10 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



We as horticulturists are interested principally in our farms. We are 

 interested in the growing of our products, but we are just as much inter- 

 ested in Grand Rapids and all of the cities of the State. Their industry 

 is absolutely necessary to our prosperity. W^e sell our products in the 

 city and expect to get top price. Did you ever stop to think what hap- 

 pens when there is extra prosperity in any community? You will find 

 about four men on every corner trying to sell stock. These men bring 

 the money back to Grand Rapids. 



I wish to mention at this time the new policy that has been instituted 

 by the Horticultural Society during the past year for the purpose of 

 working more closely with the Agricultural College of our State. We 

 want to make Michigan the foremost agricultural state in the Union 

 and our Horticultural Department should be the greatest. It needs 

 the support of everj^ fruit grower in order to bring it to that perfection. 

 The Legislature usually favors those who are most active in asking 

 favors', and it is necessary that we work together for the best interests of 

 the Agricultural College and particularly the Horticultural Department. 



In concluding this meeting from now on, in order that no one at any 

 time should feel that he is not treated fairly, I wish to say that there 

 will be many discussions and our time may be very short, so I shall con- 

 sider it my duty when anyone strays from the topic at hand to call them 

 to order. You all know how easy it is to pass from one topic to another 

 and the first thing we know we haven't time to consider the important 

 subject before us. Will appreciate the cooperation of all by being 

 brief and concise. Thank you. 



REPORT OF EXPERIMENTAL COMMITTEE, C. E. BUSKIRK, CHAIRMAN, 



PAW PAW, MICH. 



The Horticultural Committee on Experiment Station Work held their 

 first meeting in Grand Rapids, in March, 1921. The Horticultural De- 

 partment of the College was represented by Messrs. Halligan, Farrand, 

 Dutton, Partridge and Marshall. The various members of the Horticul- 

 tural Department had outlined the work they hoped to carry on this 

 coming year and this was presented to the Committee and carefully gone 

 over, item by item, and suggestions made. Some parts were eliminated 

 and some were added to. A few of the projects presented were: 



Apples — Fertilization; different kinds; methods of applying, etc. 

 Sod vs. clean culture, Alfalfa vs. rye, vetch, etc. Spraying. Pruning 

 vs. unpruned, also light pruning. 



Pears — Spraying. Method of starting non-productive orchards into 

 productive orchards. 



Peaches — Fertilizer. Varieties. Borer control. 



Grapes — Fertilizer. Pruning, Spraving, Leaf hopper and moth con- 

 trol. 



Cherries — Fertilizer. Spraying. Better facilities to market. 



Small Fruits — Fertilizer. 



Fertilizing was the one item common to all projects. 



The next day the Committee visited the Graham Experiment Farm, 

 and the different projects there were (explained to us and the Committee 

 were asked for suggestions. The experiments there are along different 

 varieties, pruning vs. non-pruning, heavy vs. light pruning, sod vs. 



