THE SEPTEMBER PEACH FESTIVAL. 305 



Mr. Gr. W. Toles, from the committee to whom Avas assigned the duty of 

 examiniog and reporting npon the specimens of canned, preserved, and dried 

 fruits, reported that among the number of entries in this department they find 

 a lot of canned fruit exhibited by Mrs. W. H. Gregory, wife of the jolly mem- 

 ber of the Society, who evidently believes in having an abundance of good 

 things on hand vrith which to regale her family and friends. This lot was the 

 largest on exhibition, and several jars were unusually fine. 



Mrs. J. H. Wallace exhibited lour jars of peaches and one of currants, all 

 fine, and among which is one jar of peaches five years old. 



Mrs. E. P. Hare has three jars of peaches, and one of pears, which deserve 

 favorable mention. 



Mrs. S. J. Lockwood, two jars of peaches which the committee consider hard 

 to beat. 



Mrs. I. Tatro, one jar each of peaches, cherries, strawberries, and currants, 

 and two of raspberries, which appeared to be toothsome, yet as they were 

 closely sealed the committee was unable to resolve itself into a tasting com- 

 mittee of the whole to determine their relative merits. 



Mr. H. J. Edgell had eleven varieties of jelly, fine and delicious. 



J. F. Doty one jar of horseradish and one of cucumber pickles, which though 

 not coming especially under the head to which the committee were assigned, 

 they deem capable of giving an excellent relish at table. 



Last, but by no means least, was the collection of canned fruits placed on 

 exhibition by the South Haven Pomological Society, and which is preserved 

 by a process unknown to the committee, but which has caused it to retain in 

 an eminent degree its original texture and color. This fruit, says the commit- 

 tee, is claimed to be delicious to the tase. 



The collection of dried fruits and vegetables exhibited by the Williams 

 Evaporating Company, of South Haven, deserves, in the opinion of the com- 

 mittee, more than a passing notice. The proprietors have been laboring for a 

 long time to perfect an apparatus with which they might be able to extract 

 the moisture from fruit and vegetables without destroying the texture or injur- 

 ing the flavor, and which, though simple in its arrangements, would be practi- 

 cal in its operation. That he has accomplished his purpose, the committee, after 

 a close examination of the apparatus and the resulting products, are ready to 

 verify. The process is simple, yet effective, and the products beautiful, 

 cleanly, and delicious. 



One case containing thirty-four samples of different fruits and vegetables, 

 prepared for the American Pomological Society meeting, at Boston, Mass., has 

 just been forwarded to its destination, and the committee say, if Yankee land 

 can produce anything better or more nearly perfect, they should be glad to 

 read the report and adopt their method. 



BIRDS AND FRUITS. 



Master L. H. Bailey, Jr., of South Haven, read a short essay on birds, into 

 which he had condensed much valuable information as to the habits and food 

 of the common singing birds of this region, and showed how very beneficial 

 they are to the farmer and fruit-raiser in destroying the insect pests that infest 

 their crops. 



Mr. Lannin followed with an essay on the "Effect of Fruit upon the Human 

 Economy," arguing that from the eating of fruit, beginning with the first 

 apple, began the rise and progress of the race towards all knowledge and 

 39 



