REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 241 



HOLLAND COLONY FARMERS AND FRUIT-GROWERS' ASSOCI- 

 ATION. 



REPORTED BY ISAAC MARSILJE, SECRETARY. 

 OFFICERS. 



President — Arend Visscher. 



Vice PresideJits — Geo. H. Sauter and John Coatswortb. 



Secretary — Isaac Marsilje. 



Treasurer — Chas. Scott. 



Our society has, for the year about to close, been in a fairly prosperous con- 

 dition. During the year several meetings have been held, at which meetings 

 matters pertaining to fruit culture were discussed. The topic for discussion at 

 the meeting for February 18, 1883, was "The profitableness of peach culture 

 in this vicinity." The discussion was opened by Mr. C. A. Dutton, after which 

 nearly all the members exchanged views on the subject, to the interest of all 

 present. It was further decided that the discussion be continued at the nest 

 meeting and that the same he confined to "The profitableness of peach culture 

 as compared with the raising of ordinary farm crops," which proved a very 

 interesting subject, and notwithstanding the farm showed its bright side, 

 peaches carried the day. 



At a meeting held April 23, 1883, Mr. C. A. Dutton read a paper on "How 

 can we grow perfect apples," followed by a general discussion of the same 

 subject. At the same meeting the president read some extracts from Prof. 

 Kedzie's essay on the use of salt as a fertilizer. 



At the next meeting held May 27, 1882, the topic for discussion was " What 

 is the cause of the yellows or rust on the plant of the black raspberry, what 

 the cure?" This topic was discussed at some length, but the general opinion 

 among the members was that destruction of the plants effected the only cure. 



During the fruit season our fruit growers were too busy to hold meetings, 

 and we think we can safely state that all feel well satisfied as to the " net 

 returns" at the close of the season. Our present membership is as follows: 

 Thomas S. Purdy, Prof. Chas. Scott, Geo. H. Sauter, Daniel Beartch, Adrian 

 Van Duine, Isaac Marsilje, Fred L. Sauter, Albert H. Dutton, Chas. A. Dut- 

 ton, John Coatsworth, John M. Kerkhof, N. W. Bacon, Chas. L. Waffle, G. J. 

 Hekhuis, R. C. Nichols, G. Campbell, A. Visscher, M. M. Fuller. 



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