-64 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



either the name of the fruit itself or of its diseases. Write to the depart- 

 ment, and franked boxes will be supplied. Then send more than one of 

 the fruits (for fruits vary upon the same tree) ; send also some of the 

 leaves, twigs, and a description of the tree, for all these are necessary to 

 the full determination of the variety. Mr. Heiges said he would remain 

 through the meeting and would be glad to help in any way possible. 



In answer to a question, he replied: The Japan plums are hardy trees, 

 and as such have a certain value, but I am doubtful if they will succeed in 

 this region. The flora of Japan is very much like that of the Pacific 

 slope, and the Japan plums flourish there, but are not likely to do as well 

 on the Atlantic slope, or in the Mississippi valley or elsewhere. These 

 plums by natural habit bloom very early — so early as to be quite sure of 

 injury from frost. But I believe they will become the parents, by cross- 

 fertilization, of a valuable race of plums. 



The evening session, in the opera house, was the time of gathering of 

 one of the largest audiences of the meeting, the place being filled to its 

 complete capacity. The ladies' band again laid the people under obliga- 

 tion for its excellent music. 



PAPERS A:ND DISCUSSIOE^S. 



STATUS OF THE FRUIT CROPS OF 1894. 



BY SECRETARY REID. 



When the time of blossoming came to the orchards, vineyards, and 

 small-fruit fields of Michigan, this season of 1894:, the promise they made 

 of fruitage had seldom if ever been exceeded. With no kind of fruit was 

 this more the case than with the apple; and the people, who had for two 

 years mourned the failure of the king of fruits, were cheered with hope of 

 his abundant reappearance. The present and the approaching harvest 

 time will leave those hopes but partially realized. The returns from half 

 a hundred letters of inquiry sent to growers in the counties of the lower 

 half of this peninsula show every grade of condition, from total failure to 

 70 per cent, of a full crop of apples. In a general way it may be said 

 that there is a very light crop or none at all in the central, eastern, and 

 southeastern parts of the state. Nothing like a good crop was reported 

 from further east than Kent county, save that in Ingham the crop was set 

 at 40 per cent. In the northern part of the western fruit belt the crop is 



