PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 57 



tice by many, such is unfortunately the case; but to the intelligent, per- 

 sistent worker there is still hope." In the Grand river valley, from Ionia 

 to the lake, the horticultural interest was never so flourishing, and the 

 same is true of Allegan, Berrien, Van Buren, Oceana, MasoD, Grand Trav- 

 erse, and the other fruit-belt counties. If horticulture shall decline in the 

 rest of the state, but increase here where it receives more satisfactory 

 attention, we shall have a thorough test of our president's decisively stated r 

 idea that prevalence of yellows and other such menacing and destructive 

 agencies is a good thing for the fruitgrower. At any rate, if horticulture 

 has elsewhere declined seriously, it is no worse off than are the other 

 branches of agriculture, while here, where Pomona's rule is supreme, there 

 are few or none at all dissatisfied with their prospects. 



Several gentlemen were called upon for supplementary reports, but only 

 a little new matter was obtained. It appeared that there had been more 

 rain in the Oceana region than further south, yet there had been injury 

 there to the early varieties of peach. Oceana and Mason will have the 

 largest crop of peaches in their history, and much more fruit of all kinds- 

 than ever before. Japan plums (Burbank and Abundance) prove disap- 

 pointing, suffering from late frosts because of their habit of extremely 

 early blossoming; but their fruits are good when obtained. 



In Kent county both the apples and peaches are better than on the lake 

 shore, due, probably, to the absence of excess of cold wind and rain and to 

 the higher grounds. Drouth is making the apples under size and to some 

 extent they are dropping. 



In Allegan county there are very few peaches upon the immediate lake 

 shore, but further back, two miles or so, the crop is full in many cases. 

 Small fruits paid very well, and are being more generally set. Currants 

 sold for $1.60 to $2.25 per case, and gooseberries were profitable also. 

 Peaches were never finer in quality. The harm near the lake was done by 

 cold winds and rain and fogs, at time of fertilization, rather than by frost. 

 Peach trees on sandy soils recover quicker than others from curl-leaf. 

 The lower lands, where not too wet, have latterly seemed to be the better 

 for peaches. 



In Berrien county all small fruits promised well, but suffered from 



drouth, yet paid as well as if the crop had been full. Fruitgrowers are 



very much better off than other farmers. 

 8 



