TPIE JANUARY MEETING. %53' 



THE YELLOWS. 



This terrible malady of the peach was the subject of extended comment. Mr.. 

 Bidwell had prepared an elaborate report on the subject which was not read, 

 but was referred to a standing committee to report at the Battle Creek meet- 

 ing, and on motion Prof. Kedzie was made chairman of the committee. 



On motion of Mr. Nowlen, Benton Harbor, the subject was discussed and 

 Mr. Bidwell was called to the floor. He gave an exhibition of several peach 

 boughs which had this disease. He thought that all the yellows in Michigan 

 could be cured in two years by digging up the trees afflicted with the disease.. 

 He was of the opinion that the disease was brought into the State first from 

 New Jersey. 



The Secretary said that Solon Robinson stated, when at the Grand Rapids 

 fair, that the only remedy was to dig up the tree, and burn it root and branch.. 



Mr. Bidwell, continuing, said that he considered that there was no hope for 

 a tree that had been attacked by the yellows. In answer to a question, he said 

 that the disease was spread by bees depositing the pollen of a diseased tree on 

 the flower of a healthy one. Thence it spreads into the sap of the tree.. 

 He was satisfied that, if the matter was allowed to go unchecked, in 

 a few years it would be impossible to raise peaches in Michigan. In 

 his town (South Haven) a committee have been appointed to go through 

 the orchards and take summary measures to remove every diseased tree. He 

 hoped that every town would appoint a committee to watch the trees- 

 and remove every one afiected. No varieties, not even the almond, were free 

 from this disease. 



Mr. Nowlen, of Benton Harbor, gave a brief history of the first appearance 

 and the progress of the disease at that place. He said that seven years ago the 

 disease was first discovered in Benton Harbor. It then spread rapidly. Where- 

 one tree was afiected one year, five or six would be afibcted the next. In late 

 years it has not been so bad. He concluded that the disease was epidemic in 

 its nature. He advised any one who detected it in their orchards to root up' 

 the trees at once. He experimented three weeks last season, and found that 

 pouring hot water in the crotches of the trees, and letting it run down the 

 sides, was an excellent remedy. Slitting the trees had been tried by some, but 

 he had seen no effects good or bad from the practice. His remarks were of a 

 very encouraging nature, and were very acceptable and well received. 



WHAT CONSTITUTES A COUNTY COLLECTION OF FKUIT. 



At a previous meeting, it was voted that all kinds of fruit, dried, canned,- 

 preserved and pickled, should be admitted to a county collection of fruit. 



Mr. C. J. Dietrich moved to reconsider this. He thought a county collection 

 should consist of fresh fruits. 



Mr. Lyon coincided with this view ; at least he believed that the kinds of 

 fruit to be included in a county collection should be defined, so that exhibitors 

 should know with what they had to compete. 



Dr Shank and Mr. ^^uller contended that a county collection should embrace- 

 all the fruits of a county, dried as well as fresh. A county collection should 

 illustrate the fruit industry of the county. The motion to reconsider prevailed,, 

 and the matter was referred to the executive committee. 



