78 STATE rOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



and sleep hard in order to behold. Certauily let the board be spread and the 

 bed be dressed for the traveler ; but let tlie emphasis of hospitality not be in 

 these things. Honor to the lionse where they eat simple to the verge of hard- 

 ship, so that the inti'llect is awake, sees the laws of the universe, the soul wor- 

 ships truth, and love, honor and courtesy ilow iu all deeds."' 



The state of our finances renders it very easy to comply with part of this 

 advice, and we will make a strong effort to mix in enough courtesy and hospi- 

 tality to reassure you of your welcome presence. 



Kecalling the fact that our State is one of tlie prominent fruit raising States 

 of the Union, that it is specially favored in its location ; surrounded as it is by 

 the great lakes, whose modifying inlluences enable us to raise all the fruits 

 knov.-n to this latitude, whose broad surface furnishes us, in its easy swinging 

 motion, a transportation unequaled, and wliose cooling waters preserve and 

 give a freshness which far exceeds any refrigerator yet invented ; besides, 

 connecting us with the numerous large cities on their shores, which in turn are 

 the distributing otlices of a vast amount of now fruit-producing territory. 



Eecognizing your society with its branches as the exponents of this great 

 interest ; that its development has been and will continue to be largely due to 

 your efforts, and, feeling that here on the shores of one of these grand old 

 lakes we enjoy a liberal share of Michigan's favored advantages, wc welcome 

 you. 



"We are sensible that nature has been exceedingly kind in giving us every de- 

 sirable variety of soil, and in surrounding us with climatic influences which 

 enable us to produce abundantly, and of the linest quality, all of these fruits, 

 and of unlimited markets of such easy access as to place them in the great 

 marts of the northwest in a mature state and most perfect condition. 



With these many natural and important advantages we are glad to have you 

 come among us ; we need your knowledge and experience that we may learn 

 more efficiently to wisely utilize these natural advantages ; in the choice of soil 

 for certain kinds of fruit, in the proper drainage and preparation of the 

 ground, in selecting the best varieties for home and market, that we may plant 

 and cultivate to the best advantage, that wc may prune to give air and sunlight, 

 and the 2:i'eatest convenience in gatliering, that we mav so thin our fruit of all 

 kinds as to give length of days to our trees, larger and more perfect fruit to 

 our customers. 



That we may distinguish tlie birds that will destroy more insects tlian fruit, 

 and resort to such other means as will prevent the vast army of insects, beetles, 

 borers, codling moths, etc., from contiscating our fruits and trees too freely; 

 that we may have such a succession of fruit as will last through the season. 

 Control tlie bearing of our orchards so as to have yearly crops ; and, so improve 

 our drying and canning as to round out tlio year with a never failing supply of 

 what is becoming more and more a necessity, agreeable to the taste, good for 

 food, counteracting the malarious influences of climate, and thus essential to 

 health. 



That we may learn some simple and cheap method of irrigation to bridge us 

 over our occasional drouths, that we may investigate the potent influence of 

 our forest trees, whose rapid destruction seems to carry with it some of the 

 essential requisites of raising many of the tcnderest and most delicious fruits; 

 that we may preserve tlie fertility of our soil l)y adding those ingredients which 

 the tree and fruit subtract; in a word that we may so multiply our knowl- 

 edge in all the numerous and varied departments of fruit culture, that when 



