REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 301 



WASHTENAW COUNTY POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



PREPARED BY SECRETARY GANZHORN". 



The officers for 188L are as follows : 



President — S. W. Dorr. 



Vice Presidents — J. D. Baldwin, Dr. A. Conklin, Geo. Sutton. 



Secretary — Jacob Ganzhorn. 



Treasurer — Evart H. Scott. 



Executive Committee — Prof. Emil Baur, J. J. Parshall, Judge P. L. Page, 

 Chas. H. Woodruff. 



Climatologist — Dr. Alex. Winchell. 



Ornithologist — Prof. J. B. Steere. 



Botanist — Prof. Volney Spaulding. 



The meetings averaged a good attendance during the year, and the number 

 of members has largely increased. The effort which was made in the preceding 

 year to make these meetings of a social character met with continued success. 

 The society had a first-class organ made to order for their special use and have 

 a full organized choir to furnish music and enliven and make the meetings 

 more entertaining. In the growing season, as far as practicable, the topics 

 for discussion have been on leading fruits grown in the county which happened 

 to ripen at the time of the meetings. A good display of fruits and flowers 

 was always a prominent feature at each meeting. 



January Meeting. 



The January meeting was devoted to the culture of the quince. 



This fruit is grown in moderate quantities all over the country. It succeeds 

 best on our elevated grounds ; the oldest or largest trees are found in such loca- 

 tions. The sizes of orchards for market purposes range from 50 to 500 trees. 



In the discussion, both the tree and bush form was recommended as best for 

 the trees. Those favoring the latter form claim that the trees are more easily 

 saved from the borer ; as when one stem is cut off, there are others left to keep 

 up the tree. Those favoring the tree form with but one stem as body, claimed 

 that the ground about the trees can be better cared for, and that under this 

 system the suckers are more easily kept down. Some advocated the thinning 

 of the heads from time to time and slightly cutting back. It was said that the 

 quince suffers from severe cold westerly winds, and therefore, whenever practi- 

 cable, temporary shelter might be given them. A case was cited where the 

 west row of trees in an orchard was saved by a pile of cord wood. Mulching 

 the ground for the purpose of retaining moisture about the roots in the summer 

 and for protection in winter, was said to be important. Muck, composted 

 with stable manure, was recommended as an excellent mulch for the quince. 

 Coal-ashes was believed by one to be a useful mulch and a preventive against 

 the borer. Salt, about one quart to the tree when in bearing, was recom- 

 mended. Twig blight in the quince was reported by one grower, though but 

 very slightly injurious. 



