DECEMBER MEETING. 257 



Last year there were lifLecii vacancies, wliich -were filled. Now there are five 

 vacancies. The plants look well, and are on good, strong soil, tile drained, 

 similar to that descrihed for his yonng orchards of apples and pears. 



In an older quince orchard of Mr. C. Engle, Paw Paw, was seen a good deal 

 of blight. A few miles north of Allegan we saw four quince bushes twenty 

 years old, wliich have borne full every year for some years. The fruit this year 

 was of excellent quality. 



We have often wondered why the markets of Michigan and surrounding 

 States are not better supplied with (piinccs raised in Michigan. On proper 

 soil, anil in suitable localities, which are abundant enough, quinces are a 

 proli table crop. 



PLAT OF CUERANTS OF I). 'SI. SHOEMAKER, 



Suuth Haven. This consists of one-half acre set three years ago, four by seven 

 feet. Most of these are Victoria, with a few black currants. The Victoria 

 bore some the year they were set out. Last year they bore about 38 bushels, 

 Avhich sold for 81.50 to 82 a case of a Inilf bushel. This year there were over 

 75 busliels, or 152 cases, which brought a dollar a case, after deducting com- 

 mission, freight, and boxes; 'i. e., the owner received 8152 for his labor and 

 the use of half an acre of land. He expects his neighbors and everybody now 

 will go to raising currants, and lose money by so doing. There were a few 

 vacancies and plants broken down at the crotches. The land was a strong clay 

 loam, cultivated by horse till August the tenth. There are a very few borers. 

 The plat looked well, and best of all, it paid so well that the committee were 

 unanimous in placing it in a distinct class for a diploma, although there was 

 no such class named by the executive committee of the Pomological Society. 



ORNAMENTAL GROUNDS, 



Mrs. A. IL Tracy, Old Mission, Grand Traverse county. These grounds contain 

 about half an acre south of the house, next to the road. There is a natural 

 grove in the east of the grounds, which is cleared up for a park. As an east 

 wing to the house is a greenhouse, 12x20 feet. The north part of the green- 

 house is used as a potting room. The whole appears in good proportion as a 

 wing to the house. The greenhouse cost but little, is pleasant in winter, and 

 furnishes a fine opportunity to ])ropagate and to winter plants for use on the 

 grounds in summer. The house was screened with mosquito netting, which 

 worked well. (Jut out of the lawn are numerous beds of graceful shape tastily 

 arranged. These beds have no sharp points which are hard to keep in order, 

 and are worthless for jdants. The beds are planted with choice varieties of 

 many species of ornamental plants. In the green-house or in the beds were 

 seen 12 varieties of Coleus, including the Shah, Queen Chameleon ; 11 varieties 

 of Caladiums, 8 of Passion Flowers, GO of geraniums, including Distinction, 

 Happy Thought, Crown Prince, George Sand, and many other new choice var- 

 ieties; 12 varieties of best new begonias, 4 of selaginellas, 15 of fuchsias, 6 of 

 Thunbergias. There were specimens of the fan-palm, double-flowering jas- 

 mine, ferns, variegated tobacco, i)oniegranate, agapanthus, agaves. A\'e saw 

 70 varieties of verbenas, 30 or 40 of gladioli, 30 of best roses, such as Queen of 

 France, Marshal Niel, Bourbon Queen. Then we saw tritomas, pampas grass, 

 asters, cannas, among them a seedling better than President Favire; we also 

 saw dahlias, and a nice show of seedling verbenas. In the garden we may 

 mention 2,500 choice pansies, from which they were saving seeds, and a plat 

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