PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 39 



Clapp's Favorite. This man has said that were he to set 1,000 pear trees, 

 they would all be Bartletts. There is no blight in the pear in that vicin- 

 ity. The Bartlett is grown principally, and all growers cultivate more or 

 less. I know of one uncultivated orchard which was entirely killed by 

 blight. 



Mr. Pearce: If it is true, as I have read, that the Bartlett is a poor 

 fertilizer, it would be better not to set a lot of 1,000 in one place and with- 

 out other varieties near. I would grow grass in the meadow, and fruit of 

 all kinds in cultivated fields. 



Mr. Brown: The Kieffer is liked by all who grow it near me, and I 

 like it. Leave it upon the tree until cold weather, then pick and lay by 

 till December, when it becomes yellow as gold and has a flavor I like, 

 spicy and vinous. 



Mr. Whitehead: It is superior for canning. 



Mr. Jennings: I am a beginner in pear-growing, but near me are some 

 trees of a kind they call Belle, on trees planted at an early date, which 

 bear yearly and heavily of large, white-fleshed fruit, and one of them one 

 year had on $40 worth. 



Mr. Lyon: They are probably the Windsor or Summer Belle. This 

 pear is a fair bearer and grower, but almost before it is ripe it is rotten. 

 It is good to sell those who do not know anything about it. 



CHAPTERS ON ROAD-MAKING. 



The society proceeded to consideration of this subject by listening to 

 the following series of papers: 



A letter from gov. rich. 



Lansing, Feb. 24, 1893. 



Edwy C. Reid, Esq., Allegan, Mich., 



Dear Sir — This subject of good roads is attracting widespread atten- 

 tion. That better roads are desirable, especially during the muddy season, 

 is unquestioned. As to the best method of securing these, without unnec- 

 'essarily increasing the burdens, especially of farmers, is a question not so 

 easily answered. It is probable that at no distant day some of the roads 

 which are traveled more may be macadamized, and made perfect all the 

 year around. It it is not practicable to do this on all country roads, but 

 it would seem to be time for some improvement in the system of working 

 roads. 



In the most of Michigan, now, the stumps are out, and more or less 

 draining is done, and it seems to be the right time for the founding of 

 better roads. If there could be some arrangement made for a county sur- 

 veyor to lay out the necessary drains, provide for the lines upon which the 

 roads are built, and the form of the road-bed, and set the grade-stakes, so 

 that what woi*k was done would be toward a completion of it in the end. 



