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 



