108 STATE POMOLOGICAL. SOCIETY. 



family worthy of planting as a centennial tree. Fortunately for you, gentlemen 

 of South Haven, it is found in great abundance in your immediate vicinity. 

 Among the foreign varieties in this class, and perhaps the only one worthy of 

 our attention now, is the well known Norway spruce. "Whatever meed of praise 

 is due to the hemlock as a native, may with ecpial honor be awarded this foreign 

 variety. 



Indeed, so universally popular has it become that we may safely say, per- 

 haps 9 out of 10 of the evergreens planted are of this variety alone. 



In hardiness and adaptation it takes to our soil and climate "like one to the 

 manor born." It forms the stoutest and densest screen, and bears the shears 

 as well if not the best of any. When planted singly, or in connection with the 

 hemlock, its stately, muscular form presents a pleasing and happy contrast. 

 Years, and perhaps generations, shall pass away before a rival shall displace it 

 in popular favor. 



The white and Norway pine come next in order, and should be planted only 

 where room is abundant and stately and rigid effect is desired. The most popular 

 of the European varieties, where the conditions and effect just mentioned are to 

 be required, are the Austrian and Scotch pine, except perhaps some of the new and 

 rare varieties whose scarcity precludes our availing ourselves of them for this oc- 

 casion. Of the two varieties last named, the Austrian pine is far preferable, and 

 our native Norway pine so nearly resembles this variety in form and habit as 

 to be often regarded as identical. In the planting of groves, the sugar maple will 

 be found among, if not the most valuable of all the deciduous trees mentioned. 

 The most striking example of a grove planted with this tree that has come 

 under my observation is near the village of Schoolcraft, in Kalamazoo county, 

 and with which many of you arc familiar. It is nearly four acres in extent, 

 planted in double rows 10 feet apart from tree to tree, in rows which are 20. 

 The best data that I have obtained as to the time since it was planted makes it 

 35 years. Many of the trees are 20 inches in diameter, and the average height 

 is at least 50 feet. It was planted on open prairie by the Rev. Wm. Taylor, an 

 early settler and Baptist minister of that place, who was also founder of the 

 church of that denomination and the seminary where some of you I believe 

 received the finishing touches of your scholastic training. The seminary is 

 gone; the church exists only in a modified form; but the grove remains an 

 enduring monument to the memory of the man whose labor the present genera- 

 tion are just beginning to appreciate and future ones are sure to justify; and 

 now, before we dismiss this part of our subject, the selection of varieties, would 

 it not be well for us to cast a look among our fruit-bearing species and see if 

 there are not some that bear a probability of withstanding the mark of time 

 sufficient in warranting us in making our selection from them? I am forcibly 

 reminded that their appropriateness will be in keeping with the profession and 

 calling we have adopted as Pornologists. It is well known that some varieties of 

 the apple and the pear attain to a remarkable age. Many of us here have seen the 

 old pear trees of the Detroit river and Monroe, whose ages are authentically 

 established as nearing their centennial birthday, if they have not already passed 

 it. The apple trees of Monroe, too, some of us have seen, of which there is 

 unmistakable evidence of having long since passed their 100th year. Thanks 

 to the Hon. Edwin Willits, whose researches proved so interesting a feature to 

 us as Pornologists at our meeting in June last. The apple trees in the Bartlet 

 orchard he makes to be 125 years old. The Dansard tree, and those in the lot 

 of the late Judge Warner Wing, and also the two in the rear of the residence of 



