344 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



new analogies in poniological physiology nniy be leiirned, that the origin of the 

 numerons diseases incident to fruit trees and vines may be discovered, if possi- 

 ble, and such information spread abroad for the greatest benefit to the greatest 

 number. 



In conclu:~ion it would alford me much ])leasurG to see every ardent tiller of 

 the soil make it his duty in all his spare time, to study agriculture and the 

 allied sciences of pomology, entomology, agricultural geology, microscopy, and 

 natural history, all valuable to every intelligent tiller of the soil. 



DISCUSSION. 



Hon. Nathan Knight. — A very small percentage of the trees that had been 

 shipped to this place from the nurseries would be found growing to-day. The 

 principal causes of this are : 



1. Planting on soil that is not in proper condition ; 



2. Not planting in a proper manner ; and 



3. Not taking i)roper care of the trees after jjlanting. 



Very few of the fruit trees jilantcd in this country did any good until we 

 commenced underdraining. But when nnderdraining had been done and trees 

 properly planted and cared for afterward they invariably did well. In the 

 peach belt the crop fails about every third year, and now their orchards are 

 Ijeing destroyed by the "yellows." In Bay county we can have peaches every 

 alternate year, and could be profitably cultivated. 



Mr. N. Chilson said he, had considerable experience as a fruit-grower in 

 Calhoun county. During last summer he had traveled a good deal in Bay and 

 adjoining counties, and was delighted to observe the excellent quality of the 

 fruit in these counties. 



David Geddess, of tSaginaw, said that although troubled with the curculio 

 he had succeeded in raising some excellent })lunis. lie practiced jarring the 

 trees and catching what he could. lie did not believe in manuring trees quite 

 so much as Gen. Partridge advocated. lie thought once in three years was 

 sufficient; found it did well with his orchard. Pie said that the ends of the 

 small limbs were dying in many cases and he thought it was caused by forcing 

 growth too much with manure. 



Gen. Partridge said this was not caused by manuring, but by a small insect 

 boring into the limbs. 



Mr. Guild said tliat the only successful method yet known of dealing with 

 the curculio was the "jarring process." and for the codling moth bandaging 

 the trees, lie recommended mulching with asiies as good for the trees and 

 the same time destructive of insects. 



Dr. K. C. Kedzie gave a lecture on the "Capabilities of the soils in the 

 northern counties of tlie Lower Peninsula.'" (See lectures given at more than 

 one institute.) 



Mr. John M. Waterberry, of Bay City, read the following paper on the 



VALUE OF MICHIGAN LANDS AS AFFECTED J5Y CLIMATE AND MARKETS. 



One of the first (juestions that will be asked by any person who is consider- 

 ing the feasibility of purchasing a farm in this country is, "Will it pay?*' 

 "Can farming be made to pay in the Saginaw valley as well as in other States 

 "where land can yet be ])urchased at reasonable rates?" The question is vital, 

 and fortunately can be answered in tlie allirmative. 



The fact has been ascertained by a system of reports from all tlie States to 

 the agricultural department at Washington, that the value of farm j)roducts 



