128 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTLllE. 



The coimnittce to whom wjis referred the matter of arranging a programme 

 for tliis occasion have clone the best tiiey could within the limited time allotted 

 them. Tlicy have endeavored to select fiom tlic most practical farmers at 

 their command. Some of the best speakers and farmers being sick, or absent 

 from home, it was with a great deal of persuasion that we secured the serv- 

 ices of some placed on duty. I hope and believe that their efforts will be sat- 

 isfactory to themselves, and a great benefit to us all. 



Fellow-citizens, you must not exiicct to hear from the farmers any great 

 oratory or flowery essays, but a plain statement of facts as they have learned 

 it from long and difficult experiment. If we had Avanted oratory we would 

 have selected, as speakers, some of the professional mcU of other callings ; not 

 that we are opposed to oratory, but have not that element in our ranks. You 

 are well aware that in times past there has not been a proper concert of action 

 "with the farmers of our country. But I think we see in the near future a bet- 

 ter day dawning. 



"We look for the time to come, when from the farms and shops men will go 

 forth able to fill our executive and legislative lialis with honor and ability; 

 when intelligence will become so broad and general that it will be impossible 

 for our judiciary to be corrupt, and when we shall cease to hear of venal legis- 

 lators and corrupt public servants. 



K"ow farmers, in order to accomplish this result, we must be educated, for 

 education is the corner-stone of all professions. We must work for and sus- 

 tain our Agricultural College and our experimental farm at Lansing, We 

 must secure men to represent us that will give that institution equal aid Avith 

 others in the State, We want to send men there who will dare to say that they 

 will make that College large enough to accommodate our daughters as well as 

 our sons; men who will say that the farm shall be experimental if it don't 

 bring a dollar of revenue. With the aid of these wise men from the College, 

 and this Institute, we can gain knowledge that would take years to gain 

 through our own experience. I believe that agriculture is the noblest calling 

 of man, and in order to sustain it as such, wc must be educated in the broad- 

 est sense. 



I trust the exercises will be pleasant and profitable to all in attendance. 



In conclusion, I hope that in discussion j'ou will be courteous but vigilant ; 

 see that all subjects that may come before us have their proper ventilation. 

 After the reading of papers or delivery of speeches, time will be given for a 

 fair and free discussion of each subject. All are invited to participate in the 

 discussions, and are urgently requested to do so. 



W^m. A. Brown read the following paper on 



SMALL FRUIT CULTURE FOR MARKET. 



Having been requested by your committee to prepare a paper to be read at 

 your January meeting in Buchanan, the subject being " Small Fruit Culture 

 for Market," I will endeavor to give a short history of this important industry 

 in Berrien county — varieties, modes of culture, marketing, etc. 



The climatic advantages of the Michigan lake shore region began to be 

 appreciated about the year 1857, and in the season of 1860 several large peach 

 orchards were in bearing in the vicinity of St. Joseph. During the season of 

 1861 T. W. Dunham, J3. N. Brown, and several other pioneer fruit growers 

 planted small quantities of Wilson's Albany strawberries for market purposes, 

 this variety being favorably known at that time. The prices obtained in the 

 Chicago market, during the first two or three years, proved remunerative, and. 



