133 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



An effort was made to induce capitalists to establish canning, drying, and 

 the manufacture of jellies, at Ann Arbor. Not being successful, some 

 of the members, in order to protect themselves, made arrangements to- 

 accomplish the above object. Mr. J. D. Baldwin, our veteran pomologist 

 at Ann Arbor, took the lead — 11,000 cans and other fruit packages 

 were tlic result of his operations. Mr, Baldwin erected a frost proof fruit 

 house after the pattern of Mr. S. W. Dorr's fruit house at Manchester, 

 which lias proved a success so far in keeping apples and other fruit. Rev. 

 Benjamin Day, of our society, has quite a reputation for putting up raspberry 

 jam from the surplus of his lai'ge plantation of tlie Cuthbert raspberry; grape 

 and peach marmalades, and jellies from the quince and grape, and dried 

 peaches and apples, and raspberry syrup were the result of my own experi- 

 ments. 



The example of Christ in feeding 5,000 hungry people may assist us in the 

 solution of this practical topic. 



From the different records of this miracle we learn, first of all, that "Christ 

 looked up to heaven and blessed," or gave thanks. 



Fruit growers are, or have reason to be, a God-fearing people. In spite of 

 all their efforts to do their very best in planting, nursing, and cultivating their 

 trees, and fighting their enemies, they are conscious that, for final success, 

 they are dependent upon Him who alone can give the increase. 



Thus their very occupation leads them to look from their trees and shrubs — 

 laden with the fruit of the earth — higher up to the giver of all good, and per- 

 fect gifts, with a heart full of praise and thanksgiving. 



This, in the highest sense indeed, is an increase of the profits of fruit grow- 

 ing — a spiritual profit — that elevates the soul and leads the blessed man to 

 prosperity, and to ways by which others become the participants in the bless- 

 ings he enjoys. 



In the next place we learn from the record of John, of this miraculous 

 feeding: John 6:12: "Gather up the fragments that remain, tliat nothing 

 be lost." Heeding this wise command of the Master, the fruit grower meets 

 Avith a like success the disciples did. He finds in this gathering up of the 

 fragments of his fruit — especially the perishable peach and other stone fruits, 

 also the apple, pear, grape, and the different berries, an additional blessing of 

 an economic character, of which not only he himself, but many industrious 

 hands partake, whom he employs in this praiseworthy enterprise. He finds 

 the gentler sex especially adapted to this pursuit of saving what otherwise 

 would go to waste. Indeed, without her who is the best gift and greatest 

 blessing the Creator has bestowed upon man, he could not accomplish his task. 

 He further summons to his assistance the artisan, who furnishes him with 

 machinery to pare his fruit, dry it, to manufacture it into jams, preserves, 

 marmalades, jellies, in designing fruit houses, etc. From a commercial, 

 economic, and even a hygienic standpoint, by this industry the fruit grower 

 becomes a benefactor not only to his mother laud, but of foreign countries, 

 who import and enjoy his fruit. If it is true, that a man is what he eats, the 

 fruit grower at once ranks with the philanthropist, and becomes an important 

 auxiliary to the missionary societies. 



In tliis gathering up of fragments, however, and in the manufacture of the 

 same, the fruit grower finds his way not as smooth as might be expected. 

 Jams and jellies, containing very little or no fruit at all, are offered and sold 

 cheaply as genuine fruit preserves. But, with the genuine article, he will and 

 must finally come out victorious. The American people and other nations 



