302 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



February Meeting. 



The grape was made the subject for the February meeting. It is becoming 

 a prominent fruit in the county, and the number of vineyards is rapidly 

 increasing. Thus far the grape is mainly grown for table use, and uo regular 

 wine cellars are yet known in the county. The Concord was yet about the only 

 market grape cultivated. For garden culture or family use a few other varie- 

 ties are cultivated to a small extent, but are rarely found in the market. No 

 serious grape disease is yet encountered; but in some localities the rose bug 

 does some damage, and in some places the grape beetle has been a source of 

 annoyance. A number of seedlings were originated here, which are attracting 

 attention ; one or more of which will probably become standard varieties. 



The meeting was opened by a paper from Jacob Ganzhorn, of which a part 

 is furnished. 



W. Higly explained the formation of mildew on the grape, the substance of 

 which is already made known or treated of in former reports of the State 

 society. 



J. D. Baldwin mentioned the use of sulphur successfully applied with a 

 bellows, by a person on the islands in Lake Erie, for preventing this disease. 

 In the discussion that followed, Prof. E. Baur said that he kept the Salem 

 grape successfully till winter, and attributed the keeping quality of this grape 

 to its thick skin. He believes that the Catawba can be successfully grown on 

 our elevated lands, and has started the experiment. 



Chas. H. Woodruff spoke of his seedling grapes, of which the one called 

 White Ann Arbor he said was thus far the best of his seedlings. He recom- 

 mends it as a good canning grape. 



Jacob Ganzhorn stated that the high elevations of the county and through- 

 out the State, rendered the temperature uniform, and favorable for the 

 successful production of fruit, the same as the influences of the lakes. The 

 grape did not require a high temperature, but wanted one as uniform as possible 

 during the growing season. 



President Dorr said that he believed those who cultivate well and intelligently 

 make grape growing a paying investment. He thought the grape the farmer's 

 fruit, and that it always ought to be on his table from September to January, 

 and might be there, by judicious management, until mid-winter. 



March Meeting. 



The March meeting was largely occupied with local business and verbal 

 reports from the delegates to the Hillsdale meeting of the State Horticultural 

 Society. 



"The Uses of Fruits" was the subject for discussion, and which was opened 

 by J. Austin Scott. He said that when he settled on the Maumee river in 

 1834, wild plums, thorn and crab-apples, were the only fruits to be had. He 

 believed that if the fruits we now have could have been had then, nine-tenths 

 of the sickness incident to the settling of a new country would have been 

 avoided. Fruits he firmly believed were health-regulating agents, and ought 

 to be freely used and enjoyed by all. 



Prof. E. Baur exhibited samples of apples, peaches, and grapes, preserved 

 in various ways. He spoke urgently of the importance of saving the surplus 

 fruits by drying and preserving in any practicable way. He made favorable 

 mention of the "Zimmerman's Fruit Dryer," of which he has one in use. 



