REPORTS OF LOCAL SOCIETIES. 351 



Dr. Turner: I have talked with J. N. Stearns, who is growing the 

 ^gooseberry near South Haven. He tells me that he finds ready sale for 

 all the gooseberries he has grown, and recommended the Industry and 

 Downing. 



G. H. LaFleur: J. G. Ramsdell of South Haven has had experience 

 in growing gooseberries for market. He recommends the Downing. A 

 paper by Mr. Ramsdell was read before the meeting at Shelby in June 

 last. [It appears elsewhere in this volume. — Editor.] 



A. J. Bracelin of Watson read the following paper: 



Perhaps a few ideas concerning the importance and prospects of fruit- 

 raising, and the necessity of having a live pomological society ' in Allegan 

 county, will not be wholly out of place at this time. The magnitude of the 

 fruit interests of this county is too well known to need more than a word, 

 and I shall not dwell on this part of the subject, only say that years when 

 all kinds of fruit are abundant, we are prosperous and happy, partly from 

 the large amount of money that comes to us from other sections, but 

 largely from the health-giving influence of the fruit consumed; and years 

 when it is scarce, or a failure, as it has been the present year, we are cor- 

 respondingly poor and depressed It can not be said, however, that fruit has 

 been a complete failure this year with us. Indeed, compared with other sec- 

 tions of the country, we have been highly favored. If not by full-paying 

 crops, by an abundance for home consumption, of small fruits ; and what is 

 lacking in quantity and quality of apples is greatly mollified by the high 

 prices and ready sale for such as we have. Though of known inferior 

 quality, they are bringing a large amount of money into the county. Not- 

 withstanding this, a great many accounts will remain unsettled and a great 

 many necessaries will not be known for another year, on account of the 

 peculiar failure, the unequal distribution of the crop. Baldwin trees, 

 though known to be tender, are about the only ones that have borne fruit, 

 and those having orchards of this variety are making a very nice thing. 

 The nearly total failure in peaches is certainly a severe blow to growers of 

 that fickle fruit; and considering the many enemies this tree and its fruit 

 have, and the very great uncertainty of getting a crop, it is questionable 

 whether this part of the fruit industry will ever become a practical and 

 paying business to any considerable portion of Allegan county. But we 

 produce the finest specimens of the finest varieties, and we have a repvita- 

 tion of having the spiciest, the tartest and most fully developed apjDle that 

 grows; and since the territory that can produce even the poorer varieties, 

 is limited, and since we have more than a reasonable assurance of raising 

 a crop of this fruit every year, I believe the setting of apple orchards to be 

 a safe and practical venture. Right here I will say to those who may wish 

 to set orchards, that none but the finest varieties should be selected. 

 Leave the poorer and worthless ones to be used in less favored localities. 



I am impressed with Mr. Granger's scheme of setting trees one rod 

 apart, with fifty per cent. Wageners, set alternately, to be removed when 

 they crowd later bearers and longer lived varieties. The scheme is cer- 

 tainly worth any man's consideration who is thinking of setting out an 

 apple orchard 



I hope I shall not be considered visionary or extravagant, when I say 

 that there is a great fruit future in store for Allegan county; that every 

 foot of naturally drained, arable land will eventually be occupied for rais- 

 ing fruit. This includes not only our best soils, but all the light sandy 

 soils of our county, most of which show a natural fitness for producing 



