50 STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



intelligent and experienced fruit-growers, representing as they do the different 

 sections of our fruit growing State. It is liere tliat wc may learn of tlie suc- 

 cess and failures of our large fruit-growers, and profit by their experience. 

 We can discuss the scientific brandies connected witli pomology and horticult- 

 ure (climatology, entomology, and vegetable physiology), all of which 

 riirhtly understood, will aid the horticulturist very materially. 



Societies have done much in the past to educate fruit-growers in regard to 

 the best manner of exterminating tlie numerous insect pests that are such 

 enemies to them. To societies we are indebted for what is known in regard to 

 the dread disease that infects the peach, known as the yellows. To societies 

 we are also indebted for the origin of our present yellows law enacted by our 

 State Legislature, a petition for the same liaving been presented to that hon- 

 orable body by a committee appointed from our State Horticultural Society, 

 the members of which had come to tlie conclusion that legal measures must 

 be taken in order to stop this spreading of the disease, which it seemed was 

 determined to destroy all the trees then growing in Van Baren and Allegan 

 counties, as it had in Berrien county. This is one of the many benefits grow- 

 ing out of an organization of this kind. We, as fruit-growers of this State, 

 should feel grateful for this act alone, and see that wherever there is a neces- 

 sity it is put in force. 



Organization has done much to aid the fruit-grower to a more safe and 

 cheap transportation of his fruits to a ready market, and there is no doubt 

 that much more will be accoiii})lished in this direction. No single shipper can 

 get rates that can be obtained by a committee representing a society of fruit 

 culturists. Much credit is due our State society for the efforts made, and 

 still making in that direction. 



AVere it not for our State society and its branches there would not be such 

 fine displays of fruits at our State fairs, which are such a benefit to our State 

 as well as to fruit-growers in general, for it is there that the different varie- 

 ties are exhibited grown in the various sections of the State, and by this 

 means we are enabled to judge of the merits of fruit grown in the various 

 localities, and it serves as an advertising medium also. To our State Horti- 

 cultural Society we are greatly indebted for the annual reports which contain 

 so much valuable instruction to the fruit-grower, that are gotten up at so 

 much expense of time and money, and are a library in themselves. It is easy 

 to discern the difference between the present state of our horticultural devel- 

 opments in this State and that of 41 years ago, when the first society of the 

 kind was organized at Detroit. We have more and better varieties of all kinds 

 of fruits adapted to our climate. In the year 1841 the first New York State fair 

 was held at Syracuse. We had very few horticultural exhibitions at that time, 

 except at State fairs, and there were no large exhibits. Then the man who 

 took the first prize carried his exhibit from the cars in a willow basket, which 

 contained his entire collection. Quite a difference from the large show made 

 at the American Pomological Exhibition, held at Boston in 187:3, and our 

 Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, where the collections were so large 

 that it was impossible to accouimodate the whole. And yet, with all this 

 increase, good fruit sells for a higher average price in market than it did 40 

 years ago, wlien there was not one hundredth jiart as much raised as at the 

 present time. From these facts and figures I tliink it is plain to be seen that 

 association has done, and is capable of doing much for horticulture. 



A rambling discussion followed Mr. Branian's paper, an epitome of which 

 may perhaps be gathered under the title 



