2 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



siastic over this subject of fruit growing as many seem to be. Indeed I have 

 sometimes thought itquite possible to give the business more puOing, and ' bugle- 

 blowing' than it would stand, and that facts even might be stated in such a 

 way as to give tlic 'uninitiated' entirely too high an opinion of the beauties 

 and i»rolits of the occupation, and perliaps any facts or statements which I 

 ^vould give might appear a little tame by the side of some rather more highly 

 colored })ictures drawn by other pens. Would be glad to meet with the Society 

 at Pontiac in February, but don't think I shall be able to. Our fruit prospect 

 in this locality thus far is good. Buds appear to be uninjured. Three degrees 

 below zero is the coldest we have liad this winter, and that only for a short 

 time. Have had a great deal of snow, which commenced falling before the 

 ground was frozen much, so the roots have been well protected. For several 

 days past it has been thawing considerably, with some rain, which has takeu 

 off much of the snow. It is hard telling what kind of weather we may have next, 

 but if it continues favorable, and fruit buds remain itninjured until spring, 

 there will be a great many trees set out in this vicinity, as the good yield of last 

 year, and the remunerative prices obtained, especially for peaches, have set very 

 manv to thinking about setting out more of that, as well as of other kinds of 

 fruit." 



The following letter was also read from Little Prairie Ilonde, Cass county : 



Charles W. Garfield, Secretary: 



Dear Sir, — Your letter informing me of my appointment as Vice President 

 is at hand. I accept the position and will endeavor to perform the duties to 

 the best of my ability. I shall not be able to attend the meeting in Pontiac, and 

 send tliis in my place. We have thus far had an unusual winter; steady, cold 

 weather and deep snows all through the month of December, and, with one or 

 two days excepted, the same for January. For the past six weeks the snow has 

 averaged more than two feet in doptli, although it has l)een constantly settling, 

 the waste being made good with almost daily additions. The mercury has 

 ranged from 10° above to G° below zero, with no extremes. What the effect 

 may be on our fruit trees can better be told after a few days warmer weather. 



Although our county borders on the great fruit county of the State, Van 

 Buren, there are very few men in it that take much interest in tlie development 

 of its fruit capabilities. The apple is about the only fruit tree that can be 

 relied on for profitable cultivation generally throughout our county, and that 

 was subjected to fearful ravages by the cold winters of the past few years. Our 

 peach trees are gone, except a few sickly remnants on high points. Tlie pear 

 tr ees are fast following the peach ; they flourish well for a few years, but soon 

 a^ter commencing to bear, are killed by blight. All locations, and kinds of 

 culture, and varieties, seem to fare alike. I do not know of a good, thrifty 

 pear orchard in which the trees have generally stood well for ten years in our 

 county ; still wc have isolated cases where trees have flourished and borne good 

 crops of fine fruit year after year for a score or more of years. 



I will not let this ojiportunity pass without saying a good word for the Early 

 Eichmond cherry. It proves a succe.--s witli us, and is the only cherry among a 

 dozen varieties worth propagating. 



With the best wislies for the success of our society, I remain. 



Yours truly, B. G. Bl'el, 



W. W. Tracy, Old Mission, Grand Traverse county, wrote : 



