THE SOUTH HAVEN POMOLOGICxVL SOCIETY. 501 



trees and occupy but little room. No wood older than tvro years should be 

 left on the bushes. He spoke highly of the Downing's 8eedling gooseberry, 

 and favorably of the Mountain Seedling, as good bearers and free from mildew. 



Henry Chatfield said currants and gooseberries were fruit he would not like 

 to do without, and he could sell at a fair price all he had to spare. He raised 

 the White Grape currant and Houghton SeedUng gooseberries. 



Chas. Wigglesworth said there was no demand for them in Chicago; they 

 were grown all over the West. They filled no gap between strawberries and 

 raspberries. Triomph de Gand strawberries and Kirtland raspberries fol- 

 lowed each other and paid twice the money. 



D. E. Histed said the black currant paid well; they required moist land; 

 birds and currant worms would not touch them. 



Mr. Cook brought in large specimens of King apples, and the secretary 

 Smock peaches. 



IS PEACH GROWING OVERDONE? 



South Haven, Nov. 21, 1874. 



The question for discussion Monday evening, " Is peach growing overdone," 

 was the most important subject ever brought before the society. Notwith- 

 standing it rained hard, several came along way on foot to hear what was said, 

 pro and con, by those most interested in the future welfare of our most im- 

 portant business. Space will not permit a fall report of the remarks made by 

 all, and I will only touch on the most important points. I might preface bj 

 saying that all were unanimous that the market for first-class peaches could 

 not be overstocked by us, even if every available acre which we could clear of 

 stumps were set to fruit. It was generally conceded that the market for first- 

 class peaches never was overstocked, and in all probability never would be; 

 that the price of them in seasons of greatest abundance had always been re- 

 munerative, and in seisons of scarcity were very profitable. It was admitted 

 that the growing of inferior fruit was only profitable in years of scarcity, and 

 the price then realized for them only repaid for the loss attending them in 

 years of abundance; and on account of the damage done in breeding curculios 

 and borers, neglected orchanls were an injury to us and ought to be abated. 

 It was estimated that the number of trees already set in this vicinity was about 

 100,000; that there would be set in the spring some 50,000 more, and in the 

 next five to ten years it might reach a million. This, in all probability, would 

 not supply the increasing dem:ind for peaches. The advantage of growing 

 thi-m extensively was in reducing their cost, which, ic was calculated, could be 

 done at one-hulf the price now attending the raising of them. The cost of 

 baskets, freight and commission could also be much reduced. It was also sug- 

 gested that a drying factory here woUld save a large waste. 



South Haven, Nov. 28, 1874. 



The question for discussion at the last regular meeting of the society wag a 

 continuation of the question of the previous meeting, "Is peach culture over- 

 done?" In a locality like this, which has never missed a crop since the trees 

 first came into bearing, nineteen years ago, and with our unlimited market in 

 every direction, makes its own answer, emphatically no ; and in astonishment 



