THE ANNUAL FAIR OF 1882. 



PRELIMINARY WORK. 



With a view of ascertaining the condition of the Michigan fruit crop and 

 getting statistics that would not only be valuable to fruit-growers and shippers, 

 hut indicate what amount of work Avould be required to get ready for the fair, 

 about the first of August the Secretary sent out 100 postal cards in envelopes 

 to the most prominent fruit-growers in Michigan, asking them to return the 

 percentage of an average crop that the orchards and vineyards promised for 

 the crop of 1883, with such remarks as would naturally be suggested by the 

 questions enclosed. 



By August 14th the returns were nearly all in and the following is an ab- 

 stract of the bulletin issued by the Secretary : 



Only one correspondent puts the apple crop at a full average, while 34 place 

 it at less than one-fourth of a crop; 50 reports make it less than one-half a 

 crop, and 75 less than three-fourths of an average yield. The following local- 

 ities have the most promising show of apples : Ingham, Bay, western Muske- 

 gon, Manistee, Genesee, Allegan, Macomb, Lapeer, western Cass, western Kent, 

 central Barry, and eastern Ottawa; all unite in the statement that the fruit 

 will be imperfect, scabby, and badly injured by insects. 



The crop of pears promises better than apples, and unless some new difficulty 

 arises there will be 75 per cent of a full yield. There is less blight this season 

 than for several years, judging from reports to date. 



Peaches in unfavorable localities for this fruit are a complete failure. Upon 

 high ground in the interior there will be above half a crop, and upon the reliefs 

 of Washtenaw county even better than this ; while upon tlie lake shore to the 

 north there will be a light yield, of say 40 per cent. In Allegan, Kent, Otta- 

 wa, and Muskegan there will be two-thirds of a crop and the fruit very fine. 

 In Van Buren and Kalamazoo about half a crop. 



The most prolific fruit in Michigan this year is the grape. There are 

 promises of a very full yield if the season is prolonged so the clusters will ripen. 

 Many of the first setting were killed by frost. There is some mildew appear- 

 ing in several localities, and the recent wet weather has developed some ten- 

 dency to rot in places where this disease has appeared years before. 



The plum crop will be a good average where persistent efforts have been 

 made to fight the curculio. 



The peach yellows is gradually Avorking northward. A few '' sporadic cases" 

 have been announced as far north as Ottawa and Kent; but there is a united 

 feeling among peach-growers that every case must be stamped out at sight. 



