REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. '299 



set them six feet apart as they do at Plainwell. When tlie canes got their 

 growth they were close together, my soil was so strong. Should I plant again 

 in such soil I would not leave more than six canes in a hill, nip back at two 

 feet, and leave them without stakes. The berries are then all on the upper sur- 

 face. Cultivation is essential. 



Mr. Buck : I raise raspberries between rows of peach trees, with no percept- 

 ible damage to either. I have had rust, a disease of the leaf; have seen it on 

 wild plants and on my Doolittles it was very bad. Salt is said to be a cure for 

 it. Rust is bad this year. 



Mr. Smith : Rust shows tirst in the growth of clusters of small leaves, then 

 the rustiness appears. The disease seems to be contagious. I put on salt this 

 year and no rust has yet appeared. For a family patch I would set Taylor's 

 Prolific, Purple-Cane, and Turner. Brandywine is the best red for market, 

 being hardy and bearing transportation, but it yields scantily. The Miami and 

 Mammoth Cluster are also good for the family patch, for table use the Miami 

 being hard to beat. 



THINNING PEACHES. 



T. TV". Sithes showed limbs from Early Louise, Early Rivers, Barnard, and 

 Late Crawford peach trees, all in full bearing and health, showing no signs of 

 curled leaf so prevalent this season. He thought the Early Crawford would 

 mature more peaches than some other varieties, and would this year need no 

 thinning or but little. 



Mr. Buck : I would thin about July ]0, as by that time the rose bug is out 

 of the way. 



Mr. Wetmore: It should be done now, as soon as possible; by all means 

 before the pits harden, as that process is what exhausts the tree. 



Mr. Rumery advised thorough thinning for well-known reasons, as also did 

 Mr. Lay, saying that not more than one-third of the fruit now on Mr. Sithes' 

 trees should be left there. They should be left several inches apart and picked 

 off from the under side of the limbs, as fruit grown on the upper side is always 

 largest and of the best color. 



The society adjourned having had one of its largest and best meetings. 



July 3feeting. 



Last Tuesday the society met at the home of Robert Campbell, Allegan town- 

 ship, and despite a little misunderstanding as to the date there was a good 

 attendance. Mr. Campbell's home is that of an industrious, intelligent, and 

 well-to-do farmer, of a kind that is becoming numerous in our now wealthy 

 county, and presents an air of thrift and comfort bespeaking prudent use of 

 the results of early years of labor. The house is nicely furnished, and the farm, 

 a rich tract, is supplied with all the accessories of machinery, choice stock, good 

 buildings, and abundant orchards. Mr. Campbell is one of the chief growers of 

 peaches in this vicinity, and his well-kept trees now have a good supply of fruit 

 promising rich returns for the season's work. 



After enjoying a picnic dinner under the big cherry trees the society was 

 called to order by President Dumont and proceeded first with matters of busi- 

 ness. Mr. LaFieur reported the following as the programme for the August 

 meeting: "Horticultural and Pomological Societies as Educators," Rev. J. 

 Sailor; "Home Adornment: Its Influence Upon the Family," Helen M. Peck; 

 "Have we Made any Progress in new Fruits?" G. H. LaFieur. L.A.Lilly 



