^ STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



hindrances and by ]tnrsiiing a course of thinning tlie fruit upon our 

 trees and giving them the humus and nitrogen furnished by cover crops, 

 together with the intensive methods of culture which have been found 

 necessary to produce good crops of any thing. We are now enabled to 

 l)roduce the best fruits and the largest yields of any section of the 

 country in Michigan. For these reasons more than any other we feel 

 greatly indebted to you gentlemen and desire to manifest our thanks 

 by giving to you all the possible courtesies and hospitalities at our com- 

 mand. 



In conclusion, gentlemen, rest assured that not only Ludington but 

 ^Mason count}^ welcomes you most heartily to our city, our only regret 

 being that we shall not be able to give you as valuable aid in your voca- 

 tions as we will doubtless receive from your deliberations. 



President Farrand — The first number on the program is "Thirty-five 

 Years of Fruit Growing in Mason County," by Mr. Smith Hawley, of 

 this city. 



THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OP FRUIT GROWING IN MASON COUNTY. 



SMITH HAAVLEY^ LUDINGTON, MICH. 



Before I take up the topic assigiied me, I would like to say a few 

 Avords to the good people of Ludington and Mason county, especially the 

 fruit growers, and I would like that outsiders close their ears to all 

 that I am going to say. It is this : I Avish to say, as president of the 

 Mason County Horticultural Society, that it is expected that every fruit 

 groAver in the county Avho is present here at this meeting Avill extend 

 to our visiting delegates every courtesy and every favor in their power. 

 Show them that we knoAV what true hospitality is. Extend to them the 

 right hand of fellowship. I know that farmers are generally diffident 

 about forcing themselves ahead in such matters as this, but we must 

 forget ourselves in this respect. Become acquainted with our visitors 

 and show them that we really appreciate this meeting that has been 

 brought here. 



Mr. Chairman— This period of time covers practically all of the time 

 that has any relation to fruit growing in this county, for up to a period 

 beginning thirty-five years ago there Avas no fruit grown in this county 

 except in a very fcAV scattering apple orchards planted b}^ the early 

 settlers. My own first apple orchard was set just thirty-five years ago 

 and is noAV just in its prime and good for at least thirty-five jears more. 

 Other settlers on ncAV lands at about the same time began setting out 

 orchards, but Ave nearly all made the same mistake — Ave set our orchards 

 solely with the vieAV of supplying home needs and of having a few to 

 sell in the local market — and, as a consequence of this idea of the pos- 

 sibilities of an orchard Ave set too many varieties, as Ave at that time 

 knew nothing about shipping fruits to other markets. Of course, we 

 had no thought of a commercial orchard, nor took a thought as to what 

 to set that would sell best in other markets. This plan of setting too 



