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 



