FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 133 



Not having the necessary data at hand, I cannot give statistics showing acreage 

 in small fruits, aggregate amounts shipped, etc., but while a large part of our 

 county is second to no otlier in the production of general farm products, with 

 the advantages heretofore alluded to it must always remain the banner small 

 fruit county of the northwest. 



The subject of marketing fruit, fruit packages, etc., is one of great impor- 

 tance to Michigan fruit growers, and should supplement this paper; but as I 

 have occupied so much of your time I will defer this subject until a future 

 occasion. I would ask the indulgence of brother fruit growers in other locali- 

 ties, who, by reason of a different soil, and climate, may differ from me 

 regarding modes of culture, varieties, etc., as I have consulted no one, and 

 have given only my observations and experience in "Small fruit culture for 

 market in Berrien county." 



DISCUSSION. 



Prof. Cook says he has heard the Gregg Kaspberry very highly recommended 

 in Ohio. 



Mr. Omer, a grower, said it was the most hardy berry, and was also the best 

 variety they could find. 



Mr. Brown. — We have heard of that berry in Berrien county, but we do not 

 know that it has been tried. 



Mr. Koe. — Would like to know what experience the speaker had had with 

 the Snyder Blackberry? 



Mr. Brown said the Snyder had been tried on their light soil and had been 

 discarded as a poor berry. It was hardy and prolific. 



Mr. Gillett asked why he thought climate affected the raising of fruits? 



Mr. Brown said there were obvious reasons. One reason was that small fruit 

 would not stand a very great degree of cold ; on the lake shore the cold is not 

 extreme. Again, they did not suffer extremes of cold, repeated thawing and 

 freezing. 



Mr. Gillett. — Do you think the same culture is needed on clay as on light 

 soils ? 



Mr. Brown. — In a great degree, yes. There must be thorough cultivation 

 in all cases. 



Mr. Morgan wanted to know the mode of cultivating the Blackberry for the 

 first two or three years. 



Mr. Brown. — We plant about four feet apart each way and in rows ; cultivate 

 as for corn. In the second and third year we follow out the same method, 

 cutting back the old plants in the winter and cultivating the new canes in the 

 summer. We do not allow too many canes to grow. A thrifty growth of 

 canes is apt to affect the quality of the fruits, 



Mr. Ilelmic wanted to know about the soil on Avhich the Ohio Blackberry, 

 the Gregg, nourishes so well. 



Prof. Cook said the soil was heavy clay, thoroughly underdrained. 



Mr. James Cassidy, the College Gardener, read the following paper on 



PROGRESSIVE HORTICULTURE. 



Horticulture is a practical art, and is generally regarded as coeval with tlie 

 human race ; for we read in Holy Writ that God made a garden and placed 

 man in it to care for it, but a breach of the primal law caused his expulsion 

 therefrom, and condemned him to eat bread by the sweat of his brow. That a 



