ANNUAL MEETING. 139 



STONE FKUITS FOR GENESEE COUNTY. 



To me is assigned tiie dillicult though pleasant task of considering the cul- 

 ture of stone fruits in Genesee county. I accept this task first, for the benefit 

 that will accrue to me from a research of the classes and varieties of these 

 fruits that 'form so important a branch of our horticultural interest in the 

 State and county; and secondly, that perchance I may create, or help develop, 

 a greater interest in the culture of tlie same. As I look over the county I 

 behold in every part of it the industrious husbandman, who has swept away the 

 wilderness and made the land fruitful by his industrious and intelligent tillage 

 of the soil. Not even will he allow the swamps and low lands to lie idle, for 

 with a herculean energy has he grasped the shovel and spade, and by their use 

 caused an innumerable network of artery and vein tiling that saps these lands 

 of the surplus moisture that destroys their fertility, and makes them the most 

 fertile lands we have for our cereal crops. Scarcely is there any land in Gene- 

 see county that may not thus be redeemed. 



Another thing is noticeable in many parts of the county, and that is while 

 the farms are yielding such abundant crops of grain, many of them are almost 

 destitute of fruit trees of any description. Even the ap[)le tree, which grows 

 and bears so well in any part of our county, is not allowed a place, and in some 

 places where it is, no care is given it. 



Not one of the narrow, sandy-ribbed pine belts that stretch into the northern 

 tier of our towns need be destitute of an ample supply of fruits for home and 

 market, for I have observed that on some of these lands where the yield of 

 grain is meagre, these fruit trees thrive and bear well. Well would it be if 

 evei'y one in our county wlio owns land, be it much or little, would in some 

 degree plant and cultivate the fruits. 



One thing is very much needed, and that is more honest agents and reliable 

 nurserymen to furnish good and reliable stock to plant, and that at a lower 

 figure. Many, if they would join our society, would come into possession of 

 the State Horticultural Reports, and thus gain that information that would be 

 almost invaluable to them. How can an inexperienced man out of the 239 

 varieties of apples, as listed by the report of 1878, make a judicious selection? 



But to my subject I now invite your attention. It has long been a question 

 with some whether we can grow stone fruits in our county or not. Lying as 

 we do in the central northeastern portion of the State, with our timber well 

 cleared away, our fruit trees mature their annual growth much earlier iu the 

 season than they used to. 



The fruit buds are also well matured, and the texture and quality of the 

 fruit finer as a natural result, wliich enhances its keeping qualities. 



In the selection of these fruits we sliould select of the classes those varieties 

 that stand the highest for dessert, cooking, and market use, and what we do 

 not want for our own use, sell. We should keep well in view the hardiness and 

 productiveness of the tree as well as the time of its fruitage. The soils have 

 much to do with the results. Then the locality, be it fruit or ornamental 

 trees that we plant, shows how well we appreciate this, the best material herit- 

 age that God has given us. I regard nothing in the line of stone fruits outside 

 of cherries, peaches, plums, and prunes profitable to cultivate in this county. 

 The amateur might try his hand at whatever he chooses. 



Of the 63 varieties of cherries listed, but a very few are worthy of our cul- 

 ture. Ten is the highest standard as to quality and market: 



