270 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



We have been requested to dwell largely upon grape pruning, but in the time 

 allotted us it would be vain to attempt to give an adequate idea cf this part of 

 the subject. 



People have been so befogged and bewildered upon this by reading different 

 books and articles that many are fearful to ai)ply the knife or use common 

 sense in pruning. It is at least a trite saying, ' ' if yon spare the rod you spoil 

 the child," and it is certainly true if you spare the knife you will spoil the vine. 



The subject of "Farmers' Gardens" Avas treated in a paper by Mr. L. Hub- 

 bard, of Wright. As this paper is very similar in character to those on the 

 same subject published in connection with the Greenville Institute, we have not 

 thought best to publish it in this report. 



MORXIXG SESSIOX. 



Opened with prayer by Eev. W. W. Eaymond. 



Prof. Beal read a paper on "Apple Orchards." See addresses and lectures at 

 close of this record of the institutes. 



Mr. S. B. Mann, of Adrian, read the following essay on 



THE ALDEN PKOCESS OF FRUIT DRYIXG. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen : — I have been invited by your Executive 

 Committee to read an essay on "The Value of the Alden Process" to the far- 

 mers of your county. This is no doubt from the fact that I am rather largely 

 interested in an Alden fruit preserving factory. I beg to say, however, that the 

 farmers of Lenawee county, as I understand my credentials, did not send me 

 here as a speaker before this Institute, but simply as a listener, and to bring- 

 back to them a report of its proceedings and deliberations for their benefit. I 

 do most gratefully, however, appreciate the compliment paid me, and in behalf 

 of the club thank you for the honor paid their humble representative for placing 

 my name on your programme among so many illustrious agriculturists of our 

 State. 



The Alden process of preserving fruits and vegetables is simply that of pneu- 

 matic evaporation, or in other words, chemically extracting the pure water from 

 the fruit, — a drying process carried on in a current of heated though moist 

 atmosphere, the thermometer standing at from 200° to 240° where the fruit 

 enters the evaporator. As I am not a vendor of, or in any way interested in 

 the sale of the machinery or the process, what I may say will be simply to give 

 my practical knowledge of its value, as requested, to the farmers. I trust 

 it needs no argument to prove to you that anything that will preserve from 

 decay and hold in its natural condition for an unlimited time our many luscious 

 fruits and Avholesome vegetables is of value ; and not only that, but takes from 

 it only that part most easily supplied and the most burdensome in its transpor- 

 tation to a distant market. 



Take apples for example, and by this process we take away about SO per 

 cent of water, reducing as we do the bushel to about five pounds, after the 

 skins and core are removed. 



Practical knowledge, however simple, is of more true value than all the theories 



