PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. 107 



PLEASURES OF HORTICULTURE. 



Horticulture as an occupation is one of the pleasantest known to man. 

 It is also the first. Mankind made their debut in a garden, and if they 

 liad heeded the plain instructions they would have remained gardeners, 

 and a world of sin and suffering been saved their descendants. From that 

 day to this, horticulture has been the most honored of all occupations. 

 Rich and poor, high and low, learned and ignorant, kings and queens, as 

 well as the lowly cottager, all practice it in some form, and all take equal 

 pride in their success. The only exception to this rule that I have ever 

 met, is an occasional top-heavy American farmer, who, perhaps, by dint of 

 -working fifteen to eighteen hour^ per day and living on a diet of bread and 

 potatoes with pork and grease, has made a success growing hogs, corn, and 

 wheat. Some of these gentlemen profess contempt for the able-bodied men 

 who grow " trees, brush, vines, and posies." We can overlook this man's 

 lack of courtesy when we remember that his associations have given him 

 an exalted opinion of himself, while his diet has given him a disordered 

 liver. 



In conclusion, let me say that whether you are already engaged in hor- 

 ticulture, or expect to be in the future, be careful to start right. Be 

 honest in all things. Follow the golden rule when you pack fruit for mar- 

 ket, as well as in your other dealings. In short, be a man, love your 

 neighbor, and trust in God. Then, when your labors are ended, you will 

 liave little to regret of the past and everything to hope for of the future. 



PRESENT PEACH-CULTURE AT BENTON HARBOR. 



Mr. Lawton: How successful is peach-culture at St. Joseph now? 



Mr. Morrill: The orchards now are comparatively young. They all 

 went out, absolutely every tree, but they have been replanted until there 

 are now 200,000 to 300,000 trees, the oldest about seven years of age, and 

 they are as fruitful now as they were originally. Better sorts are now 

 grown than in those earlier years, kinds which bear one or two years 

 younger than the kinds set first, and thereby the danger of loss by yellows 

 and cold winters, before profits are realized, is decreased. My ten-acre 

 peach orchard netted $750 the third year, $1,950 the fourth year, and $2,200 

 this year. The fruit had to be thinned each year. This season from 1,800 

 to 1,500 fruits per tree were removed. Our people are assiduous now in 

 removing yellows. The commissioners of Benton Harbor township could 

 this season find but an average of one affected tree per day. Over 200,000 

 trees will be set the coming spring. Varieties best with us are Lewis, 

 Gold Drop (this paid me best of all); my neighbor, Mr. Morley, grows 

 Crawfords, principally, and we both make money; Early Rivers, Barnard, 

 the Crawfords, Snow's Orange, and Smock have all done well; I have 

 excellent results from Kalamazoo, the peach originated by Mr. Stearns, 

 which I believe to be the best peach ever set in Michigan. It is a large 



