172 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



peninsula. The effect of the severe cold of last winter is quite plainly indi- 

 cated by the want of some of the tender varieties of fruit in some of these col- 

 lections. Wayne and Clinton exhibit fine collections of apples and pears, and 

 some fine specimens of grapes, but no peaches or plums; while Van Buren and 

 Grand Traverse counties, in addition to a fine display of apples and pears, were 

 also able to show fine collections of peaches, plums, and grapes. Wayne county 

 presented the best arranged, the most accurately named, and the largest col- 

 lection of apples, and the excellence of the several varieties were not inferior 

 to any of the others. The apples in this collection were selected from the 

 orchard of John W. Humphrey, Esq., of Plymouth. This orchard was planted 

 "by T. T. Lyon, Esq., during the years between 1847 and 1852, and comprises 

 one of the most extensive collections of varieties of any orchard in the State. 



Clinton county presented the next largest collection of apples, equal perhaps 

 in excellence with Wayne as far as the varieties extended, but not so well 

 arranged or so accurately named. 



Van Buren county presented the largest display of peaches and pears, and 

 Grand Traverse county the best collection of plums and grapes. The Eaton 

 <3ounty collections had only apples and pears that merit notice, and of these 

 the apples seemed to have been selected more with reference to size than excel- 

 lence. In this connection we aeem it proper to caution exhibitors against this 

 too common error. Apples may be too large as well as too small. It is not the 

 largest but the best that merits an award. In selecting the best, perfection of 

 form and color, fairness of skin, freedom from worms, and all other visible 

 defects should be considered as well as the size. 



In determining the best collection of fruit we deemed that superior and 

 numerous specimens of a large variety of commercial fruits should have greater 

 weight than equally good, but more numerous specimens of one or two 

 varieties. 



With this view we consider Van Buren county entitled to the first premium, 

 Grand Traverse to th^ second, Wayne to the third, Clinton to the fourth, and 

 Eaton to the fifth, and have so awarded. 



But while we feel justified under the present system in making this award, 

 we deem the practice of awarding premiums for the best county collection of 

 fruit unjust to the eastern and interior portions of the State. Those counties 

 favored with the softening influences of Lake Michigan can raise with profit a 

 large number of the tender varieties which cannot be grown generally, or with 

 success, in other counties not so favored, while they stand an equal chance in 

 the cultivation of the more hardy varieties. We would therefore recommend 

 that hereafter the premium list be so changed that counties may be allowed to 

 compete with those varieties of commercial fruits which they are able to raise 

 with profit. As it now stands the county showing the best general collection 

 gets $100; second, $60; third, $40; fourth, $30, and fifth $20,— making in all 

 $250. In place of this we would suggest the following: A first and second 

 premium for best county collections of apples; same for best county collections 

 of pears; same for best county collections of peaches; same for best countj 

 collections of plums, and the same for the best county collections of grapes, — 

 in all not to exceed $200. 



At present exhibitors are allowed to show fruits out of season, in compe- 

 tition, prepared in any manner that will save their form and color. Under this 

 provision Van Buren county presented many varieties preserved in jars, by a 

 process which is kept a secret by those who preserved them. As the great 



