66 STATE nORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



To the ^vhito man, whether as au article of food or of commerce, its color 

 alone is an objection to its common use, to say nothing of the otlaer difHculties 

 in the way of its profitable utilization. Still, in certain localities there are 

 immense unproductive tracts adapted to the growth of fehis plant, and, appar- 

 ently, to little else. Hence we indulge the suggestion that intelligent and 

 thoughtful experiment, coupled with careful study of the capacities and 

 requirements of this plant, may, perchance, rid it of some of its more objec- 

 tionable peculiarities, and develop processes through which large tracts of 

 otiierwise waste territory may be profitably utilized, and at the same time a 

 new food product, in a measure proof against summer drouth, as well as 

 winter cold, be given to our people. 



We have thus hastily noticed some of the more prominent possibilities for 

 improvement among the indigenous fruits of our State, not so much to mark 

 out a line of operation, or even a course of experimentation, but ratiier to 

 point out the apparent possibilities, and to furnish food for thought to the 

 curious and considerate, at the same time attording a basis of ideas out of 

 which to elicit discussion, and draw out such ideas or facts as those present 

 may be able to bring to the elucidation of the subject, which is exceedingly 

 broad and diversified. If we look backward over the history of our race, 

 recalling the fact that probably none of the products, whether vegetable, cereal, 

 or animal, upon w'hich man habitually depends for sustenance were originally 

 given to him in their present highly artificial and improved condition, but have 

 rather come down to him as the result, generally, of purely accidental varia- 

 tion, under culture, not generally of the most ellective character, we, in a 

 State so unusually prolific of the material out of whicli all this has been 

 wrought, may well look about us and consider whether, with this. mass of ma- 

 terial ready at our hand, and with all the lessons taught us by modern science, 

 together with the experience of the past, we may not hope to realize in other 

 dii'cctions and with riew material, results more prompt, certain, and effective, 

 the outcome of a more matured knowledge of the operations of nature's laws. 



W. A. Brown : lias any one experimented in naturalizing tlie wild huckle- 

 berry ? 



Mr. Jones, Bento)i Harbor, in response gave his experience in transplanting 

 the low bush huckleberry, wiiicli had been quite satisfactory. 



Mr. Lyon gave an account of his work with the wild gooseberry. The 

 smooth one had been taken and cultivated, and under treatment had borne as 

 prolific crops as the common red Dutch currant. 



Mr. Satterlee, Greenville: It seems to me in i)ropcr hands a great deal 

 miglit be made of the varieties in the nut-bearing trees. I have noticed in 

 walnuts, butternuts, and chestnuts on my place considerable variation in the 

 quality of the meat, the thinness of the shell, and the deptli of the sutures. 

 By selection, even, it occurs to me something very valuable might bo obtained, 

 although it miglit take a long time. 



^Iv. Sammons: lias any one grown the chestnut long enough in Michigan 

 to know just what kind of a success can be made of it? 



Mr. Satterlee: I planted a grove eighteen years ago and last year at the 

 suggestion of Prof. Beal I made some measurements. One of my trees 30 

 feet high measured 33 inches in circumference a foot from the ground. These 

 trees some of them bore the eighth year after jilanting them out. 



Jlr. Ilolt: Upon my father's farm on the Tlioniapple river, in Kent 

 county, there is cliestnut orchard that is doing admirably. 



