120 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



\indei' my obsevvatioii, and the owner was exceedingly desirous of saving them 

 during a drouth. They were given a pretty good sprinkling every night. Tliey 

 seemed to do no better under this treatment, and I investigated them, finding 

 that they had been expending their energies in throwing out roots into this 

 surface-soil to drink up tlie water, only to luive the roots themselves destroyed 

 by tlic briglit noonday sun. Watering must be thorougli, or it is worthless. 

 A good way to water a flower bed is to set single lengths of tile here and 

 there perpendicular to the surface, and ))our the water into them, to be distrib- 

 uted where it will do the most good. I transplant thousands of small plants 

 cacli year, and rarely have any faihircs, and still never wait an hour for a rainy or 

 cloudy sky. My labor is such that the plants must be planted during the warmest 

 part of the afternoon. In putting out strawberry plants, cabbages, cauliflowers, 

 tomatoes, or anything else, I pursue the same method: One hand digs small 

 holes, another follows putting in a little water, and others fiiiisli by setting the 

 plants in tlie water and mud, drawing dry eartli around the surface. It is a 

 Ysry rapid and successful process. 



Mr. Anderson. — I can bear testimony upon this method, it is the very best. 

 I always employ it in my garden and never have a failure, as my garden will 

 bear witness. 



M. Hulbert. — Another reason against -watering on the surface is that evapora- 

 tion is a cooling process, and by putting the water on top of the ground the 

 plants are subjected to violent changes from heat to cold and heat again. Con- 

 siderable lias been said about our drv sand. We have not enough sand here. 

 In fact, from personal experience, I know that sand will stand drouth better 

 than clay. 



COMMITTEE REPORTS. 



The following are some of the reports of committees that were given just pre- 

 vious to adjournment : 



FRUIT PACKAGES. 



Your committee on fruit packages have taken a good look at those on exhi- 

 bition, and have the jjleasurc of re})orting that we found four styles of peach 

 baskets from the South Haven factory which seem admirably fitted for the 

 purpose intended, and the berry boxes seem to be well suited to the trade. "We 

 have no criticism to make bevond recommending them for use. 

 Respectfullv submitted. 



A. B. GULLEY, 

 A. DYCKMAN. 



The committee to supplement the report already made on fruit, submitted 

 as follows on 



APPLES. 



Your committee find seven varieties of apples of 187G, presented by L. L. 

 Lance, of Ganges, Michigan. Among these a plate of Baldwins that are very 

 fine, a plate of lied Cheek pippins, one of Khode Island Greening, and speci- 

 mens of Northern Spy and a sweet apple, all of which were in a fine state of 

 preservation. They were kept in an open bin in a cellar, the cellar being venti- 

 lated in cold weather and closed when warm. 



J. N. STEARNS, 

 A. G. GULLEY. 



