122 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



tumn, laying the vines down in straight rows and back-furrowing toward them, 

 leaving the ground in ridges, with the dead-furrows to receive the surface- 

 water in the middle. In the spring the furrows are harrowed down and then 

 reversed. The plow is not used again till the close of the season's opera- 

 tions. 



AVhen the vines are in full bearing, as they are this year, they are cultivated 

 down to the latter part of August. It is believed that this late working helps 

 materially to give size to the fruit, and where the vines are bearing to their 

 full capacity, or nearly so, there is no danger to be apprehended from late wood 

 growth, as the nourishment all goes to the fruit. The ground is kept level 

 through the season of growth. 



Adjoining the Delawares about an acre is planted with Concord, and with a 

 few other varieties, among which are several of the Eogers Hybrids. Among 

 these the 19 is preferred here, for its good size, color, bearing qualities, and 

 healthfulness. No. 4 makes a good show. 



Adjoining the vineyard is a half-acre of Xew Eochelle blackberries, which 

 the past season yielded 1,400 quarts. The plants are bent down in the fall as 

 a protection against winds. 



On the morning of the 23d the committee visited a peach orchard on the 

 farm of Mr. Charles Merritt, which was planted on a piece of ground surround- 

 ed by forests on all sides. Mr. Merritt could not accompany the committee, 

 and their conclusions as to the advantages and disadvantages of such a loca- 

 tion for a peach orchard were drawn solely from observation. The trees ap- 

 peared to be sickly, and though not many years old, gave tokens of decrepi- 

 tude and disease too plainly to be overlooked. There were borers at the collar 

 and blight among the branches. It seemed like raising a colony of highly re- 

 fined young people in the midst of a nation of barbarians, and the committee 

 were not favorably impressed with the plan. 



Kalamo. 



At one o'clock on September 23d the committee left Battle Creek for Kal- 

 amo, Eaton county, to examine the entries made by Joseph Gridley. Mr. 

 Gridley's orchard of 100 trees for profit consists of the common standard 

 varieties, about thirty of which are here represented, mostly in bearing. The 

 trees are healthy and vigorous, and are well cared for. The soil is nearly of 

 first quality for apples, and it would be a wonder to find an orchard in poor 

 condition on such land if it received any care at all. The committee gained 

 no new or important facts from the examination of this orchard whicli will 

 add value to this report. The young orchards, both of apple and peach, look 

 remarkably promising, and have had excellent care so far. 



The soil of Eaton county appears admirably adapted to apple-growing. The 

 trees and the fruit which came within our observation confirm this view. The 

 soil is a gravelly clay loam, and the surface quite rolling. Now and then a 

 limestone was noticed along the roadside. These qualities indicate a good soil 

 not only for apples, but for pears, plums, and quinces also. ■ 



Jackson — Mr. Knapp's Place. 



Leaving Kalamo early on the morning of the 24th, we took the cars at 

 Charlotte and reached Jackson a little before noon, and repaired at once to the 

 residence of Mr. S. 0. Knapp, who had entered "Suburban Grounds" and 

 "Private Conservatory." 



Mr. Knapp's place is within a few blociis of the business part of the citv, 



