2 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



a good selection of those varieties that are the most profuse hearers, fine size, 

 and the most enticing colors for market purposes, yet so large a per cent of 

 the fruit is wholly or partially mined by insects that the market value of the 

 productions of the orchard is very materially reduced. 



This last enemy of the fruit grower is the most difficult obstacle he has to 

 surmount. The migratory habits of the moths, and the dilatory habits of the 

 farmers generally toward their destruction, make it quite difficult for those 

 that are anxious and willing to rid their orchards of these pests to accomplish 

 very valuable results, as the moths are so ready to migrate from the neglected 

 orchards of their neighbors. Concert of action and persistent, unyielding pur- 

 pose throughout a neighborhood is the most feasible plan that can be adopted 

 to save our fruit from such wholesale waste as the people of Michigan are now 

 sustaining. Nearly one-half of our apple fruit is more or less injured (much 

 of it entirely unfit for use), in consequence of allowing the codling moth free 

 access to our orchards. Shall we not organize a more thorough and systematic 

 warfare against this most potent enemy of the fruit problem than has hereto- 

 fore been organized in Southern Michigan, and save at least a much larger 

 proportion than we now do, of as fine and delicious fruit as the world produces. 



Civilization proves nearly as uncongenial to the feathered tribe as it does to 

 the Indians of the forest ; both largely disappear before its approach ; and as 

 these insects, so destructive to the farmers or fruit growers' interest, were 

 designed to increase and develop as food for the bird, unless some other agen- 

 cies are adopted for their destruction, horticulturists must continue to sustain 

 serious losses by their destructive habits. Some kinds of apples are much less 

 liable to injury from the works of the moth than others, and much might be 

 gained by raising such varieties as are least liable to injury from that source. 

 The Golden Russet is usually quite free from injury from this source, while the 

 Roxbury Russet is usually one of the most liable to injury. The Baldwin is 

 much less liable than the Swaar, though it is by no means exempt. 



With all the failings of the orchard, a little cultivation, pruning and mulch- 

 ing, and fighting the worms as best we can, will usually reward the husband- 

 man as well as capital invested in any other enterprise. 



The paper of the afternoon was given by Alexander Hewett of Hillsdale. 

 The topic was scarcely a horticultural one, but its treatment and the discus- 

 sion which followed it brought in so many items of horticultural import, that 

 the essay is appropriately given a place in these transactions. 



HOW TO ENHANCE .THE VALUE OF A FARM TO SELL OE TO KEEP. 



The committee in arranging the programme for this meeting have assigned 

 to me the topic, "How best to enhance the value of a farm to hold or to sell." 

 The things necessary to be done in order to give an increased value to farm 

 property depends very much upon the situation and condition of the farm. 

 In my opinion, the secret of success in an undertaking of this kind is not so 

 much in telling what ought to be done and how it should be done, as in induc- 

 ing our people to do what they already know would be conducive to the object 

 sought. However, I will suggest a few things that will apply as a means of 

 improvement upon some of the farms in our locality. 



If the buildings are not comfortable and convenient, well arranged and in 

 good repair, they should be made so ; if new ones are needed, those ef a sub- 

 stantial character should be erected, always having in view their proper site 

 in connection with other buildings, the highway, and various surroundings. 



