WINTER MEETING. 127 



year? These were discussed somewhat at random and pretty much 

 altogether. Mr. Durand said it costs 2 cents to evaporate ; that 

 he is holding four cars for a favorable offer. Has been offered 

 5 1-4 cents, but is indisposed to sell. Thinks it pays to bleach, for 

 the reason that the fruit brings double that of the unbleached. He 

 uses a kiln. The general sentiment of the meeting evidently favored 

 the idea that there was very little money in evaporating, and even then 

 only to the man who is so located as to get all the fruit he can use, and 

 is well fixed to run from the first to the last of the season, and is in a 

 measure able to hold for a market and command a profitable price. 



The best season to plant fruit trees was another question. Answer : 

 Stone fruit in the spring, others in the fall. In this connection much 

 was said as to how to prepare the ground so as to insure drainage ; 

 the depth to plant trees ; how to avoid sagging or bending over, etc. 

 The general sentiment seemed to be to plant about the same depth as 

 in the nursery. Many instances were enumerated where trees had 

 been planted too deep, and whole orchards failed to grow in conse- 

 quence. The roots should have ample room, the earth be well packed 

 in about and around them, and if, by the rains of winter and spring, the 

 newly-made soil sunk below the crown, it should be replenished to 

 that point. 



What is the best apple to plant in an orchard of Ben Davis trees 

 to so fertilize them ac to give a higher color and better quality ? An- 

 wer : It cannot be done. The Ben Davis of itself does better in some 

 soils than in others, and this is the point to look after. 



On Thursday morning "reports of local societies" was the first 

 order of business, and several reported. Here, this writer wishes to 

 say, is a weak point in the State organization. Every local society 

 ought to feel its bounden duty to itself, its locality, its orchardists 

 and fruitgrowers generally, to prepare in the best and most thorough 

 manner a report of its own doings during the year, the condition of its 

 own orchards, vineyards and berry fields ; the success or failure of the 

 efforts of its members and the cause or causes thereof, and generally 

 give such information as subordinate foremen are expected to give to 

 a general manager of a great entetprise. There are a great many of 

 these local societies in the State, and if each were to report once a 

 year in this way to the parent society and a whole day given to their 

 discussion, the time would be spent to excellent advantage, a more 

 comprehensive view of the State situation be obtained, the several 

 counties would profit by the advertising it would give them, and the 

 Society's annual report give to us at home, and especially to men at a 

 distance seeking homes and new locations, a much better idea of the 



