INDIANA HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 511 



Van Buren Township, Lagrange County, December 2, 1904. 



There is not much doing in this township along horticultural lines. 

 Most farms have apple orchards, planted years ago for farm use, and 

 which receive but little care from year to year. The reason for neglect 

 is probably because the owners lack enterprise and genius to improve 

 their holdings. Some years ago on hilly land in the west end of the 

 township grapes and peaches were extensively planted, but now have 

 gone back to nothing in neglect. 



I am sorry to say no farmers' clubs or mutual improvement associa- 

 tions exist for the object of improving or beautifying any local natural 

 conditions. 



Louis Fetch, Shipshewana postofflce, has planted many peach trees 

 and sells the product in local markets. William Benham has an acre of 

 strawberries and has begun to plant peach trees for commercial pur- 

 poses. White Pigeon postofflce. Otherwise very little or no interest is 

 manifest in new plantings of fruits. . 



Commencing in 1882, I planted, /nainly for farm use in view, and, 

 incidentally, for what commercial advantage there might be in it, three 

 acres of new orchard — 40 varieties of apples, 10 of pears, 5 of peaches, 

 5 of plums, walnuts, chestnuts, blackberries, dewberries, raspberries, 

 strawberries— and since have had a good succession of fruits. Droughty 

 summers and hard winters have curtailed success quite a little, and my 

 choicest varieties of grapes, plums and peaches have dwindled out. In 

 the light of success and failure, I will commence next year to plant peach 

 trees for what pleasure and profit there can be had in so doing. I be- 

 lieve it best for those who have the ability and inclination to set a good 

 example of thrift in a neighborhood, to exhibit a well-kept orchard, garden 

 and home grounds. And then the meeting of a good, live horticultural 

 society in such a vicinity will be an added incentive to further the cause 

 of fine-tilled farms and well-kept homes. 



I see by your letterhead you have nursery stock. What is it you 

 have to distiibute? 



Respectfully, 



L. E. FERGUSON. 

 White Pigeon, Mich. 



Summarizing the reports received, with my own knowledge of the 

 conditions of the district, we find that, though the farmers generally are 

 not keeping up the original orchards to their former size, they are aiming 

 to keep orchard enough to furnish fruit for their own needs. The interest 

 in some portions of the district is gradually increasing. There is not 

 very much attention paid to trimming, spraying and cultivating gener- 

 ally, owing to lack of time and proper apparatus for doing the work. The 

 new plantings are usualy small, but of the newer and better varieties, 

 and with fewer varieties, with an occasional specialist, whom we find 



