THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 67 



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same is true of the backsets in the culture of peaches. The man who will 

 be successful in growing fruit in the future will have to abandon the crude 

 culture that was effective in the earlier years. He must be thoroughly 

 acquainted with every aspect of the work before him, always searchmg 

 for improved methods, having good judgment, and having a love for the work. 

 To men of this stamp, the past fifty years of Michigan fruit culture, have 

 been almost an unbroken record of successes, in which the four or five partial 

 failures, due to the discouragements that I have mentioned, only make the 

 successes stand out more prominently. 



Since the evidence clearly shows -that the successes in Michigan peach 

 culture during the past fifty years have greatly outnumbered and out- 

 weighed the discouragements, I see no reason why we should not be very 

 optimistic for the future, even in the face of such a crushing blow as that 

 of last October. We have natural advantages of soil, climate, and nearness 

 to market, such as no other great peach region possesses. I am convinced 

 that these advantages will enable us not only to retrieve our fortunes in the 

 peach industry, but also to advance it beyond the highest point that it has 

 ever reached in the successes and discouragements of the past fifty years. 



PLUMS FOR PROFIT. 



(O. K. WHITE, HART.) 



In growing plums for profit there are three principal lines of operation 

 which the grower must follow: 1st. Selection of varieties; 2nd, culture and 

 care; and 3rd, harvesting and marketing. Each must be carefully and 

 thoroughly done if the grower is to attain any degree of success. 



In discussing the first problem, the selection of varieties, I want to em- 

 phasize that it is a difficult one and an important one. I am almost tempted 

 to say the most important one. Many things are to be considered. In the 

 selection of varieties we must take in consideration market demands, shipping 

 quality, vigor, productivity, resistence to rot and a succession of varieties. 



In Oceana county, the principal outlets for our plum crop are the wholesale 

 commission markets of Chicago and Milwaukee. These markets prefer 

 a large blue plum, which is attractive and of good quality, a plum that can 

 be left upon the tree until it has reached its fullsize and color, is fully ripe 

 and still will reach the market in prime condition for dessert or canning 

 purposes. The grower demands varieties that bear annually for his orchard 

 must afford an annual income. In this respect plums are more constant 

 than peaches or apples and hence a desirable fruit to grow. Most varieties 

 of plums, when well cared for give yearly crops. The Washington, Satsuma, 

 and Quackenboss are quite apt to be shy bearers every other year. The 

 Lombard is a variety which goes to the other extreme and overbears very 

 frequently. 



The grower also demands plums which ship well. Most of the Japanese 

 plums have thin, tender skins and are so juicy that they soon spoil after 

 reaching the ripened stage. The Red June which ripens with the earliest 

 plums is quite firm however, it bears^well, sells well but is not a vigorous 

 grower. The Hale and October Purple are excellent plums except for their 



