THE SEOKETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 401 



at four years after setting bore plums which brought filO a tree. Various kinds 

 of raspberries, strawberries, and bhickborries seem to be at liome and thrive to 

 an extent surprising to all of us. In Oceana county, other ])laces were visited, 

 among which were those of C. A. Sessions, Wm. Sours, II. E. Kussel, Wm. F. 

 Lake, C. W. Jay, J. H. Samnions, and others. Mr. Jay has 2,000 peach trees. 



JJown on the lake shore, at Little Point An Sauble, on a hill sixty-five to 

 eighty feet above the water, and sloping to receive the unbroken winds from the 

 west, was a peach orchard of 125 trees which had been set five years. The soil 

 Avas nothing extra and the trees had not made a large growth. They were 

 remarkably sound, though there had been some killed by the borers. Not a 

 tree was injured by either of our recent severe cold winters, after each of which 

 we were assured by several witnesses that all the trees bore a full crop of nice 

 fruit. Most of the fruit trees in the county are young, but enougii has been 

 done to convince the residents that most of our fruits will thrive there and 

 produce large crops. They are setting out large orchards. The favorite 

 peaches are generally Hale's Early, which does not rot as in most other places, 

 and Barnard. Most other standard varieties we saw there, but all of them are 

 rather shy bearers. No one understands the cause of this. We were shown 

 some fruit of the Alexander Peach, which is very handsome and earlier 

 than Hale's. 



We saw several Bigarreau cherry trees set nineteen years ago, which were 

 sound and healthy and fruitful. One we measured girted in the smallest place 

 four feet. 



In this new country we heard almost a universal wail against tree-agents, who 

 had swindled them outrageously. The safest and best way for them to do is to 

 send one of their own number to some of our best home nurseries to select and 

 purchase their stock. A full report will be made of these orchards at our 

 December meeting in Grand Papids. 



CRANBERRIES— SOILS COLLECTED FROM ORCHARDS— GRAPES FOR 

 THE FAIR— SOUTH HAVEN— ST. JOSEPH— THE YELLOWS— LONG- 

 ARMED GRAPES. 



Something new in the line of entries was made this year by Mr. Keed, of 

 Eobinson, Ottawa county. This consisted in a small piece of cranberries 

 planted several years ago. Enougli has been done to demonstrate success if 

 proper labor is given. There are several acres of marsh of the same quality as 

 that reclaimed. The marsh is drained partially, and covered with muck not 

 over a foot thick. A deep plow will turn up an abundance of sand, which is 

 just the thing for cranberries. The soil now in some places raises good corn, 

 potatoes, timothy, red clover, and many other crops. In other portions of our 

 State, as at Walton, are marshes Avhich are suitable for cultivating cranber- 

 ries. No one in these times can go on and coin money from cranberries with- 

 out thorough work and study. We hope to see this subject more thoroughly 

 investigated in our State. 



In many portions of our State the fruit-growers are going to send specimens 

 to the coming State Fair. So they talk. We hope to see sharp competition in 

 all fruits. On account of visiting vineyards before grapes are mature, the com- 



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