WINTER MEETING, 1S77. 2d 



have now stood for four or Jive years, u[)()u the record of the society as its 

 matured conclusion, and its unqualified recomnieudation to the planters of the 

 State. 



This being the condition of affairs, we may very reasonably inriuire liow many 

 of the tliousands wlio have planted orchards in Micliigan during these years, 

 have been, to a considerable extent, induced to follow these lists in their selec- 

 tions for planting. If tliere be any such, tliey certainly have not come within 

 the sphere of our observation. Indeed, so diverse were the views of even the 

 mem hers of the committee whose workmanship we are now considering, that 

 important portions of their linal report were Init a compromise, accepted for 

 the purpose of securing a nnanimous report, and we have reason to seriously 

 doubt whetlier they would be largely followed, even by the members of the 

 committee, in their own })lanting. 



That sncli should be the result of so important and carefully considered au 

 act of the society, may well create surprise, at first thought ; but when wo come 

 to consider the great contrariety of circumstances nnder which planting is done, 

 as well as the diversified tastes and fancies of tlie planters, we will be quite as 

 likely to wonder, rather, that the hope of producing concert of action in this 

 particular, should have been seriously entertained. Indeed, when we consider 

 the great variety of modifying circumstances, such as soils, climates, the 

 special and peculiar objects of planting, and the contrariety of circumstances 

 under which various markets are to be supplied, as well as the greater or less 

 extent to which the wants or fancies of individual consumei's may affect the 

 problem, it may fairly be douhted Avhether anything approaching unanimity of 

 practice ought to be expected; and this will appear the more reasonable if we 

 consider that the insular character of our State so peculiarly and wonderfully 

 modifies its climate, and by its influence upon the problem of transportation 

 constitutes such a multiplicity of special and peculiar requirements, that very 

 few localities of considerable extent can be said to be subject to the same wants, 

 or to require the same set of varieties of fruits for tlieir proper and profitable 

 accommodation. 



Yet anotlier circumstance that may properly have a bearing against the fram- 

 ing and recommending of any list or lists of varieties upon the theory under 

 consideration is the fact that, with the very large number of sorts now in cultiva- 

 tion, no single variety can be named that shall not be liable to the charge that 

 other sorts are at least equally desirable, and possibly for some purposes, even 

 more so ; and certainly no considerable list of varieties can be devised that may 

 not be opposed by another entirely distinct one that shall be, at least in some 

 important particulars, fully its equal if not even its superior. This will be found 

 to be in a very special sense true of lists devised for other than simply market 

 purposes. 



Assuming then that the recommending of lists of varieties for general culti- 

 vation has failed to accomplish the anticipated results as fully as had been 

 hoped, we next come to consider in what way the society may be able to modify 

 its action so as to more perfectly conduce to the desired object, — that of the 

 encouraging of useful and valuable varieties of fruits to the exclusion of the 

 unworthy or worthless ones. 



Most of the leading societies of the day seem to have pursued a course akin 

 to that adopted by ourselves ; although we are not sure that all have not ere 

 this modified their modes of operation. Those familiar with horticultural his- 

 tory will be able to recall the fact that such was the original plan of the national 



