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 — 



