270 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



treatment or cultivation, and the task of removing it is a tedious one. But. 

 the destruction of nests and rings of eggs on the branches, as well as 

 cocoons and insects in the crevices of the rough bark removed, will 

 undoubtedly prevent much damage to the foliage in the spring, and com- 

 pensate for all trouble. 



As to spraying apple trees with the arsenites, to destroy the codlin moth, 

 I am satisfied from the testimony, of those who have tried it, and the 

 common'sense there is in it, that we all shall have to practice it, either 

 voluntarily or by statutory compulsion. I think it is settled beyond ques- 

 tion that spraying apples in early spring destroys codlin moth. I am not 

 so positive about its destroying the moth crop in August, after the apple 

 is pretty well grown. However, it is claimed by the advocates of spraying 

 that it will kill the August crop of worms. It was also claimed that 

 spraying with arsenites would destroy curculio in plums. Now, the same 

 persons, after years of experience, believe the jarring process the only 

 effective one. It may prove to be the same with spraying apple trees in 

 August — as a sparrow does not make a summer, neither does a single 

 experiment prove a theory. 



W. A. Brown of Benton Harbor read a paper on " Practical suggestions 

 about picking, grading, and packing apples for market." He said, sup- 

 posing you have apples to pick, the proper season is of great importance. 

 I think the picking of apples should be about two weeks earlier than is 

 usual. Early picking I have found to be the best. In looking after some 

 apples left after the fair, in September, I found this fruit kept longer and 

 better than fruit left until October. Pick before it is inclined to fall. 

 Pick in bags or baskets, carried in the hand, and carefully pour into larger 

 receptacles. In grading, if the crop is light, we have a lower grade; but 

 in grading for the market there should be but two grades, while some have 

 three or four grad*es. In Chicago " across-the-lake-apples " are not classed 

 as high as those from further inland. I do not know why, unless some 

 growers like to save everything and put small, poor fruit in the middle of 

 the package. This is a detriment to a better class. A person who packs 

 good fruit will, as a rule, find it will bring better prices. There may be, 

 in marking apples, three grades — good, better, and best. Few pack best, 

 but a grower will find it to his advantage to pack best apples, the remain- 

 der to stay at home. At Benton Harbor they utilize everything in cider 

 mills and evaporators and they scour the country for apples for cider; but 

 we do not drink it — it is seat to Iowa and other prohibition states! This 

 year our evaporators had a good supply from somewhere — I do not know 

 where. Some went to Missouri and took their machinery for evaporating 

 with them. The apples would not come to them and so they went to the 

 apples. Another year Missouri may have to come to Michigan. So far as 

 utilizing the crop individually, it depends on the situation. A man who 

 ships only a few apples is at a disadvantage. The commission men know 

 the large shippers and he can not afford to cheat them. They also pack 

 better, and the small packer of fruit would better keep it at home, if he 

 can find cold storage, and wait for some one to come and buy it ; and if his 

 fruit is good he will get good prices. Cold storage can be easily built, of 

 double walls, and the fruit kept in good order until sold. We have tried 

 at Benton Harbor some new methods. We invite buyers from everywhere 

 to come to Benton Harbor and buy fruit, and we find they come, more and 

 more each year; and this plan works very well. Let them come from Chi- 



