270 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



30,000 trees were planted in the vicinity the past year, and all are doing well. 

 One peculiarity noticed here was the forwardness of tlie fruit : every variety was 

 at least ten days earlier than on tlie lake shore, only twenty-five miles west. 



The la-^t entry in this class Ava-^ that of X. E. Smith, at Ionia, situated on a 

 clay soil, elevated 200 feet above the river. There were a good many vacancies, 

 killed by the cold winters. 400 trees were planted 10x16 feet. The winter of 

 "72 and '73 injured the tops of some very much. These he cut back very close 

 the next spring, and now have a good, thrifty top. On most kinds there was a 

 fair crop this year. His market is in Ionia, and the orchard has usually paid 

 well. He did not expect to successfully compete with tlie orchards on the lake 

 shore, but wished to iiave it examined and have any hints or suggestions given 

 that might help him in its future management. It was the only peach orchard 

 examined in the interior of the State, and we think Mr. Smith should be satis- 

 lied with his success. 



FRUIT GARDENS. 



Under the head of fruit gardens the committee examined three entries. The 

 first, S. Cluibb's, at Blackberry Kidge, consisted of Doolittle raspberries and 

 Wilson strawberries, embracing about four acres, the whole grown on tiie hill 

 system. A part of it is in the young peach orchard already described, the rest 

 among plums. This is the first year of the strawberries, but a part of the rasp- 

 berries are in full bearing, yielding this year over 90 bushels. The hills are 

 four and eight feet apart, and it gets the same care as the trees. The princi- 

 pal points in favor of this entry is in fully occupying all the ground until the 

 trees get to bearing, and no doubt a better quality of fruit will be obtained by 

 growing the berries in hills. 



H. E. Bidwell of South Haven entered a fruit garden of 10 acres. First all 

 planted to cherries and plums, 500 of each, 20 by 20 feet apart. Tiiis the 

 second year set. On seven acres there are two rows of raspberries in each space 

 between the rows of trees, and currants and gooseberries on the other three; 

 all these arc to remain five years, Between the rows of trees and rasi)berries 

 are planted several varieties of strawberries, to remain three years. In all the 

 spaces in the rows of trees and between the rows of raspberries, vegetables and 

 cuttings are planted, so the whole ground is occupied, having a row of some- 

 thing about every three and a half feet. The soil is a mucky loam, with clay 

 subsoil, all well underdrained. Of vai'ieties of cherries there are 200 Black 

 Tartarian, 100 each of Gov. Wood and Ivockport Bigarreau, and 50 each of 

 Early Purple Guigne and Louis Phillippe. Of plums, 140 each of Bradshaw 

 and Canada Egg, 100 each of Lombard and Coe's Golden Droj), and 20 of other 

 sorts, all one year old when set and headed at one foot high, and all have grown 

 from three to five feet the past season. He has of raspberries 10 rows each of 

 Herstine, Kirtland, and Brandywinc ; four each of Doolittle and Mammoth 

 Cluster, two of Davison's Thornless, and one Turner. Of currants there are 

 12 rows of Black Naples and six of Victoria. Two rows of Houghton and 

 one of Downing gooseberries. Of strawberries there are six rows each of Col. 

 Cheney, Triomphe de (iand, Seneca Chief, ^lonarch of the West, AVilson, and 

 Centennial, tlie last a seedling of his own. For the list of vegetables we refer 

 you to any seedsman's catalogue. Nearly every variety was rejn-esented there. 

 Everything in this block showed the l)est of care. All cultivation was stopped 

 the first of August. Mr. Bidwell funiislicd me with a statement of the ex- 

 penses and j-eceipts up to the present time, which are as follows : Cost of land, 

 ^750; clearing, fencing, and breaking up, $120; draining, ^142: 1,000 trees 



