252 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The harvest and market season should be one of great joy and cheer- 

 fulness, for it is one of great strain and wearii^ess; and blest are they who 

 have skilled and interested helpers at their call, especially if they are of 

 one's own household. And, happily, the business at this season seems 

 adapted to unite and enthuse the entire force in symjDathy and zeal and 

 cheerful labor. 



For the discouragements and losses in the present ways of marketing, 

 we have no sure remedy to command, hoping that happy solution may be 

 reached by others. 



To those who like the business there is much to interest and stimulate 

 taste, admiration, and thought, and afford abundant pleasant occupation. 

 To those who do not like it, it is very unsatisfactory, for it is very exact- 

 ing, affording very brief space for many of the various kinds of work, and 

 often has to be done under extreme difficulties and serious losses, and 

 always has in it an element of uncertainty. 



We commenced this subject with lake Michigan as the first great fact, 

 the underlying foundation of the business. We close by suggesting that 

 it should have as its first and most important factor, an honest man, intel- 

 ligent, with taste and liking for the business, at its fore-front, all along 

 the line, and closing up the rear, carefully forecasting his j)lans and 

 heroically intent on timely work in the orchard, in selecting, in planning, 

 in cultivating, in pruning, in capturing the curculio, in destroying the 

 rotten peaches, in eradicating yellows, in thinning, in picking, in honest 

 work in the packing-house — thorough work everywhere. 



For commercial peach-growing in Michigan is a most exacting business, 

 with the "iDros" and "cons" too nearly balanced for fun or for the weak 

 and vacillaUng or dishonest, daily calling for that eternal vigilance which 

 crowns with success only those who hear and heed her stern, inexorable 

 voice. 



Mr. Hawley took up the subject of preparation of trees for planting, 

 and illustrated pruning by means of trees and branches brought upon the 

 stage. In planting, he cuts off all broken roots and defective ones; next 

 cuts off all branches, just missing the axillary buds on the main stem, 

 then cuts off that stem to the proper height, which varies according to the 

 size of the tree. Sometimes, when the trees are strong, he lets stay a few 

 leaves. All pruning must be done by the first of August. Incline the 

 head to the southwest, or leave more head on that side. 



Mr. Lannin said, to straighten a curving body, slit up the bark on the 

 concave side. To this Mr. Robinson agreed .but Mr. Houk dissented. 



Mr. Hawley believed cutting back to be beneficial as a preventive to 

 curl-leaf. 



Mr. LaFleur told of a grower who cut down young trees, when setting, 

 to the lowest bud which would grow; and using that, made fine, round 

 heads, the lateral branches coming out in regular order. 



Mr. Lannin would not shorten-in trees, when healthy, nor allow the cen- 

 ter to run up. 



The Wednesday evening session was opened by the reading of a paper 

 on floriculture by Mrs. E. M. Stuck of Hart, which was followed by one 

 by G. H. LaFleur of Allegan, which below is given in full: 



