188 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EEVIEW OF PAST MEETINGS. 



Two meetings a month were planned for the winter months to be held at dif- 

 ferent places, which plan was mostly carried out. The summer being an unusual 

 busy one few meetings were held. 



Two subjects have been of unusual interest. One the lime and sulphur spray. 

 Whether to use it for a summer spray on apples in place of Bordeaux or not, 

 and whether to buy the commercial article or use the home made concentrated. 



The growers here were fortunate in having Prof. Hammer and Scott, of the 

 U. S. Government Entomological Laboratory which was located at Douglas, with 

 them and who did experimental work in several orchards. Prof. Hammer's 

 work with the codling moth and the information given the growers from time to 

 time when to spray to do the most effective work undoubtedly helped in pro- 

 ducing the large crop of fine apples which were grown in the Fennville district 

 this year. It was demonstrated that the weather or other conditions bring out 

 the codling moth at different periods and that the date established to spray for 

 them cannot be depended upon to do the most effective work. The experiences 

 of the past year would go to show that it would pay the growers to have an 

 entomologist on the ground, that the saving in fruit, labor and spray material, 

 when the spraying was done at the proper time would more than pay the salary 

 of a man to study the conditions not only of the codling moth, but other things 

 and enable the grower to get this information quick. 



The work of Prof. Scott in experimental spraying of both peach and apple, the 

 sprays used and the methods employed was a help in preparing the sprays and a 

 saving in their application. Unusual interest has been shown this year in the 

 summer spraying of apples with lime and sulphur. A fine crop of clean apples 

 attested to the efficiency of the concentrated lime and sulphur and arsenate of 

 lead. There is a growing interest in the home made article, both from the 

 results of its use and the economy in making it. Every experiment carried on 

 in orchards of members of the Society by Prof Scott showed the best results 

 from the home made concentrated. Experiment made showed better results and 

 a saving in material when made to test 28 to 30 Beaume rather than 33. The 

 fruit grower can make his own concentrated lime and sulphur during the late 

 winter or wet times in early spring and have a supply on hand when needed 

 which often times proves a most profitable investment. It is not difficult to make 

 and the cost can be easily computed. 125 pounds sulphur and 65 pounds lime 

 will make 50 gallons of the concentrated which will make 400 gallons or more 

 of spray for winter spraying that will kill the San Jose scale. One important 

 thing is to get good lime. Lime high in magnesia will not make a good article. 

 Fortunately we have in Michigan a good lime that is very low in magnesia. 

 This lime analyzed over 96 per cent calcium oxide and less than .01% of mag- 

 nesia. This lime is manufactured by the Northern Lime Company of Grand 

 Rapids. 



More members of our Society are planning to make their own lime and sulphur 

 this year than before, and many not making are having it made for them by local 

 plants. "Where a grower has put up a plant and made for his neighbors it has 

 proven a very satisfactory and economic arrangement. 



Another subject which has been taken up by the Society and which proved to be 

 a popular movement, interest in which has been growing ever since, is the 

 marketing of our fruits. During the fall there was very little activity in the 

 apple market around Fennville. Whether it was a concerted action of the buyers 

 or not it was very evident there was an understanding among them in regard to 

 prices. They reported a very large crop throughout the country, much higher 

 than the government crop report did. The price offered when any offer was 

 made, was very low, around $1.50 per barrel for No. 1 apples. The Society 

 called a meeting of the apple growers, buyers and commission men interested 

 to tallc over the situation. A large attendance was had, buyers and commission 

 men coming from a distance. It was evident before the meeting had proceeded 

 far that there was nothing to be gained. The buyers stated there was a large 

 crop of apples and prices would be low; that apples could be bought in other 

 sections at very low prices. It developed upon inquiry that the. buyers had 

 secured most of the cold storage available. This was not to the liking of the 

 growers and another meeting of the growers only was called at which it was 

 decided not to take less than $2.50 per barrel for No. 1 apples. 



A committee was appointed to look up cold storage which was done, but the 



