FRUIT GROWING AT SOUTH IIxlVEN. 131 



remainder home for summer use. In the spring, after sugar-making, tliey 

 planted small patches of corn in the open places, called squaw-corn by the 

 whites, because they did the Avork; this was ready for harvest when they 

 returned for their winter hunting. But I have heard that we were losing our 

 greatness in the destruction of our forests. We can gain greater supremacy in 

 replacing them with thrifty orchards and smiling vineyards, producing abund- 

 ant fruit instead of forest leaves, and what is measurably true concerning 

 South Haven, is remarkably true concerning all of Van Buren and a portion of 

 Allegan county. Van Buren County to-day stands first in market from the 

 superior excellence of her vegetables, grain, and fruits. Van Buren County 

 potatoes, wheat, and apples, command the very highest price; this is due to 

 the superiority of her soil, the uniformity of her climate, and her good market- 

 ing facilities. We are justly proud of our present position ; we are even more 

 proud of our future prospects. The extent of our original forests foreshadow 

 what may be the future greatness of our orchards ; formerly nearly every acre 

 was covered with dense timber, showing its adaptability to grow fruit trees. 

 The facts are more convincing: let me cite you to the thrifty young orchards 

 springing up in the new clearings of the northern and western portion of the 

 county to show the willingness of our soil and climate to grow trees, and the 

 luxuriant old orchards in the eastern and southern portions for their ability to 

 maintain them ; add to them superior cultivation, which will follow through 

 the influence of the South Haven and State Pomological Societies, then will 

 our orchards remain a lasting benefit to us and our posterity. As an evidence 

 of the beneficial influences of our Pomological Society I might mention that 

 our orchards have improved one hundred fold in the two years of its successful 

 operation; our members have steadily increased ; in truth our anticipations are 

 more than realized. Who among us one year ago could have thought that in 

 two weeks last fall we could have built a tine Gothic Pomological Hall forty- 

 four by one hundred feet r Imagine, who can, what lies in the glorious future. 

 But we are not alone to enjoy the fruits of our labor. The recent discovery of the 

 " Williams process" of preserving fruit by one of our co-laborers, opens a 

 world-wide market for the unlimited production of the whole State. The pro- 

 cess simply consists in removing the water, which is returned in soaking when 

 needed for use; fruit preserved by this process is equal to fresh fruit for all 

 culinary purposes. Our choicest fruits dried by this process is equal to the 

 finest imported. The nurseryman, and in turn the fruit grower, is benefited 

 by this use of superior fruit, as it furnishes the means of collecting superior 

 fruit tree seed, by which the health and vigor of our orchards can be 

 increased. 



There is a known difierence in the thrift of seedling trees which comes from 

 the difference of the seed itself. Let us a moment carefully consider how this 

 is produced. Place peach, pear or apple seed in the best of soil, which should 

 include sand, gravel and clay loam mixed to contain all vegetable and mineral 

 ingredients, — if lacking, supply the deficiency, — giving ample ventilation above, 

 and complete drainage below. Give to them our most uniform tempered cli- 

 mate, agreeable to their vital temperament, in which to make their most per- 

 fect growth, an average summer temperature of seventy degrees for the apple, 

 seventy-five degrees for the pear, and eighty degrees for the peach ; these can 

 all be found in suitable soils and exposures. The less the extremes the better; 

 these can be lessened by mulch and wind-breaks. Give, also, due light and 

 sufficient moisture ; increase the strength and vitality of the seedlings by 



16 



