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. 



