54 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. S. H. Comings: It makes all the difference in the world with 

 cranberries. In New Jersey it has been noted that they rotted quickly 

 when from the soil of one side of a ditch but kept long when from the 

 different soil of the other side. 



Mr. Wm. V. Green: Grapes from heavy, strong soil keep better than 

 those from light soil, and it is the same way with ajjples. 



Mr. Comings: Prof. Budd says that in Russia they know that some 

 apples must be on one kind of soil and some on another. 



Mr. R. Morrill: It is generally understood that all fruits on clay soil 

 keep better than the same grown on light soil. They "stand up" better in 

 marketing. But they are not necessarily of better quality. 



Mr. J. N. Stearns: Their quality is much better when grown on sandy 

 soil. 



Mr. E. H. Scott : This is only because, with the later fruits, our usually 

 short seasons prevent them from fully ripening upon clay. 



Mr. Stearns : Grapes on sandy soil are a finer quality — more sugary — 

 when not highly fertilized with stable manure than when they are so 

 fertilized. 



Mr. A, C. Glidden remarked upon the superior quality of the grapes 

 grown at Lawton, where they are upon warm, sandy soil of high lands. 



Prof. L. R. Taft: There is a difference, too, in quality of grapes grown 

 upon the same general kind of soil. Addition of potash to any soil will 

 double the amount of sugar in grapes. 



Mr. S. M. Pearsall: Perhaps the slower growth of fruits on heavy soil 

 give them their superior keeping qualities. 



Mr. L. B. Rice: Western New York apples are celebrated as long 

 keepers, and the best of them are grown on sandy or gravelly soil. 



CELERY CULTURE. 



Introducing the celery question, Mr. Jonathan Wilson of Kalmazoo 

 read the following paper: 



celery culture in KALAMAZOO. 



A few years ago celery was counted a great luxury, but Kalamazoo has 

 gone into the cultivation of it so extensively that it has become as common 

 as wheat, oats, or any other staple article. Thirty years ago there was 

 probably not a stalk raised in Kalamazoo or Kalamazoo county. Twenty 

 years ago a few individuals grew a few stalks, more for their own use than 

 as a commodity for the market, but if they had a little surplus they would 

 try to force it upon the market at ten times the price that our gardeners 

 are receiving for it now. About fifteen years ago, or more, a little more 

 interest was manifested in its cultivation, and a little effort made toward 

 shipping a few stalks. Three years later the enterprising shipper, Mr. J. 

 F. Farnum, opened the ball. [I have no desire to create any bad feeling 

 or draw out any controversy among the shippers.] Mr. Farnum ought to 

 have the credit of being the first man who started the shipment of celery 

 from here and made it take the appearance of a business. Since then the 

 raising and shipping of celery has gone on hand in hand, one helping the 

 other, till it has shaped into a business for the benefit of the place second 

 to none other; and while it is a business that has done much good, and is 

 a benefit to Kalamazoo, it would be well to bear in mind that there is a 



