STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 21 



new societies, nor corresponded with well known horticulturists throughout the 

 district; but, knowing that a failure to perform those two duties would not absolve 

 him from the third, that of making a written report to the Society, be respeetfullj' sub- 

 mits the following : 



The past year has not been a remarkable one in any particular. A moderate crop of 

 everything, selling at moderate prices, has rewarded but not enriched the horticultu- 

 rists of this district. They have received an answer to the prayer, "give me neither 

 poverty nor riches," and, consequently, they have not become pi'oud and forgotten 

 that God helps those only who try to help themselves, nor have they, so far as I know, 

 been convicted of stealing anything. 



But while they have probably only averaged to keep their worldly estates good, they 

 have undoubtedly gained something in experience. One valuable lesson, which has 

 indeed been mentally admitted for years to be true, seems in the last year to have 

 gained in that true faith which testifies its reality by works, and that is the lesson of 

 thorough cultivation and honest preparation for market. Experience clearly shows 

 that the cultivation of peach orchards by repeated plowings Avorks a great injury to 

 maturing insects, while it greatly assists maturing fruit. And it now seems to be uni- 

 versally acknowledged that no peaches can be raised in the 13th District, without sys- 

 tematic and persistent energy in warring against the Curculio. And all the plans that 

 have been generally recommended, are considered as fit and proper modes of Christian 

 warfare against this most unchristian Turk. And I am happy to say that 1 believe that 

 all the modes alluded to are now more generally practiced than they have heretofore 

 been. Peach orchards are plowed and harrowed, fallen fruit is gathered by hand and 

 by hogs, and the curculio catcher makes its regular rounds. And in many instances 

 where peach trees have been so planted or pruned that this treatment is impracticable, 

 the trees themselves are being removed to be replaced by those of better form, or by 

 fruits of other kinds. 



In the cultivation of apples and pears there is not quite so much unity of sentiment, 

 but the Meehan practice prevails largely in theory and is constantly increasing in 

 practice. The practice would be more readily adopted if men were not so avaricious, 

 or if retaining their eagerness to acquire richness they could become possessed of more 

 faith. As it is, they will not await the long process of making the sweet short grass of 

 the orchard a mulch, which in three years will enable the tree to produce a buttery 

 pear, but they will cut the grass off, feed it to the cow, and in less than a Aveek have 

 latter itself. So, many refuse to sow grass, because they are unwilling to subject them- 

 selves to a temptation, which, if not resisted, they know will lead to injurious 

 results. 



An attempt was made in our district during the last season to ship strawberries 

 through to Eastern cities. The experiment met with several unfortunate disasters, in 

 the shape of disabled cars and belated trains, and did not as a whole prove remunera- 

 tive as compared with other shipments; yet if account should be made of the influence 

 which sending this fruit to other places had upon Western markets, it Avould show 

 it was a success. At any rate, it proved that by judicious loading, and a friendly and 

 generous co-operation between railroad companies, the smaller fruits may be shipped 

 to Detroit and Bufialo, to the advantage of producers,— this advantage to be gained in 

 the price obtained and by the sustaining of fair prices in Western towns. The credit 



