273 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sweep with sucli force across this part of Michigan that most of the apple 

 trees stand leaning to the northeast at an angle of 45 degrees, more or less, and 

 often tiic bark on tlie sontliwest side either dead or in an unhealthy condition. 

 Tlie value of a good wind-break is so well known and so clearly proven, that I 

 need not take up time in discussing it. 



Marheting. 



To secure the best results from fruit growing on tlie farm it is essential that 

 the best markets should be reached at the mosc favorable time. If every farm 

 could have a fruit house, or if several in a neignborhood could cooperate in 

 having one, in which a portion of the crop could be stored to await better 

 prices, the question of profit would be less doubtful. The effect of rushing 

 almost the entire crop of wheat to market last fall was to produce a perfect 

 stagnation in the market, and consequent fall of prices. Could one-half the 

 fruit crop of Michigan have been stored last fall, it is now apparent that the 

 net results would have been much greater. Then again, if farmers would learn 

 the lesson of doing their own business and dispensing with the services of a 

 part of the middlemen, they might do better still. 



Drying Fruit. 



Every farmer's family should have a fruit-drier, by the aid of which much 

 fruit that now goes to waste could be saved. Although apples dried as they 

 ordinarily are in the sun bring but a very little, it has been demonstrated that 

 good fruit, dried with lire heat by the modern processes, will bring remunerat- 

 ing prices, if put up in suitable packages and sent to the best markets. 



Raising Fruit for Farm Slock. 



I believe that apples may be profitably grown for feeding stock. Yox this 

 purpose sweet apples are better than sour. An intelligent and successful 

 farmer in Western New York over thirty years ago told me that he considered 

 sweet apples excellent for young colts after taking them from the mares. I 

 believe that hogs and sheep would do good service in the orchard in picking up 

 the wormy fruit. 



Varieties. 



In selecting varieties for farm culture, I should be governed by the purposes 

 for which the frnit is wanted. For market, I should plant Duchess of Olden- 

 burg and Maiden's Blush for fall. For winter the Baldwin should predomi- 

 nate. But as this jiapcr is already too long I will not pursue the subject 

 further. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Vandeventer said he had assisted in setting out an orchard forty-six 

 years ago and it is now bearing well. Farmers usually do not give their orch- 

 ards sufficient care. For a few years the complaint has been that apples do 

 not pay. It is so with other things as well as apitles. He spoke of the apple 

 as the most hardy of all fruits, requiring the least care, and we could have it 

 nearly every month in the year. 



Mr. Dougharty said that fruit cost little as compared with grain, and it 

 stood next to bread as a healthy food. He regarded a man as negligent in re- 

 gard to duty who failed to furnish his family with an abundant supply of fruit. 



Mr. Hull and Mr. .Sharp also participated in the discussion, agreeing with 



