FIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 156 



of (lark greon foliage on both the dusted and sprayed blocks, demon- 

 strating that both dusting and spraying were apparently equally valu- 

 able in maintaining the general health and vigor of the ti-ees and that 

 either paid in spite of little fungus development. 



Benton Gebhart's orchard offered an excellent opportunity to study 

 varieties and the effects of top-working varieties on others. Mr. Geb- 

 hai-t has won many prizes at fruit exhibitions and a visit to his orchard 

 of numerous varieties grown under the best of care told the story. Mr. 

 Gebhart, who is one of the oldest members of the horticultural society, 

 and President Geo. Hawley joined in serving every guest peach sundaes 

 on the lawn of the former. 



The autos then moved about eight or nine miles east of Hart to Thos. 

 Smith's Walkervillc orchard. In spite of the long, dusty trip every man 

 and several women followed the congenial and enthusiastic owner through 

 his 52-acre orchard of thirty-year-old Spy, Baldwin, Wealthy, Mcintosh, 

 Wagener, and Jonathan varieties. The visitors were amazed at the 

 enormous croj) of absolutely perfect fruit of the several varieties. Some 

 trees had as many as 25 pole props under them. The ground under the 

 Wealthy trees was covered by a layer of withered thinnings. A net 

 return of $25,000 to $30,000 would be a conservative estimate for this 

 year. 



Most interest centered about the renewal work in this orchard. Six 

 years ago Mr. Smith noticed that many of his trees has been partially 

 girdled, probably through freezing injury. The bark had died three- 

 fourths the way around some trees and over a distance of as much as 

 four feet along the trunks. Mr. Smith is not the type of man that gives 

 in under adverse conditions, so he began bridging over these seemingly 

 hopeless injuries on 24-year-old trees, with the result that these trees 

 are today in a wonderful state of vigor and are producing crops of ten 

 to fifteen barrels and more per tree. Of course these trees have been 

 ''fed." Manure has been used when available and at other times high- 

 grade commercial fertilizers have been liberally used. The cultural 

 system consists of good cultivation every other year with clover sown 

 in late summer to remain as a sod for the following year. It should be 

 added that Mr. Smith is a Chicago commission merchant and must 

 rely to a great extent upon hired help. He provides them with the 

 best of living conditions and consequently gets very good men and he 

 is generous in giving them credit for the conditions in the orchards. A 

 load of watermelons served by Mr. Smith was a fitting climax to the full 

 day of orchard inspection. 



The tired and hungry tourists were abundantly served to a tastefully 

 prepared banquet by the ladies of the Congregational Church for the 

 Greater Hai-t Association Wednesday night, after which Prosecuting 

 Attorney Pugsl(>v welcomed the visitors to the "Hart" of Michigan. 

 Among others to talk were George Hawley of Hart, president of the 

 Society; T. A. Farrand of Eaton Rapids, secretary; James Nicol of South 

 Haven, president of the Michigan State Farm Bureau. Mr. Nicol 

 emphasized the need of better standardization and distribution; pointed 

 to the achievements of the traffic department in steadying the strawberry 

 market by proper diversion of cars; and stressed the need for precooling 

 plants along the lake shore before another small-fruit crop is ready for 

 movement. 



