2C6 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the new growth. Tho soil is good, — a sandy loam with chiy below, — but part 

 of the land is too low for cherries, but jierhaps is good enough for the Rich- 

 mond ; any soil ought to be, it is believed. Mr. Kanisdell cultivates till Au- 

 gust. Summer pinching to northeast to preserve a balance. Two rows of cur- 

 rants are grown between the cherry rows each way, to be thinned out when they 

 shall become too crowded. These comprise i'lO Victoria, 200 Ked Dutch, and 

 WO Black ]S[a})les currants. Your committee can hardly commend either the 

 selection, situation, or treatment of this orchard as a whole. Our tin\e and 

 limits will not allow us to enlarge farther on the cherry report. But we must 

 notice the great, sound, uninjured trees of some of the sweet cherries. Yellow 

 Spanish and other Bigarreaus, which we found at wide intervals in different 

 parts of the State, measuring from 2 to 4^ feet in circumference and 2o to 40 

 feet in height, and bearing five to ten bushels of fine cherries per annum. Mr. 

 Jos. Wetmore of Allegan county showed us one of those remarkable cherry trees, 

 Avith the remark that ''it has produced more fruit than a si)an of horses could 

 draw.'' It was called a Yellow Spanish, had never been cultivated at all from 

 the time since planted. And we cannot leave unnoticed the face that every 

 cherry tree like the above found by the committee had likewi.se never had cultiva- 

 tion. Hut the fact that we have such cherry trees as the above is a sufficient 

 refutation of the plaint that these best sweet cherries must be given over: it 

 indicates that our cherry trees are killed by culture. The same is true of pear 

 trees. 



A. G. GULLET'S KEPORT OX PEACH OECUAKDS, GARDENS, Etc. 



The first peach orchard that we examined was that of J. G. liamsdell, at 

 Traverse City, 100 trees of Hale's Early, two years old, situated on an east 

 slope, the soil gravel and sand, and the trees 12|xlG feet a})art. The land has 

 liad wheat or clover on it since the trees were planted. They were heavily 

 mulched witli coarse straw at the time of planting. This seemed to give them 

 a more healtliy growth, as another lot near were not mulclied, had a weaker 

 growtli and pale foliage. The mulch retained the moisture and kept the wheat 

 from growing close to the trees. The orchard entered had generally made a 

 fair growth, and was nearly free of borers. It is headed about two and a 

 half feet high. Each fall about one-half of the year's growth is taken off, 

 and the limbs somewhat thinned out. Tiie past year half a bushel of 

 unleached ashes has been applied to each tree. Mr. Ramsdell informed us that 

 JIale's Early does not rot there, and it seemed to do better than farther south. 

 He had tested several varieties, but would not plant anytiiing ripening later 

 than the last of August. Had not yet fruited any of tlie extra early varieties, 

 but thought they would be valuable there. As yet would plant nearly all llale's. 

 The cut-worms are very troublesome, and he protects his trees by tin bands 

 placed around them at the root, the ends hooked together. This orcliard was 

 entered not so nnieli for premium, as to draw the attention of the committee to 

 what can be done with peaciics in that northern country. 



At Old Mission, twenty miles north of Traverse City, we saw Hale's Early in 

 full bearing, but at present very few ])oach trees are ])lanted. Judging from 

 the trees we saw there, and the fruit they exhiljited at the State Fair they have 

 reason to be encouraged, and can probably grow at least all required for the 

 home demand. 



Our next call into peach orchards was at Blackberry Kidge, Oceana county, 



