430 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



la the names of apples, the most common of fruits, we found most confu- 

 sion. Here, as at other fairs., the fact was perfectly patent that utterly worth- 

 less varieties are grown all over the State. Our Society has at various times 

 raised its voice against the careless selection of varieties. But men plant trees 

 who never heard of this society, and many more there are who never read a 

 report of its meetings. Of what use to such is our combined experience ? Our 

 members will, to a great extent, correct this evil in their own planting, but we 

 see the need of extending our membership and influence. 



The reputation of Michigan as a fruit State is important to all who have 

 fruit to sell. Give us the name of raising the best truits, and we get with it 

 greater competition in buying and better prices. It seems to be the province 

 of this society to lift the State to the position nature intended her for — the 

 head of the list of fruit States in the Union. 



In no way is the help of the society needed more than in teaching the 

 importance of planting standard sorts. We found collections well named in 

 some instances, in some not. In the collection from Grand Traverse were 

 some which the committee were unable to name; one sort in particular, the 

 trees of which were brought from Eochester, N. Y., about fourteen years ago, 

 and which is in many orchards about the Bay, has been to all the fairs of this 

 society, was taken last year to the New York Farmers' Club, was shown to Mr. 

 Chas. Downing, and to Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry, but no fruit man has ven- 

 tured to give it a name. It seems to be a remarkable case of transformation 

 by local influences. 



It was made the duty of this committee to award a premium to the best 

 named collection of fruit. This we had no difiiculty in determining, and it 

 gives us pleasure to award it to a collection which was perfectly named, if, per- 

 haps, we except one variety of apples, about which the committee were divided 

 in opinion. The collection embraced a large number of pears as well as apples, 

 and was shown by Messrs. Ilgenfritz, of Monroe. 



Committee — George Parmelee, C. N. Merriman, I. E. Ilgenfritz. 



