-flowered geraniums, different colors, in flower — C. Bogula, Detroit, first;
B. Schroeter, Detroit, second.

Ten single-flowered geraniums, different colors, in flower — C. Bogula, Detroit, first.

Ten winter-flowering begonias, in bloom — S. Taplin, Detroit, first; C. Bogula, Detroit,
second.

18

138 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Collection of palms, twelve or more, in live varieties— S. Taplin, Detroit, first; J.
Breitmeyer, Detroit, second: S. Taijlin. Detroit, third.

Single palm— S. Taplin, Detroit, first and second.

Collection of ferns, ten or more varieties~S. Taplin, Detroit, first and second.

Single fern — S. Taplin, Detroit, first, second and third.

Collection of fancy Caladiums, five varieties— S. Taplin, Detroit, first.

Collection of fuchsias, single or double- B. Schroeter, Detroit, first; C. Bogula,
Detroit, second.

Collection of foliage begonias— S. Taplin. Detroit, first.

Collection of Marantas— S. Taplin. Detroit, first.

Collection of hardy evergreens— S. Taplin, Detroit,^ first.

Collection of Acuba Japonica— S. Taplin, Detroit, first.

Collection of Cannas— S. Taplin, Detroit, first.

Collection of hardy grasses— S. Taplin, Detroit, first.

Orange tree — C. Bogula, Detroit, first.

Collection of Pandanis— S. Taplin, Detroit, first.

Collection of Agaves— S. Taplin, Detroit, first.

English Ivy — Geo. Beard, Detroit, first.

Single Cactus — Geo. Beard, Detroit, first.

Onothologum — Geo. Beard, Detroit, first.

Class 77.— Plants in Pots, Amateur List.

Ivy — Joseph Zimmerman, Detroit, first.

Single Plant Oleander— Mrs. A. Mero. Detroit, first.

Single Plant Fuchsia— Mrs. A. Mero. Detroit, first.

Turk's Head Cactus— Mrs. Jennie Schoonover, Detroit, first.

Class 78. — Cut Floivers, Bouquets and Floral Designs.

Display of cut flowers, not entered for premium — James Vick, Rochester, N. Y.
Twelve sorts Verbena, different colors— C. Bogula, Detroit, first.
Twelve sorts Tea Roses — J. Dunkley, Kalamazoo, first.
Collection of Pansies — C. Bogula, Detroit, first.
Collection of Carnations — J. Dunkley. Kalamazoo, first.
Flowers arranged for table — C. Bogula, Detroit, first.
Fifty Spikes Mignonette— C. Bogula, Detroit, first.

Collection Asters, 20 variations of colors— C. Bogula, Detroit, first; M. Wetterling,
Ionia, second.
Collection Phlox Drummondi — C. Bogula, Detroit, first.
Collection Japanese Pinks— C. Bogula. Detroit, first.
Collection Balsams — C. Bogula, Detroit, first.
Hanging basket — C. Bogula, Detroit, first.
Hanging plants— C. Bogula, Detroit, first.
Perle des Jardin roses — J. Dunkley. Kalamazoo, first.
Niphetos roses — J. Dunkley, Kalamazoo, first.
Catherine Mermet roses — J. Dunkley, Kalamazoo, first.
Seedling Petunias — J. Venning, Ypsilanti, first.

Class 79.— Garden Vegetables, Roots and Seeds.

Collection of vegetables for family use, by market-gardeners Kennedy & Stillman,
Hornellsville, N. Y., first; Geo. Beard, Detroit, second.

Artistic arrangement of either of above— Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard,
second.

Collection of potatoes, 6 of each, 15 or more sorts, Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Peck any named sort potato— Clifford .fe White, Wellington, Ohio, first.

Peck table turnips — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Peck of onions, red — Kennedy & Stillman, first. •

Peck of onions, white— Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Peck of onions, yellow — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Peck of carrots, table use— Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Peck of carrots, stock — Kennedy & 'Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Peck of Beets, table use— Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman. second.

Six Beets for stock— Kennedy & Stillman, first; W. Wright, Detroit, second.

Six early cabbages, named— Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Six late cabbages, named— Geo. Beard, first.

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL FAIR. 139

Six Savoy cabbages — Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Largest and heaviest head of cabbage — Geo. Beard, first.

Six red cabbages — Kennedy & Stilhnan, first.

Six heads Brussels sprouts — Kennedy & Stilhnan, first.

Twelve roots, chicory- -Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Peck of parsnips — Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Kolhi Rabi — Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Single watermelon, named — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Single muskmelon, named — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Six citrons — Geo. Beard, first.

Peck of wax beans — Geo. Beard, first.

Collection of celery, named, six or more sorts — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Bunch of celery, large — M. Wetterling, Ionia, first; J. Dunkley, Kalamazoo, second.

Bunch of celery, dwarf — M. Wetterling, Ionia, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Six heads caulifiower — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Six bunches kale — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Six summer squashes — Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Six winter squashes, other sorts — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Heaviest winter squash — Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Collection of sweet corn, five or more named sorts — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Single sort sweet corn, six ears — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Collection of peppers, six kinds, six each — Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard,
second.

Six peppers, named — Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Peck of salsify — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Six heads lettuce — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Collection of tomatoes, named, illustrating modern improvement of the tomato —
Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Collection of tomatoes, 5 varieties or more, 5 each — Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo.
Beard, second.

Peck of tomatoes, for market — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Display of parsley — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Peck of green cucumbers, long, Kennedy & Stillman, first; Geo. Beard, second.

Peck of green cucumbers, short — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Largest cucumber, green or ripe, Kennedy & Stillman, first and second.

Collection of gourds, named sorts, three or more, Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Peck of spinach — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Peck green peas in pod — Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Three field pumpkins — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Three pie pumpkins — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Three egg plants— Geo. Beard, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Collection of radishes, 6 or more varieties, named — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Pieplant — Kennedy & Stillman, first.

Class 7.9. — A7iy Named Variety of Potato. (Peck.)

Clifford & White — Snowflake, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.
Geo. Beard, Early Ohio, first; Kennedy & Stillman, second.

Kennedy & Stillman — White Star, Burbank, Sunrise, Puritan, Ohio Junior, G. B.
McClellan, Monroe Seedling, each first.

EXHIBIT OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Mechanical Department.

One engine lathe for iron turning; one wood lathe; one pair surface plates; one three-
horsepower engine; seventy-five pieces of wood turning; one set of lathe tools for iron
lathe; one set of lathe tools for wood lathe; specimens of iron forging; specimens of iron
turning; set of twist drills; set of square-threaded taps; forty plates of mechanical
drafting.

Farm Department.
Forty -five varieties potato; twenty bottles of grain samples; samples of stock foods.

140 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Horticultural Department.

One hundred and nine varieties of tomato; twenty varieties of apple; fifteen varieties
of pea; seventy-five varieties of potato; tw^enty-five plates of potatoes showing average
hills from plats treated in different ways; eleven varieties squash; ten varieties sweet
corn; twelve varieties cabbage; seven varieties beet; two varieties carrot; two varieties
parsnip; one variety kohl rabi; one plate martynia; one variety Japanese pumpkin; ten
frames containing one hundred and twenty-six photographs of varieties of vegetables.

Entomological Department.

Four cases Lepidoptera from McMillan collection; eight cases injurious insects; eight
bottled samples of insecticides; fourteen bottled samples of honey; fifty framed
samples of honey plants; eight frames of drawings, showing students' work in ento-
mology and zoology.

Botanical Department.

Samples of ten species evergreen trees; twenty-three charts drawn by students, illus-
trating injurious fungi.

Chemical Department.

Set of standard measures; two balances; compound pendulum; two radiometers; set
of soil thermometers; samples of soil from pine plains, and samples of grass and grain
from the plains experunent station; standard yard measure; rain gauge; one hygrome-
ter; sunshine recorder; temperature charts, and sunshine charts.

BULLETINS

OF THE

AGmcyLTURAL COLLEGE OE MICHIGAN

HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

ISSUED IlSr 1890.

ALSO BULLETINS OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY EXPERIMENT STATION.

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.

WHY NOT PLANT A GROVE?

Bulletin No. 45, Department of Botany and Forestry.

These few pages on forestry have not been written to secure the applause
of those who see little use for a bulletin unless it contain some new truths
brought out by conducting careful experiments. On the contrary, they have
been prepared with the view to help awaken an interest in the subject by
calling attention to a few simple facts in the plainest way possible, and then
to give some elementry hints on the selecting, planting, and management
of young forest trees in groves and screens.

For the past ten years or more the lumber cut in Michigan has been
steadily on the increase, and during this time the great waste has been with-
out a parallel in the history of nations. In the southern counties of the
state, people are already beginning to be more careful about wasting the
timber.

The average capacity of the saw mills in Michigan is nearly one fifth that
for the whole United States. About sixty per cent, of all the yearly cut of
white pine in North America is taken from Michigan. Still, she has left
much hard wood of certain kinds, though that is fast going into market.
After all, we must admit that a timber famine is yet a long way off, but it
takes a long time to recuperate in case of a shortage in the timber sup-
ply. Of the three greatest interests of our country, manufacturing of all
kinds ranks first, agriculture second, and forestry third.

" The evidence is ample and conclusive that we are making fearful inroads
on our forest stores. We are cutting oft' a much larger crop than can pos-
sibly be replaced by natural growth within the period when, at the present
rate, we shall have cleared the original forest off the ground. We are wast-
ing our forests by the ax, by fire, by pasturage, by neglect. So far as tim-
ber is concerned we are eating into our capital with little care for the
future."— Dr. E. J. James in Forestry Bulletin No. 2 of U. S. Agrl. Dept.

Congress has appropriated large amounts of money for investigating and
encouraging the growing of oysters, crabs, lobsters, and fish, and the money
already appears to be giving large returns. Our own state for some years
has done a little by way of experiment to foster the production of fish in our
lakes, ponds, and streams. We legislate to protect birds and wild game and
appropriate money to encourage a large number of worthy objects, but for
" our forests, from which we are drawing a larger amount in natural wealth
than from any other source of supply, or from all other sources together, we

144 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

have so far done practically nothing to protect or cultivate." — Ur. E. J.
James.

If something profitable can not be done in connection with this great sub-
ject of forestry, then it is very unlike any other question of great impor-
tance.

We feel confident that there are many important points in connection with
forestry which should constantly receive a good deal of thought from many
of our best citizens.

Although late in the day, in 1887, Michigan began to give a little atten-
tion to this important subject by placing five hundred dollars a year in the
hands of the State Board of Agriculture for making inquiries and investi-
gations. In addition to this amount, the state pays for printing the reports.
None of the money is used to pay salaries of the commissioners or the
directo]-s, who have accomplished a little already in addition to their reg-
ular work in other directions.

The writer is now supposed to be passing one of the thousands of good
farm houses situated in any of the older settled counties of the state, when
the following conversation ensues:

B. "I see the snow drifts have not yet all disappeared."

C. "No, and we haven't had much snow this winter either, and there has
been less strong wind than for some years past. Generally, of late years,
when there is a heavy fall of snow, it is soon so unevenly distributed that
we have little idea of how much has fallen. It piles up along the north and
south roads, and blows from some parts of the east and west roads. The
wheat field has many bare spots, while in other places the drifts are deep. "

B. "What do you suppose, has brought about this change?"
C "Since I cut off that piece of timber down there and brought to view
the farms over west for a couple of miles, the wind has frecpiently swept
over my fields with a great deal of force, sometimes making things fairly
jingle, and when cold the air seems to penetrate the smallest cracks in my
pens, sheds, and barns. The pigs squeal, the cow gives less milk, the horses
shiver, and even the hen-coop is too freely ventilated. I believe the animals
at such times eat more grain and fodder than they do when there is less
cold air in motion. The house, too, gets colder in the night than it used to
when there were few strong winds. I am sure I have to lay in a larger
supply of fire-wood than I used to."

B. "You seem to take in the whole situation at a glance. "

C. "I have seen many changes in my life. When I came to this neigh-
borhood, much of the land was still covered with a dense virgin forest. As
one block of woods after another disappeared, I noticed the winds became
more frequent and penetrating, bat what could I do? and what could my
neighbors do? We needed the land to raise more wheat and to feed more
stock, and we got something for the timl^er which helped to pay off mort-
gages.

B. "There is a partial remedy for checking the fierce winds which drift
the snows in winter, shake the apples from the trees in summer, and lodge
the grain before it is ripe.

C "Yes, I know it. We can let the young trees grow up along the fences
of our fields, and we can plant trees west of our farm buildings; but then
it would be a great deal of trouble and cost a good deal to plant trees, and
we should have to wait so long for any favorable results. "

B. "The cost is much less than most persons imagine, and when once

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 145

started, tliey keep growing year by year, and before yon are aware of it, the
little trees have grown npward and spread outward. Suppose yon were
to plough a strip a rod wide and ten or fifteen rods long either in a straight
line, in a curve or in an irregular shape. That would not cost much. Then
harrow it well as though you were fitting the piece for corn."

C. "Then I should have to go to the woods and find some good trees, dig
them, cart them to the house, dig deejj holes, set the trees, stake them,
miilcli them, wait a while, and see half of them die and the others would
look pale and stunted."

B. "I think you could do better than that. Of course you must arrange
the fence so as to keep cattle, sheep, and horses away from young trees.
Let us see about the plan for a wind-break or for a small grove. You can
put in as many kinds of trees as you like, the more the better, if you want
to try experiments and think you would like to study them and learn their
habits, but if you want trees that will grow fast, that are likely to remain
healthy and will furnish protection, you need only one, two, or three species
which are the best adapted for the purpose. We can't afford to go to the
woods and dig trees. We can buy them cheaper."

C. "Buy them! AVhy, a nurseryman will charge me twenty-five to fifty
cents a piece for his evergreens. I can't afford that."

B. "Procure small trees; they will cost much less; they can be more
easily planted; will be more likely to live, and after a few years they will
very likely catch up and overtake trees which were larger at the time of
planting. The foundation of your screen will consist of evergreens. If
others are added which are not evergreens, they should not be put in
blocks each sort by itself, but mixed more or less in checker-board style
with the evergreens. And the evergreens may as well be mixed if no
others are planted. You will want to set them in rows, straight, curved or
crooked, in one way four feet apart and three or four feet apart in the
row so they can be as easily cultivated one way as corn or potatoes. There
is little risk in setting too thickly, and the trees will sooner shade the
ground.

"R. Douglas & Sons, Waukegan, Illinois will send by mail:

"White pmes, 3 years old, @ $L00 per lOO; or $8 per 1,000.

" Norway spruces, 3 years old, @ 75 per 100 or $6 per 1,000.

"At about the same price, you can procure any or all of the following:
European larch, white ash, American elm, black cherry, black locust, and
many others, remembering that for good screens, half or more of the trees
should be evergreens rather equally distributed over the ground. W. W.
Johnson, Snowflake, Antrim Co., Michigan, will doubtless send young trees
at the above prices. A single row or two rows will make a good screen,
but you will be better pleased with a wider strip of trees."

C. "I will send a postal card right away and get the price lists from
these two men. It won't cost much to start a screen in this way. Tell me
more about setting the trees, as you seem to know concerning such things."

B. "The trees arrive about the time you are sowing oats. Open the
packages, and place the roots in damp soil in the shade, not forgetting
that the roots of trees are unfitted by nature to stand the air. In the wind
or the sun or in dry air, or in the open air, roots will live just about as long-
as a black bass will live out of water; not much longer. Prepare some
thin mud in a pail, filling it a third full. In this mud place the roots of
the trees one sort at a time. Of course yoii have staked or marked out your
ground. Dig a small hole with a spade and let the boy drop a tree in the
19

146 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV.

hole ; straighten it up ; replace the soil, not omitting to step your full
weight with one foot each side and near each tree before leaving it. This
is important, as it packs the soil close to the roots helping it to retain
moisture, and preventing the air from entering. One after the other, all
the kinds ne planted."
C. "T: nwhat?"

B. " .^L you are now careless and lose all your interest in the subject, and
kee^^ uusy at something else, you will very likely leave the young things to
lo; : out for themselves. ^ The grass and weeds will choke them and your

.Ltle enterprise will cause deep regret every time you think of it, and prove
the laughing stock of all your neighbors."

C. "I am not that kind of farmer to drop a thing before I give it a fair
trial."

B. "Then you will cultivate this land as you do your best cornfield, with
level culture, only continue to cultivate all summer."

C. "What shall I do next?"

B. " Keep on cultivating during succeeding years, as long as a horse can
get through the rows, perhaps four or five years or more, then the trees
will not need it any longer. From time to time you will very likely pick
up some other kinds of very small trees, or shrubs from the neighboring
woods and set them in among the others in the grove. If the cultivation
is attended to, and the land is not too wet, you will be surprised at the
rapid growth of the trees."

C. " Why can't I mulch the ground all over with straw from the old stack
and save all further trouble?"

B. "It not a good plan, and if you try it you will be disappointed.
Cultivation is much better, and with the trees near the house, it is but a
light chore to cultivate each time. If blackwalnuts, chestnuts, butternuts,
hickories, and oaks are desired in any places, plant the nuts where the trees
are to remain."

C. "Thank you. I feel sure now that I understand the plan. It is so
much cheaper and easier than I had supposed, that I am going to plant a
grove. Even a small one started this year will be much better than a large
one long delayed and perhaps never planted."

B. "In older states, like Massachusetts, farms already bring a better
price if they contain some suitable groves or lots of young thrifty timber.
As the grove improves with age, you will be reading every good thing you
can get on forestry. You will take a deeper interest in the work of the
State Forestry commission. You will want to see their last report and all
that may be issued in the future. You will have a good right to consider
yourself as one of Michigan's most enterprising farmers. You will be
planting for study as well as for producing a grove to shield animals or
growing crops from the severe winds. You will be an experimenter, a
pioneer in a good cause, and the longer you live the more will you see the
importance of a knowledge of forestry.

" What is the custom in this neighborhood in regard to pasturing wood-
lots?"

C. "Every one turns in his cattle, sheep, horses and hogs, or one or
more kinds of these animals. It affords some feed, and cleans out lots of
rubbish and makes the woods look like a park."

B. " Yes, and it lets in the light and with the light grasses will slowly
creep in, affording more pasture, to be sure, but this will check the growth
of larger trees and small trees are not allowed to follow on to take their

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 147

places. The man who has much interest in the future of his reserve tim-
ber lot will not use it for a pasture."

Reader, if not already done, will you not plant a grove this year, or do
something to induce some of your friends to plant one? The writer will
be glad to give any further instructions in his power on this subject, and
would consider it a favor to receive a postal card from any who con-
template a grove.

Dr. W. J. BEAL,
Prof, of Botany and Forestry,
and one of the directors of ttie State Forestry Conimission.
March 20, 1889.

MICHIGAN FRUIT LIST AND APPLE SCAB REMEDIES.

Balletin No. 59, Horticultoral Department.

The soil and climate of Michigan are well adapted to fruitgrowing, and
her commercial interests in that line are very large. In addition to the
fruit grown for market, every person who owns a suitable acre of land should
be able to provide fruit for his family use the year round.

The number of varieties from which one must choose is so large
that, unless a person is well informed as to their comparative merits, his
selection will be a poor one; and however intelligently he may care for
them, his efforts will only result in failure.

In the report of the State Horticultural society for 1888 will be found
a full list of such varieties as succeed well in this state ; their dessert, cook-
ing, and market qualities are shown on a scale of one to ten, and their value
for different portions of the state is indicated by one or more asterisks.

These reports are possessed by a comparatively few farmers, and it is
thought best to include in this bulletin a short list of fruits that are desir-
able, both for home planting and market.

In order that we might have accurate information regarding the kinds
that succeed in the different localities, blanks were sent to one hundred of
the leading fruitgrowers in various parts of the state, and they were
requested to fill these out, giving such lists of varieties as they found val-
uable for home use and market. Returns were received from a large num-
ber of them, and the results were compiled and form the body of this list.
I may add that in several instances the list was discussed by the county
horticultural societies, and although it only is regarded as one vote, it is
based on the experience of perhaps seventy-five or one hundred.

We believe that this, being the verdict of some two or three hundred
fruitgrowers, will be more reliable than anything that could be prepared
by one person.

The returns m- ere classified into five groups, giving fruit lists for southern,
central and northern Michigan, the southern and northern lake shore.
Under them will be seen the number of reports received from each section,
and the number of votes for each variety. In a number of instances, where
a variety does not receive more than one vote in any section, it is left out
entirely.

148

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

In order that tlie list may be used intelligently we should kno-w; concern-
ing the size, shape, color, quality, and uses of the varieties, and we can do-
no better than to insert the descriptions as given in the State Horticultural
society's Fruit List for 1888. For a more extended list of the large fruits,
the public is referred to that publication, and in Bulletin 55, issued from
this department, is a valuable list of small fruits, prepared by T. T. Lyon,
who is in charge of our sub-station at South Haven.

Even with the assistance of such a list as is here presented, a judicious
selection requires a knowledge of the requirements of the different varieties
and their adaptation to particular soils, and above all a careful considera-
tion of the purposes for which one is planting.

In planting for home use it is desirable that such a selection be made as
will furnish a succession throughout the season; and if it can be so
arranged that tw^o kinds mature at the same time, it will furnish variety,
and is an end worth striving for. While hardiness, vigor and productive-
ness should be secured, theqiiah'fij of the fruit, especially if for dessert
purposes, should not be overlooked.

For market purposes a similar selection is desirable with small fruits and
with cherries, plums, peaches, and to a certain extent with pears ; and under
certain conditions a small apple orchard with a proper selection of varie-
ties ripening in succession may prove very profitable. Asa rule, however,
it will be found preferable to select one, two, or perhaps three varieties that
succeed well on similar soils and confine the planting to this number for
the commercial apple orchard. These varieties shoidd have their hardi-
ness, vigor, and productiveness developed to a high degree, the fruit should
be of good size and of an attractive form and color. In the selection of

FRUIT CATALOGUE FOR 1890.

ABBREVIATIONS, APPLICABLE THROUGHOUT THE CATALOGUE.
Size. Quality. Adhesion.

1. large,

ni. medium.

s. small.

V. very.

b. best.
g. good.
V. very.

c. cling,
f. free.

SECTION I — APPLES.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Form.

a. angular.

c. conical.

f. flattened.

1. lop sided or oblique.

o. oblong,

ob. oblate or obtuse.

ov. oval or ovate.

r. roundish.

Names.

Description.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

•
1

1

o

1

■a

1

B
O

1

1

4

BaileySweet

1

1
m

re

r c

rf c

re

y dr

y c r o

y V

yr

vg
vg

g

Nov. Mar.
Nov. Mar.
Nov. Mar.
Dec. May.

N. Y.?

Mass.
Perfn.
Ken.?

6
6
9
3

7
9
5
5

4

2

Baldwin

10

8
4

Belmont

Ben Davis

7
9

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.

149

varieties for a market orchard, too little attention lias been paid to the
quality of the fruit. The public taste is being gradually educated, and in
planting for the future, allowance should be made for its development, and
the growing demand for fruit of good quality should not be overlooked in
the selection of varieties for a market orchard.

In reporting lists of apples, our correspondents were requested to name
varieties for both home use and market, and it will be seen that under each
section there are two columns, one being marked Home Use, and the
other Market.

The number of replies received was sixty-one, distributed as follows:
Southern Michigan, 13; Central Michigan, 28; Northern Michigan, 2;
Southern Lake Shore, 12; Northern Lake Shore, 6.

In addition to the varieties given in the list, a number received from
one to four votes each but did not have two votes in any section. Among
them were the following: Golden Sweet, Hawley, Jefferis, Keswick Codlin,
Lowell, Melon, Pennock, Pewaukee, Porter, Eambo, St. Lawrence, Swaar,
Tetofsky, Wealthy, Yellow Newtown. Several of these are as valuable as
many of the varieties that received more votes.

Among the varieties that did not receive proper attention is the
Shiawassee. It is a supposed seedling of Fameuse but is less liable to scab
than that variety. Every collection should certainly contain it, and it may
well take the place Fameuse or Snow.

Of the varieties mentioned, a list for home use and wdiich will afford a
succession might contain Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, Sweet Bough,
Primate, Chenango, Keswick Codlin, (or Oldenburgh) Maiden's Blush,
Shiawassee, Grimes' Golden, Jonathan, Wagener, Baldwin, Rhode Island

FRUIT CATALOGUE FOR 1890.

ABBREVIATIONS, APPLICABLE THROUGHOUT THE CATALOGUE.

Season.

Origin.

The usual ab-
breviations
for months.

b.

e.

m.

beginning.

end.

middle.

The usual ab-
breviations
for countries.

h. hybrid.
? doubtful

SECTION I. — APPLES.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Color.

b. brown.

c. carmine.
or. crimson.

d. dark,
g. green.

o. orange,
p. purplish,
r. red.
ru. russet.
8. scarlet.

V.

w.

y.

Vermillion.

whitish.

yellow.

South'n

North'n

South.

Center.

North.

Lake
Shore.

Lake
Shore.

fe'

*s

*j

«J

1

p

§

q

u

§

^
M

■S

3

o

o

c^

o

t8

o

<^

o

c3

•/5

a

^

X

S

W

s

w

a

5

2

2

9

12

12

18

6

11

1

6

3

1

1

1

2

5

2

9

3

Kemarks.

For vigor, productiveness, size, beauty, and quality com-
bined, this has few if any superiors.

Tree lacks hardiness. Fruit drops badly. Stands first
on light soils in southern Michigan.

Fruit often defective in this climate. Best for home
markets. Suits the popular taste.

Vigorous, hardy, prolific. Fruit beaiitiful and handles
weD, but very poor in quality. Sells well.

150

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SECTION I.-APPLES,-CoNTiNUED.

a

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

24
25
26
27
28
29
80
31
32
38
34
85

Names.

Chenango

Early Harvest

Early Joe .-.

Fall Pippin....

Fameuse, Snotv

Golden Russet (W. N. Y.)-

Gravenstein

Grimes' Golden

Hubbardston

Jersey Sweet

Jonathan

Maiden's Blush

Morris Red

Steele^s Red erroneously.
Northern Spy

Oakland (Seeknofurther)..

Oldenburgh

Peck's Pleasant

Primate

Red Astrachan

Reil Canada, Old Nonsuch-

Rhode Island (Greening)..

Roxbury Russet

Shiawassee (Beauty)

Stark

Sweet Bough

Large Yelloiv Bough.
Tabnan Sweet

Tompkins King

Twenty Ounce

Cai/uga Redstreak,
Wagener.

Westfield I'Seeknofurther).

Yellow Bellflower

Yellow Transparent

Descriptions.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

w

ml
m
s

vl

m

m s

1
m

1

m

m 8

m

ml

1

m
m
ml
m
ml
ni.

1
ml
m

1

1
m

1
y\
m
ml
vl
m

9

o c
r ob
ob c

rf
r ob
r ob
r ob a
r ob c
roc
r ov c

r c
r f c
ov

r c
r ob

r ob

rf
r ob c

r c
r ob c
r ob
r ob a

ob

r c
o ov

r
r f c a

r
r ob

r c

o
r ob

6

W

y w

y r
y gb
gy r
y ru
y r o

y o

y r
gy r

y r

y r c r

r ru

gy r

y r

y r

gy !•

g w cr

g y cr

y r cr

gy r

y ru r

w r

gy r

gy 1"

w y r

y r cr

gy r

y cr

g r ru

gy r

y w

s

vg
b
b
b

vg
vg
vg

vg

b

vg
vg

S
vg

b
v g

g
vg

V g

g

vg
vg

V g

V g

g

vg
vg
vg

g

vg
b

vg
vg

s

o

Sept. Oct.
July Aug.
Aug. Sept.
Oct. Dec.
Oct. Nov.
Dec. May.
Sept. Oct.
Dec. Mar.
Nov. Feb.

Sept.
Nov. Feb.
Sept. Oct.
Jan. Apr.
Dec. Apr.
Nov. Mar.

Sept.
Nov. Mar.
Aug. Oct.

Aug.
Dec. June.
Nov. Apr.
Jan. .June.
Oct. Jan.
Jan. May.

Aug.
Nov. Ai)r.
Dec. Mar.
Oct. Jan.
Nov. Mar.
Oct. Mar.
Dec. Mar.
July Aug.

N. Y.

N. Y.?

N. Y.

Am.

Can.?

Eng.?

Ger.

Va.

Mass.

N.J.

N. Y.

N.J.

Conn.?

N. Y.

Mich.?

Rus.

R. I.?

N. Y.?

Rus.

N. E.?

R. I.?

Mass.

Mich.

Ohio.?

Am.

R.I.

N. J.?

Conn.

N. Y.

Conn.?

N.J.

Rus.

a

9
9

10
9
9
9
7
9

10
8
9
6
8

10
8
5
9

10
5
8
9
6

10
6
8
6
7
5
9
9

8
5
4
7
6

10
7
8
9
4
9

10
7

10
8
9
9
6

10

10
9

Greening, Talman Sweet, Tompkins King, Red Canada, and Northern Spy.
Of these Jonathan and Grimes' Golden are excellent varieties but do not
succeed in all localities, while the Wagener often injures itself by over-
bearing. In sections of the state where the Baldwin is hardy, a short list

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.

151

SECTION I.-APPLES.-CoNTiNUED.

South.

Center.

North,

South'n
Tjake
Shore.

Tiake

Shore.

i

1

i

X

1

1

It

6

1

i

4

5

1

6

3

4

1

3

6

5

1

13

1

3

2

7

3

1

8

5

1

12

1

4

1

9

18

6

2

5

3

10

2

3

7

5

1

2

1

1

11

1

3

1

1

12

6

13

2

3

4

2

2

2

14

1

9

15

2

3

7

4

5

4

3

3

16

7

4

13

2

1

3

6

4

1

17

3

5

1

3

18

10

10

27

24

1

9

10

1

5

19

1

1

5

2

2

20

1

1

8

5

2

4

2

2

1

21

4

1

22

2

7

1

3

1

23

]

2

21

3

2

9

6

2

2

24

3

3

9

11

1

3

1

25

7

4

17

13

1

7

6

3

26

1

2

4

1

27

4

2

28

2

2

29

3

4

9

2

3

30

4

16

2

1

8

4

1

31

2

2

8

5

3

3

1

2

32

1

1

7

3

4

1

33

2

1

6

3

1

3

2

2

34

1

1

2

1

35

3

7

2

2

1

36

2

1

1

1

Remarks.

Tree vigorous, spreading, productive. Fruit of very

delicate texture. Popular wherever known.
Tardy, irregular bearer. Fruit often imperfect. Valued

mainly for its earliness. Fails on old trees.
For the garden. With high culture the fruit is beautiful

and excellent.
Tree strong, spreading, productive; liable to scab. In

central district lacks productiveness.
Fruit scabby and imperfect on old trees. Best on new,

rich eoile. Profitable where it succeeds.
Hardy, vigorous. Shoots slender. Brings a high price in

late spring, if wintered in close packages.
A fine culinary fruit. Tree a tine grower and hardy;

lacks productiveness. Bears better at the north.
Tree vigorous, productive. Desirable. More than one

variety grown under this name.
Should be in every orchard. A very good market variety.

Of the highest quality.
Prolific. One of the richest early sweet apples. Tree

tender in central district.
Good bearer alternate years. Fruit small, very beautiful,

and good. Popular.
Spreading, vigorous, prolific. The most popular autumn

market apple. Rather acid for dessert.
Vigorous, stocky; leaves large. Buds prominent. May

be an old variety.
Strong, upright, hardy. Tardy bearer. Requires good

culture and careful handling.
Popular in Oakland coimty. Less disseminated else-
where.
Hardy, vigorous, very productive. Of little value except

for cooking and market. Sells well.
Habit of tree like R. I. Greening, but less vigorous. De-
servedly popular. Fruit beautiful and excellent.
One of the best dessert apples. Subject to water core

and other defects. Ripens in succession.
Strong grower; early bearer; hardy. Fruit beautiful;

showy; profitable: too sour for dessert.
Very popular for market. Tree not vigorous. Should be

top grafted in all cases. Best on strong soils.
Tree spreading, vigorous; productive on strong soils,

best at lake shore. One of the old favorites.
Tree strong, spreading, productive, tender. Not profit-
able on light soils.
Tree hardy, vigorous, upright, spreading, productive.

Like Fameuse, but superior to it.
Tree vigorous, hardy, productive. Fruit good enough to

sell. Valued as a market fruit.
Tree a little tender, and lacks productiveness. The most

popular early sweet apple.
Best winter baking apple. The most popular and

profitable sweet market apple.
Apt to blow down, A good early winter dessert fruit.

Improves at the north.
Fruit sometimes imperfect in Lenawee county. Very

profitable for market.
Early bearer; ruining the tree unless thinned and highly

cultivated. Fine dessert apple. Sells well.
Popular old variety for home use. Somewhat lacking in

productiveness, and hence unprofitable.
Needs dry, warm soils. High, rich flavor. Often unpro-
ductive. Not .successf id. at the north.
Tree very hardy, vigorous. Will take the place of Early

Harvest, especially at the north.

to cover the season would contain Red Astrachan, Primate, Keswick, Shia-
wassee, Red Canada, Baldwin, Talman, and Northern Spy.

For a large commercial orchard, the choice seems to be Northern Sj)y,
Red Canada, Baldwin, R. I, Greening, Ben Davis, and Jonathan, although

152

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Wagener, Hubbardston, Morris' Red {Steele's Bed), Goldeu Russet, and
Talman Sweet are favorites with many.

Of the summer and fall varieties the same ones are used for market as
for home use.

For the northoni portion of the state we need varieties that can with-
stand the cold of winter, and the drouths of summer. Among the eastern
Russian varieties imported by Prof. Budd and others, are a number that are
said to possess these qualities, and are large, handsome, and as good as
Grimes' Golden. We are testing a number of the best of these kinds at
several northern sub-stations and await results.

No list of crab apples was reported, but Hyslop, Large Yellow, Montreal,
Transcendent, and Whitney will be vakiable sorts.

SECTION II.-PEARS.

ABBREVIATIONS FOE THIS SECTION.

Form.

a. acute.

d. depressed.

e. elongated,
o. oblong.

ob. obtuse,
obo. obovate.

ov. oval or ovate,
p. pyrifonn.

r. roundish,
t. turbinate.

Names.

Descriptions.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

s
3

1

1

1

o

3

1

•s

§

a
IS

1

1

Angouleme, Duchess, -

vl

1

1
1

1

1

1
m

1

s
m

s
m

o obo

ob p

o ob p

P

obo p

obo ob p

obo ob p

rp
obo ob p

o p

obo

r ob obo

r obo p

robo

gyru

g ru c b

y ru r

d y ru r

d y ru

ley

y ru r b

1 y ru
y ru

gbr

y br ru

gy ru c

y r

ygru

V g

V g

\'

V g

V g

V g

V g

V g

V g

b

V g

V g

b

Oct.

Nov.
Sept.
Oct.

Sept.
Oct.

Sept.

Sept.

Oct.
Dec.

Sept.
Oct.

Oct.
Oct.

July

Dec.
Jan.

Fr.
Fr.

Bel.

Mass.

Bel.

Conn.
N. Y.

Fr.
Penn.
N. Y.

Bel.

Fl.

7

9
8
9

7

8

7

8
6

7

10

8

9

9

9

9
10

8

7

8

7

7
8

9

8
5

7

10

2
3

Anjou

Bartlett. - -

10
10

<t

Bosc -

9

5

Boussock - -

9

6

ClaDo's (Favorite)

9

7

Flemish Beauty -

8

8

Howell

a

q

8

10

Ijouisfi Bonne (of Jersey) - _

8

11

Seckel-

7

1^

Sheldon - .-

9

IS

Summer Doyenne .

9

u

Doyenne d'Ete.
Winter Nelis. - --

7

The foregoing list of pears can hardly be improved upon. It may be
remarked however that, taking the vote as an indication of their value,
some varieties are marked too high, while others are much more valuable
than the number placed after them indicates.

Among the first are the Angouleme (Duchess), Clapp's, and Flemish
Beauty. They are desirable varieties and belong in the list, but for the
common planter they might prove disappointing. The first, to give satis-
factory returns, needs extra care and cultivation, the second rots at the
core if left to ripen on the tree and needs to be picked ten days previous to
that time and ripened in the house, while the third, on most soils, is quite
subject to scab and cracking. In the other class are Bosc and Howell.

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.
AKSENITES FOR THE CODLIN MOTH.

153

The application of London i3urple or Paris green for the destruction of
the apple worm or codlin moth has proved to be a profitable practice, and
many orchardists spray their trees regularly each spring. One pound of
the poison is mixed with '200 gallons of water and applied with a force
pump, using about two gallons for a good-size tree. The first application
should be made as soon as the blossoms are off and one or two others
should follow at intervals of two weeks. To be most effectual a nozzle
should be used that will produce a fine spray.

b. brown.

c. crimson.

SECTION Il.-PEARS.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Color.

d. dark. 1. light. r. red.

g. green. o. orange. ru. russet.

y. yellow.

s

2
3
4

5

6

7

8
9

10

11

12

13

14

Locality.

<s

o

Ec/j

1

S3

a

^

3 =«

o

o h)

11

CO

10

4

11

4

8

24

12

10

2

4

2

17

5

3

17

8

6

1

2

4

2

2

4

2

7

4

7

8

1

7

2

1

1

2

'a is

Remarks.

When neglected proves unproductive. Profitable under good treatment, and

on dwarf stocks. At north loses quality.
One of the best late autumn pears, whether for market or home use.
The leading market sort. Too musky to suit some tastes.
Fruit fair and even in size. Will bear to be planted for market.

Popular as a market pear. Also a good amateur fruit.

A strong grower. Fine large fruit. Inclined to rot at the core, a good market

pear if gathered early.
Vigorous tree. Large, showy fruit, which decays soon at the center. Drops,

and oftentimes scabs and cracks.
Quite freely planted and generally esteemed.
Tree healthy and vigorous. Should be grown on dry, warm soils.

A good market pear. Should always be grown as a dwarf.

The standard of high quality among pears. Tree forms a beautiful pyramid.

Profitable when buyers come to know it.
A hardy, productive tree; and a good fruit for general purposes; not attractive

in appearance.
The best and most satisfactory very early pear. Valued for early market.

The fruit, if well grown and ripened, is scarcely inferior to the Seckel. The
tree must not be allowed to overbear.

These varieties are worthy of place in any collection. They have few
superiors for dessert, cooking, or market purposes. The Boussock and
Buffum are both valuable for market purposes on account of their vigor
and productiveness. The latter however is rather coarse except for cook-
ing.

In some localities, the Souvenir du Congres has proved a valuable cook-
ing and market pear.

The Kieff'er, Le Conte, and others of the class are valuable market
varieties at the south, but are too small, hard, and granular, to be desirable,
even for cooking purposes, as grown in Michigan.

20

154

STATE HORTICULTURAL. SOCIETY.

SECTION III.-PLUMS.
In the grading of plums no reference is had to the prevalence of the curcnlio in the district; nor yet to

1

2

3

4
5
6
7
8
9
10

11

12

13
14

15

16

d. depressed,
n. necked.

Names.

ABBEEVIATION8 FOE THIS SECTION.

Form.

ob. oblate,
ov. oval.

1. long.
o. oblong.

obo. obovate.
r. roundish.

Bavay's (Green Gage)..

Bradshaw

Coe's Golden Drop

Damson

Duane's Purple

German Prune

Green Gage

Imperial Gage

Jefferson

Lombard

Peach Plum

Pond, Fonthill.

Prince's Yellow (Gage)

Quackenboss

Washington

Yellow Egg_... _._

s
vl

1

8
1
1

m

vl
vl

ml

1

vl

vl

Descriptions.

a

.

£?

o

a

u

a

a>

£

Colo

1

1

r d

gy

b

f

Oct.

ov obo
n

rp

g

cf

e Aug.

ov

y

vg

c

eSept.

ov

b p

g

f c

Sept.

o ov

r P

g

f c

m Aug.

1 ov

b p

g

f

Sept.

r

gy r

b

f

e Aug.

ov

gy

b

f

b Sept.

ov

y pr

b

f

b Sept.

r ova

rp

g

c

b Sept.

rd

br

g

f

b Aug.

ov n

yr

g

c

m Sept.

ov

y

vg

f

b Aug.

or

p

g

fc

Sept.

r ov

gy c

vg

f

e Aug.

ov

y

g

c

e Aug.

1

r.

o

Bel.

Am.

Eng.

Am.
N. Y.
Eur.
Eur.
N. Y.
N. Y.
N. Y.

Eur.
Eng.

N. Y.
N. Y.
N. Y.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

s

10
4
9
8
9
9

10

10

7

8

7

10

a

10 10

7
6
9
3
8
9
10

10
9

9
9

7

The leading plum growers of Oceana county recommend for market
plums: Bradshaw, Duane's Purple, Lombard, Pond's Seedling, Quacken-
boss, Bavay's Green Gage, and Shropshire Damson. Wherever they have
been tried in the state, these varieties seem to do well.

The Wild Goose and other Chicasa varieties have been largely planted
in some places, but seldom set fruit. The Eollingstone, Pottawattamie,
Maquoketa and other Americana varieties, as well as many Eussian sorts
are being tested, and we hope to find some valuable ones among them.

THE PLUM CURCULIO.

No curculio-proof plum has yet been discovered, but by careful attention
the "Little Turk" can be kept in check by jarring. When only a few plums
are grown, the keeping of chickens under the trees will assist in keeping
the curculio in subjection. Paris green has also been successfully used in
fighting the curculio. The experiments have not been carried far enough
to settle definitely the amount that should be used. One pound to 300 or
350 gallons of water is the strength generally used on plum trees, but in
some instances reports of injury to the foliage have been received. This
may have been owing to some variation in the composition of the Paris
green or to a mistake in mixing. It would be well for plum growers to
experiment in a small way with mixtures of from one poimd of Paris green
to 300 gallons of water, to one pound to 500 gallons and note carefully the

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.

155

SECTION IlI.-PLUMS.

the tendency of the tree to the premature rotting of the fruit or loss of foliage.

ABBREVIATIONS FOE THIS SECTION.

Color.

b. blue. br. brownish. p. purple.

c. copper. y. yellow.

r. red.
g. green.

Locality.

1

1

1
■A

1

1

i

1!

•A
X

i

el

Kemarks.

1

2

8

4
5
6
7
8
9
10

11

12

13
14
15

16

1

3

1

1

2

11

3

6
4
4
7
5
3
19

2
5

2
2
4

1

1

2

\

1

5

1

4

4

1

3

2

1

7

1

1
5
5

1

1

6

1

4

1
1

Nearly or quite a.s fine as Green Gage. Tree a better grower.
Grows and bears well. A superior market variety.

Beautiful. Excellent. Perhaps may not ripen with certainty at the extreme

north.
A slow grower. Productive. Valued for preserves.
Too soft and uneven in size for market.
Valued for drjing and preserving.

The standard of quality among plums. Tree a slow grower.
Productive; excellent; shoots dark, downy, vigorous.
A slow grower, good bearer, very profitable at the north. *
Tree vigorous, hardy and productive. The leading market variety. Tree not

satisfactory at St. Joseph.
Tree upright, vigorous. A moderate bearer.
Productive, vigorous. Branches smooth, grayish. Dorr's favorite of Oceana

county is identical with this.
An old favorite. Hardy, productive.
A rapid, upright grower; productive.
One of the largest and most beautiful, but inclined to rot on the tree. Free

from rot at the north.
A fine market variety, but rots in some seasons at the Bouth, and as far north

as Mason county.

effect on the foliage and also on the curcnlio. The trees should not be
sprayed while in blossom, as the bees would be destroyed. The curculio
can often be found in considerable numbers on the trees for a week before
they bloom. By spraying at that time, many of them would be killed; a
second application should be made as soon as the fruit has set, and a third
in ten days more.

BLACK KNOT.

In many portions of the state the "Black Knot" has appeared on the
plum. This is a fungus which causes black wartlike swellings on the trunk
and branches of plum and cherry trees; it is also found on wild cherry
trees, and in particular attacks the choke cherry. It has destroyed entire
orchards in New York and New England, and has practically put an end
to plum raising in those localities. Its appearance is a menace to the
plum orchards of the state, and active steps should be taken to stamp it
out.

The "knots" should be cut off and hurned whenever seen. The mere
cutting off of the infected branch will not prevent the spores from ripen-
ing and developing in other trees. By burning the knots the spores will be
destroyed. In cutting an old knot from a branch, the cut should be made
several inches below the swelling, as the threads of the fungus may have
passed dotvn a foot or more below any external signs.

156

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The new swellings or enlargements can be seen at this season, the bark
ha^^ng a brown or greenish appearance. If cut off at this time and
destroyed there will be no danger of further infection from that knot.
During the summer the so-called summer spores (minute bodies, answering
as seeds), form. They may be scattered by the wind, and spread the disease
to a great distance. The knots soon become black and hard, and as winter
approaches, the winter spores are produced in minute pockets within the
knots. Each knot produces millions of spores which ripen during the
winter, and then start a new generation.

To cut off and burn is a sure remedy, but sometimes the trees would be

SECTION IV.-PEACHES.

ABBEEVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Form.

Color.

Flowers.

Glands.

c. compressed, ov. oval.

d. depressed. r. round.
o. oblong.

b. bright.

c. crimson

d. dark,
g. green.
o. orange.

p. purple,
r. red.
w. white.
y. yellow.

1. large.
s. small.

g. globose,
o. obscure,
r. reniform
s. serrate.

9
10
11

12

13
14
15
16

17

18
19
20

21

22
23

24
2.5
26

Names.

Alexander..

Amsden..
Barnard..

Bronson's Seedling.

Crane's Early

Crawford's Early

Crawford's Late .

Early York_..

Foster

Golden Drop.
Hale (Early)..

Hill's Chili -

Husted's Early.

Jacques

Honest John...
Louise

Lewis

Mountain Rose.
Oldmixon free..
Richmond

Rivers.

Smock free

Snow's Orange.

Stump (the World) .

Wager

Waterloo

Descriptions.

m
m 1

m
m
1

vl

m

1

m 1

m

m

ml
m

1

1

1

ml

1
m 1

vl
m
m

o

r
r

ov c
r
o

r o

rd

r ov

r

ov c

r c

r

r c

r

r c

r ov

r c

ov c
r

r o

o ov

r

o

g wr

g wr
y d r

y dr

y r

y dr

g wr

dor

by

g wr

y dr

dy r
w r

g w pr

w r

w r
y w r
yd r

y pink

o y dr
b y d r

w b r

y

gwr

5'

vg

V g

g

vg

V g

y g

vg
vg

g

vg
vg
vg

g

vg
vg
vg

g
vg

vg
vg
vg

•a

g

r o

g
g

B
g

g

r

r
g

r

g
g
r

g
r

cf

cf
f

f

f

f

f

f

f c

e July

e July
bSept

e Sept
m Aug
e Aug

e Sept

e Aug
e Aug
e Sept
m Aug

e Sept

m Sept
bSept
b Aug

e Aug.
bSept
m Sept
bSept

m Aug

Oct

bSept

f e Sept

f b Sept

c f e July

•s

lU.

Mo.

Am.

Mich.

N.J.

N.J.

N.J.
Mass.
Mich.?
Ohio.

N. Y.

Mass.
Am.
Eng.

Mich.

N.J.

Am.

N. Y.

Eng.

N. J.
Mich.

N.J.
N. Y.
N. Y.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

o

10

10

10

9

10

9

10

10

9

10
9

9

10

9

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.

157

badly injured by this course. It lias been found that if the knots are
pamted over with linseed oil, the fungus will be destroyed. Sometimes a
second application is necessary. Even if painting is resorted to, it will be
well to cut off as much as possible of the knot. The use of turpentine is a
surer method, but it should be apj^lied icifh care onlij to the knots them-
selves, as, if it touches the branches, it is likely to kill them. Whenever
practicahle the knots should be cut off cind burned.

When there are choke cherry thickets near a plum orchard the bushes
should be carefully examined for knots, and as a preventive it would be
well to grub the choke cherries out.

SECTION IV.-PEACHES.

Since the peach is generally need in its fresh state, or for canning, which is only a mode of preserving
it in a nearly fresh condition, we have generally omitted to give values in the column headed "cooking."
Throughout Central Michigan, except in favorable localities, occasional severe winters prove fatal to the
fruit buds of the peach, and sometimes even to the trees. These facts can not be properly expressed in the
starring, and hence are disregarded.

Locality.

s

1

"6"

s

c

6
11

4

1

13

12

2
3
1
5

8

2
2

1

2
4

1

5
4

2
3

3

o
m

2

2
4

1
1

7

5

1

1

2

4

4

2
3

2

I

1

i

Si
Ms

§a

CO

4

2
6

2
2
7

4

2

8

7

6
1
1

3
3
2
1

5

8
5

3

1

i
1^

Kemarks.

1

2
3

4
5
6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13
14
15
16

17

18
19
20

21

22
23

24
25
26

3

3

1
2

1

4

3

4

1

3

1

1

1

2

A partial cling, much like its supposed parent, Hale, and two or three weeks

earlier. Profitable for market.
Almost exactly like Alexander in tree, fruit, and season of ripening.
When thoroughly thinned, the size is large, often overbears, becoming

small.
A new variety, higlily recommended in Allegan and Berrien counties.
Highly spoken of. Not sufficiently tested to warrant general planting.
Very popular with both market men and fruit growers. Much used for canning.

Others often sell under this name. Bloom tender.
Lacks productiveness on light soils, and on young trees. Many place it first

for profit.
Its liability to mildew is its most serious drawback.

A good market peach, but almost identical in season with Early Crawford.
Probably an unrecognized old variety.
A fine peach and a vigorous tree. Sometimes rots before maturity. By many

highly esteemed for market. A semi-cling.
Hardy; a good bearer and a profitable late variety on young trees. Lacks

quality. Losing reputation.
Not generally known.
Profitable, but not of high quality.
Has not become generally popular in Michigan.
Ripens in advance of Hale or Beatrice. Very high quality. At Lawton said

to sell well.
An Allegan Co. seedling. A market peach.
A valuable market variety. Highly prized where fully proved.
A verj- old variety, which still holds a high position as a market peach.
A new and valuable variety. A few days later than Early Crawford, and less

acid.
An excellent very early sort; lacks color. Fruit large and beautiful. At Law-
ton very profitable.
One of the latest profitable market peaches in Southern Michigan. Valuable.
SimOar to Barnard; brighter in color and slightly later. Must be thinned to

insure good size.
A large and beautiful market peach of fair quality. Very profitable.
Said to be the most profitable variety in Mason county.
Preferred by many to Amsden.

158

STATE HORTICULTURAIi SOCIETY.

This list of fifteen varieties contains most of the desirable kinds. The
Crawford's Early and Late, are old standard sorts and being so generally
known have received more than their share of votes. Our best peach,
growers are each year leaving them more and more out of their lists on
account of their want of hardiness and j)roductiveness. Of new varieties
Crane's Early, Bronson, Lewis, and Engle's Mammoth, have proved very
hardy and productive. Although they are comparatively new varieties they
are being largely planted. A few would do well to try, but it is not advisa-

SECTION v.— CHERKIES.— Heart and Bigaebeau.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Form.

a. angular.
CO. compressed.

c. conical.

o. ovate or oval.

1. long.

h. heart shaped.

ob. obtuse,
r. roundish.

The numbers under the head of "cooking" recommend strictly for canning or drying with sugar as
raisins.

Karnes.

Bigarreau, Yellow Spanish.

Black Heart

Black Tartarian

Early Purple

Elton

Governor Wood..

Descriptions.

^

s

o

ft,

o

6

a

CO

00

G

c
•Q

§

vl

obh CO

yc r

1

b 1 e June

1

b

Eur.

1
vl

h
obh

b
Pb

vg
vg

e June
m June

h
hb

Eur.
Rue.

m

rh

dr p

vg

b June

t

Eur.

1
1

Ih
rh

y br r

yr

vg
vg

m .June
m June

b

h

Eng.
Ohio.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

I

tic

h

3

^

10

9

9

6

9

8

9

6

9

7

9

6

Form.

CO. compressed,

h. heartshaped.

ob. oblate,

ov. oval,

r. rounflish.

SECTION VI.— CHERRIES.— Duke and Mohello.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Color.

a. amber.

b. bright.
d. dark.

p. purplish,

r. red.

y. yellow.

CD

a

a

3

Names.

BeUede Choisy

Early Richmond, Kentish.

Late Duke_-

Late Kentish, Common Red.

Louis Pliillippe

May Duke

Montmorency (Late)

Morello

m
m

1

m

e

r ob

r ob

obh
r ob

r
r ob h
r ob
obh

Descriptions.

o

y ar

dr

dr
dr
d p r
dr
dr
dr

c8

S

b

vg

vg
g

V g

b

vg
vg

m June.

m June.

m July,
m July,
e July
m June,
e June,
m July.

d

m

d
m
m
d
m
m

-a

Fr.

Eur.

Eur.
Eur.
Fr.
Eur.
Eur.
Eur.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

10

8

8

10

3

10

6
8
10
10
10
10

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.

159

ble to rely too much on them until tested for a longer time. A good list
of the older sorts would contain Waterloo, Louise, Hale, Early Barnard,
Early Crawford, Snow's Orange, Gold Drop, Jacques, Hill's Chili, and
Smock (rather late for North). Lewis comes before Barnard, in ripening.
Crane's Early ripens with Hale, and Bronson with Heath Cling.

Engle's Mammoth is a seedling of Early Crawford, but is hardier and
seems more productive.

a. amber.

b. black,
br. bright.

c. carmine.

SECTION v.— CHERRIES.— Heart and Bigarreau.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Color.

cr. crimson.
d. dark,
p. purplish,
r. red.

w. whitish.
y. yellowish.

Class.

b. bigarreaa.
h. heart.

Locality.

?5

s

a

6

-.2

el
In

Remarks.

1

2
3

4

5
6

6

3
6

2

2
5

2
4

1

1

4

2

1

1

Downing says: " Largest, most beautiful, and delicious of cherries." Often

cracks and rots, in wet seasons.
Very old. Tree large and harily. The abundant fruit is of fine quality.
A rapid, erect grower. Prolific. Fruit very large and showy, but not of the

highest quality. Tree lacks hardiness.
A moderate grower. One of the best of the very early cherries. Hardy for a

Mazzard; but tender at the north.— [Parmelee.]
Originated in England in 1806. One or the best of its class and season.
Seedling of the late Dr. Kirtland. Every way desirable except for its liability

to rot.

SECTION VI.— CHERRIES.-DUKE and Morello.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Class.

d. duke,
m. morello.

Locality.

li

<o

c ja

as3

t- (B

fc on

S

^.

S

J3

fi^

SM

^

^

H

5

a'^

1

2

2

1

2

3

19

12

11

4

3

3

2

2

4

12

4

5

4

1

1

6

7

2

2

7

3

8

1

7

2

1

Remarks.

One of the best dessert cherries of any class, but a thin bearer. When on
sandy soils, or top-grafted on Morello, proves productive.

One of the most profitable market cherries. Not as good as several of the
Dukes.

Valuable for dessert or cooking. Ripening after May Duke.

Emphatically the pie cherry of this country.

A strong, healthy tree of the Morello class. Productive, valuable.

The tj'pe of its class. One of the oldest and most popular cherries-
Larger than Early Richmond and ten days later.

Highly esteemed for preserving and other culinary purposes.

160

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Where the Heart and Bigarreau classes succeed, they shoiild be largely-
planted for dessert and cooking purposes. In most parts of the state
nearly all the varieties of these classes are short lived and the principal
dependence has to be placed on the Dukes and Morellos,

The six varieties in Section V. are desirable. Rockport and Napoleon

SECTION V1I.-GRAPES-N.\TIVE.

Buiicii.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.
Form.

b. broad.

c. compact.
1. long.

o. open or loose,
s. short.

sh. shouldered.
V. very.

Berry.

r. round.

o. oblong.

ov. ovate or oval.

1

2
8

4

5

6

7
8
9

10
11

Names.

Agawam, Rog. 15

Brighton

Concord

Delaware

lona

Moore's (Early)..

Niagara

Poeklington

Salem, Bog. 53...

Wilder, Rog. 4...
Worden

Descriptions.

Size

•

£ 1
e 1

52

(t

PQ !

CQ

Form.

1

m
1

s

1

1
1
1
1

1
1

1

1

ml

s

m

Si

H

c sh
c sh
csh

c eh

o ch

r
r
r

r

r o

1

m

1
1

csh
c sh
Ish
sb c

1

c sh
csh

c

dr
r
b

Ir

r

b
g y w

b
b

ce

V g
vg
vg

b

b

«

m Sept.
m Sept.
m Sept.

m Sept.

m Sept.

V g fb Sept.

V g m Sept.

V g i e Sept.
g ' e Sept.

•s

h Mass.

W. N. Y.

Mass.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

V g

V g

m Sept.
m Sept.

Mass.
N.Y.

N. Y.
h Mass.

h Mass.
N.Y.

7
10

7

N J.? 10
N. Y. 10

7

9

10

7

10
8
8

8
10

The list of grapes affords quite a variety. Moore's, Worden, Concord,
Wilder of black varieties and Brighton, Delaware, lona, and Salem of the
reds will make a good list. For three varieties Moore's, Worden, and one

Niagara has been largely

of the red varieties would give satisfaction

SECTION VIII.-CUREANTS.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Form of Bunch.

Color.

1. long,
m. medium.
6. short.

b. black,
br. bright.
d. dark.

r. red.
•w. white

Names.

Descriptions.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

7\

Q.'

a =

%

3
1

1

O

kt

c

1

1

Black Naples

1
1
1

m
1

m

m

1

8

!

m

B
1

ra
m

b

r

r

dr

am
V a

a

a

m July

m July

July.

b m July

m July

e July

b m July
b m July

Eur.
Eur.
N. Y.
Eur.
Fr.

Eng.

Eur.
Eur.

1
4

5
9

7

6

10
9

8

8

8

10

8

7

7
8

9

?,

Cherry .

10

3

4

Fay's (Prolific).,

RedDutch

9
9

5

Versaillaise _

Victoria

dr a

br r j V a

1

w a

w 1 a

9
9

7

White Dutch ..

R

8

White Grape

8

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.

161

are much liked. Of the Dukes and Morellos, Early Richmond, May
Duke, Late Duke, and Late Kentish or Common Red, are among the best.
Of new varieties the Ostheim, Wragg, and a large number of Russian
sorts seem very hardy, and jjroductive. The fruit is larger and of better
quality than Early Richmond.

SECTION VII.-GRAPES-Native.

ABBKEVIATIOJfS FOR THIS SECTION.

a. aniber.

b. black,
d. dark.

g. greenish.

("ulor.

I. light.

II. lilac,
p. purple.

r. reddish.
w. whitish,
y. yellowieh.

Locality.

1

1
2

2

1

i

i
o

6

8

20

13

4
10

2
2

5
10

1

2

4

11

6

1
2
3

1

4

J

2 53

II

]
11

5
2

3
9

11

£

St

la

Remarks.

1

2
3

4

5

6
7
8
9

10

n

2
3

2

1

3

2

1

3

Keeps well after gathering

One-fourth foreign. Highly satisfactory.

Here, as elsewhere, this is "the grape for the million," since it can take care
of itself.

Slow grower. Fully as productive as Concord when well established. Fruit
sometimes fails from dropping of the leaves.

Generally esteemed as the finest of our natives. The vine seems to lack con-
stitution, and it is not generally successful.

Vigorous grower. Excellent; especially for the north.

A promising white market grape. Very vigorous, healthy and productive.

Hardy, beautiful. Rather late.

The largest, most attractive and popular of the Rogers hybrids. Vigorous,
productive. Bunches often imperfect. Mildews.

One of the finest and most popular of the Rogers hybrids. Will do for market.

A week earlier than Concord and better in quality. Very desirable.

planted and succeeds in many localities but for general planting other
varieties should receive more attention. New varieties like Mills, Moyer,
and Diamond should only be planted in an experimental way.

SECTION VIII.-CURRANTS.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION-

Flavor.

a. acid.
in. musky,
v. very.

Locality.

1

L4
il

3

1
2

1

2

1

i

a ffl

Remarks.

1
2
3
4
5

6

7
8

2

11
9
6
5

6

1
8

3
1
6
7
1

5

1

3

2
1
4

1

1

1

Good culinary fruit. Much sought in the market by foreigners.

Its size renders it popular. One of the most acid of currants.

Long bunch. Large berry. Very productive.

Has no superior except in size. The best for all purposes.

By some believed to be superior to the Cherry currant. Others think them

identical.
Valuable, rather lat« sort. It seems to be nearly exempt from the attacks of

the borer.
Better in quality, and in the habit of the plant, than White Grape.
Plant of spreading, straggling growth. Larger, but not as good as White

Dutch.

21

162

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SECTION IX.-G008EBERRIES.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.
Form (if Berry.

ov. oval,
r. ronnd.

Names.

Descriptions.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

.0

a

• 8

s

5

1

1

ii

i

1

1

Downing.

ml

s

vl

1

rov

r
r ov

ov

w g

b

r

g

vg
vg
vg

vg

Aug.
Aug.
Aug.

Aug.

N. Y.
Mass.
Eur.

Ver.

10

8

10

10

10
10
10

10

in

?,

Houghton _

9

3
4

Industry

Smith -.

10
^

SECTION X.— RASPBERRIES.— RuBus Occidentalis and Supposed Hybrids;
Rooting from the Tips of the Branches.

c. conical.

abbreviations for this section.

Form.

ob. obtuse.

r. roundish.

Names.

American Black, Doolittle

Gregg

McCormick, Mammoth Cluster

Nemaha

Ohio...

Shaffer

Souhegan

Tyler ....

8

vl

ml

vl

1

1

m
m

Descriptions.

5:

u

r-

c

^

c

r

b

r

b

ob c

b

r

b

r

b

r

pr

r

b

r

b

O"

g

V g

V g

V g

s

V g

g
g

m^ July.

m July.

.July. Aug.

m July.

m e July.

j m e July.

I b m July.

I b m July.

6}

c

N. Y.
Ind.
Am.

Ohio.
N. Y.
N. H.
N. Y.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

7

10
9
10
9
8
9
9

SECTION XI.— RASPBERRIES.— RuBtJS Id^us, and Stbigosus, Increasing by Suckers

OH Sprouts.

abbreviations for this section.

c. conical.

Form,
ob. obtuse.

r. roundish.

b. bright.

Color,
c. crimson.

o. orange.

Names.

Brandywine, Susqiieco

Cuthbert, Queen of the Market

Hansell

Marlboro

Philadelphia.

Turner

Descriptions.

m
1

8
1

m

^

r ob c

br

re

be

r

r

r

r

r

pr

r

br

2
5"

V g
b

g
g
g

vg

July.
July.

b July.
July.
July.

July.

5
c

Am.
N. Y.

N.J.
N. Y.
Penn.

Am.

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

ii

■3

w

8

9

8

8

7

7

7

7

6

8

9

8

9
10

7
9

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.

163

SECTION IX.-G008EBERRIES.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.
Color.

b. brown. r. red.

g. green. w. whitish.

Locality.

1

i

1

6

5

g
en

i

i

Is

Remarks.

1

2
3

4

3

2
2

8
6

3

4
4
3

2

5
6

2

2

1

2
1

Fine, stocky, vigorous plant; quite thorny. The highest quality of fruit.

Slender and straggling, but vigorous, prolific and excellent.

Least subject to mildew of any of the foreign varieties. As a rule it has

given gootl satisfaction.
Some doubt as to the vigor of the plant. An excellent variety.

SECTION X.-

-RASPBERRIES.— RtJBU.s Oocidentalis and supposed Hybrids;
Rooting from the Tips of the Branches.

b. black.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Color,
p. purple. r. red.

y. yellow.

Locality.

1

1
■A

&

a

a:'

si

3

o

i

Is
9.^

A
Is

Remarks.

1

2
3
4
5
6
7
8

1

1
17

7
1

15
,5
2
4

3
7
3
2
3
2
1

1

9
2
1
3
2
3

5
3

2

1

2

Desirable when great hardiness is required. A little later than Souhegan.

Larger than McCormick. Is now the leading Black Cap.

Plant very vigorous with stout thorns. Very productive. Profitable.

Fully equal to Gregg in all respects, and considerably hardier.

A very profitable market variety; good for drying.

Enormous grower. Fruits ripen in succession. Superior for canning.

A good, early, market black cap.

Very much like Souhegan.

SECTION XL— RASPBERRIES.— RuBus Id^eus, and Stbicjosus, Increasing by Suckers

OR Sprouts.

p. purplish.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Color,
r. red.

s. scarlet.

Locality.

1

55

1

1

1

o

i

Is

Remarks.

1
2

4
.5

1

1
1

1

2
17

4

4
2

,5

7

1

1

3

8

1
1

2

5

2
2

1

Its beauty, size, color and firmness are strongly in its favor.

Very firm, productive and hardy. Has come to be the leading market variety
of its class.

Hardy. Lacks vigor and productiveness.

Very vigorous and productive. Is being extensively planted.

Entirely hardy; dull color; lacks quality and size. Suckers but little. A bad
shipper. Nearly abandoned.

Strong grower; hardy; productive. Suckers profusely; lacks firmness. Lead-
ing market variety in Berrien county.

164

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SECTION XII.-BLACKBERRIE8.

ABBREVIATIONS I'OR THIS SECTION.

Form .

c. conical,
o. oblong.

ov. oval.

r. roundish.

S

s

Names.

Agawam

Kittatinny

New Rochelle, Lawton.

Snyder

Taylor

Wilson

Descriptions.

1
1

1

m
1
I

ro
re
ov

rov

ro

o ov

pC

Color

Qiiali

1

b

vg

m

b

b

m

b

g

1

b

vg

e

b

vg

e

b

g

e

Use and

Value.

Scale 1 to 10.

S

Am. j 9

N. J. ! 10

N. Y. 9

Ind. I 9

Am. ' 10

N. J. I 7

10
9

8
10

9

8-

la
»

SECTION XIII.-STRAWBERRIES.

ABBBEVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION

Form.

Color.

c. conical. o.

CO. coxcombed. ob.

1. long. ov

n. necked. r.

oblong.

b.

bright.

p. pale.

. obtuse.

e.

crimson.

r. red.

. oval or ovate.

d.

dark.

8. scarlet.

roundish.

Use and

Descriptions.

Value

Scale 1 to 10.

^

M

^

33

S
1

o
o

Q

i

1

'3

O

1

1

vl

Ic n

bs

vg

^' b

f

12 June.

Mich.

9

8

9

vl

ob re

be

vg

' P

m

20 "

111.

8

10

1

re

ds

vg

)

m

10 "

Ken.

8

8

10

1

c

ds

g

b obs

s

12 "

Conn.

6

'

10

vl

r obe

be

vg

' b

m

12 "

Penn.

9

8

9

1

oc

be

vg

P

f

11 "

Ohio.

9

9

vl

obc

be

V g

b

f

17 "

Wis.

9

10

1

rob c

be

g

P

f

26 "

Conn.

7

9

10

1

Ire

bs

vg

b

f

16 "

Ky.

8

8

m

ovr

s

g

b

s

30 "

Ont.

8

7

8

1

c r

c

g

p

f

26 "

N.J.

8

9

9

m

obe

be

vg

b

m

10 "

Am.

8

1

r c

e

g

b

s

14 "

N. J.

8

8

9

1

c r
o ceo

bs
br

g

vg

b
b

m
m

24 "
14 "

7
8

8

«

vl

Penn.

8
9
9

1

re

d c

g

b

f

11 "

N. Y.

6

9

p

9
10
11
12
13
14
15

16

Names.

Bidwell -..

Bubach, No. 5

Charles Downing
Crescent _

Cumberland

Haverland

Jessie

Jewell

Kentucky

Maggie

Manchester

May King

Miner

Mount Vernon

Sharpless

Wilson

EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS.

165

SECTION XII.-BLACKBERllIES.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Color.

b. black,
w. white.

Locality.

1

f

1

s

g

2
5
2

12
6

5

1

2
2

5

1

1

il

.CM

a ®

S|

8
3

8

2

1

II
-a

2
1

1

Remarks.

1

2
3

4

5
6

Not folly hardy, but productive and fine.

Too well known to need description. Sometimes rusts or mildews.
Plant grows late. Tender. Fruit colors before fully mature. Quality best
when fully ripe.

Not large, but good. Very hardy and prolific.
Claimed to be as hardy as Snyder.
One of the largest. Lacks richness. Needs winter protection.

Sex of blossom.

b. bi-sexual or perfect.
p. pistillate.

SECTION XIII.-STRAWBERRIES.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THIS SECTION.

Texture.

f.

firm.

m.

medium

8

soft.

Season.

The date (in .June) of the ripening of the first perfect
specimens is given in each case as the most conven-
ient mode of indicating the relative season.

liocality.

^ ®

- »'

fc. e

i" o

3

1

e

ic

II

a

a

a

*

'-'

1

1

.5

1

2

1

3

3

3

3

1

1

4

14

6

5

^

5

fi

3

5

■>

6

1

1

1

7

4

1

8

2

1

9

1

1

2

10

2

11

2

4

2

1

1

12

2

13

2

2

2

14

4

15

14

4

6

1

16

13

.8

6

4

Remarks.

Does not always ripen well at the tip. Valuable.

One of the best new varieties for market.

Succeeds generally as a fruit for near marketing. Plant vigorous.

Vigorous plant. Very prolific, but lacks quality and firmness. Foliage

healthy.
Excellent as a berry for home use, or for near marketing.
Plant vigorous. Promises to be valuable.
Is very liighly praised, so far as tested.
Decidedly the most productive of the introductions of 1885. Makes very few

runners.
Vigorous. A good late market berry. Nearly superseded.
Hybrid of the late Chas. Arnold. Very productive. Deficient in color.
Has become a leading market berry.
Very popular as an early berry.

Vigorous and productive. Excellent for near market.
Very highly praised as a market variety. Quite late.
Is attracting much attention. Lacks firmness for distant marketing. Does

best in hills.
Colors early. Only good when fully ripe. Later pickings fail in size. The

leading market berry with the mass of growers.

166 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Most of these are old varieties and their merits are known to all.

Bubach No. 5, is comparatively new but has been quite generally
planted. With good care it has proved very vigorous and productive. The
fruit is of large size, regular and of good quality and color. For either
market or home use it is desirable.

Haverland has been quite highly praised but our results have not shown
it any better than many of the older kinds. The foliage seems quite healthy
and the fruit ripens early. The berries are quite slender and elongated.
It has not shown itself more than moderately productive, and we do not
consider it parficidarhj desirable either for home use or as a market berry.

Jewell. This variety, which was so highly praised four years ago, is
seldom mentioned now. On certain soil with high culture it gives satis-
factory results, but is of no value except for the amateur.

Maggie. With the fruitgrowers around Grand Rapids this is a favorite
variety on account of its productiveness.

May King. This variety will furnish several pickings of good-size
handsome fruit, but should not be depended upon for the main crop.
Valuable on account of its earliness for home or market use.

Nearly one hundred and fifty kinds have been grown here during the
past year, but less than half of them have been sufficiently tested to-
warrant an opinion regarding their fruiting qualities.

Among the kinds which fruited, are several that are not generally know^n
although most of them are being introduced with strong recommendations.
The following varieties are nearly all of recent introduction:

Burt. By some considered identical with Capt. Jack. While it greatly
resembles that variety, it seems to us to be distinct from it. Whether
distinct or not, however, it is no better than Capt. Jack, and need not be
on the list.

Clara. Planted in fall of 1888. Bisexual. Plant vigorous, foliage
rather large and coarse. Fruit large, bright red, firm. The flesh is light,
almost white, quality fair.

If this proves as productive as its behavior this year promises, it >vill be
valuable as a market variety.

Cloud. Highly praised as a market variety. Plants vigorous and
healthy. Leaf stalks rather slender, leaves dark green. Fruit small,
round conical, early. Not productive enough to make it valuable.

Dew. Said to be a cross between Sharpless and Manchester. Plant
strong and vigorous. Foliage healthy, large, and leathery, nearly perfect.
Bisexual. As seen in the garden of the originator, very productive. Fruits
generally very large, and regular. The larg