REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 277 



IN SETTING AN ORCHARD 



of 1,000 trees Mr. La Fleur would choose varieties in the following proportions : 



Amsden 25 



Earlv Rivers __ 25 



HakVs Early 25 



Early Crawford 200 



Richmond 100 



Mr. Fuller gave a list of 2,800 trees in the orchard of Mr. Ed. Swartz of 

 Sparta, Kent county : 



Old Mixon 25 



Late Crawford 200 



Hill's Chili 200 



Smock 200 



Alexander 50 



Beatrice 75 



Louise 25 



Hale's Early 200 



Early York 100 



Foster 50 



Jacques Rareripe 50 



Early Crawford 600 



Barnard 600 



Reeves' Favorite 50 



Late Crawford 600 



Hill's Chili 200 



Messrs. Munson & Knapp of Grand Rapids, nurserymen, have set an orchard 

 to the following: named varieties : 



Alexander 300 



Hale's Early 200 



Early Crawford 500 



Barnard 500 



Snow's Orange 300 



Late Crawford 350 



Jacques Rareripe 150 



Hill's Chili 800 



Mr. Brownell asked how he could save his Hale's Early from rotting. Mr. 

 Lay said curculio was the probable cause, and in dry seasons they work upon 

 this variety disastrously. 



Mr. Shirley said an old peach-grower of the lake shore had advised him to 

 plant, for profit, Late Crawfords only. 



Mr. Lyon was asked to name 



VARIETIES BEST FOR HOME USE. 



He said many kinds that were good for bringing in the dimes had little value 

 for the table. The Late Crawford was good to sell but not to eat, and so are 

 half the others. Peaches are largely raised to sell by sight, because people buy 

 by sight. Many of the best peaches are not profitable at all. Every one 

 would want a few Amsdens or Alexanders ; their fruit is the same but the trees 

 differ, the Alexander being the stronger grower, and its fruit is a little redder. 

 The Beatrice, Louise, and Rivers may be grown to a small extent for family 

 use, but they are too delicate for the market. He would plant one or two trees 

 each of George IV, Coolidge's Favorite, Early Rareripe, Stump-the-world, and 

 Late Red Rareripe, the latter being the very best of peaches. The Smock is 

 good, and so is Beers' Smock, which is larger and of good quality. The size 

 of peaches in many orchards depends on the owner's fingers. The best peaches 

 and the most money may be got by thinning to five, six, or eight inches apart, 

 according to the strength of the trees. 



The time approaching for the departure of the Kent county guests, Mr. 

 Fuller presented their thanks to the society, and to Mr. Dumont personally, 

 for the favors received, the information given, and the hospitality extended. 

 The day had been an era in their lives, a day of a white mark, and he invited 

 the Allegan society to some day return the visit. 



On motion, Mr. L. A. Lilly was authorized to represent the society at the 

 State fair with a collection of fruit. 



