404 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Wc should call Monroe the Vineyard City had not some one already styled it 

 the Floral City. She must for aught ^ve can sec, ever be prominent among the 

 sections of our State for the excellence of her grapes. If a man has a good 

 thing he generally knows it. These Monroe people know the value of their 

 grapes. J. C. Sterling enters a vineyard of three acres, Charles Toll another 

 of four or five acres. Vineyards are also entered by Joseph Sedlaczek, Leonard 

 Ileisig, and Joseph licisig. 



Among these vineyards and in others examined, on every variety of grape 

 seen, we found Phylloxera on the roots, and in some cases on the leaves. We 

 do not wish to be too hasty in our notice of tliis insect, but think tliat it is doing 

 considerable damage at Monroe. We examined with mucii interest the entries 

 made by Daniel Ilgenfritz. They consist of a young apple orchard of 1,000 

 trees set two 3'ears, 500 pear trees of same age, 500 quinces. Our final report 

 must be somewhat lengthy in noticing these orchards set by a man who knows 

 how. Here Avere 1,500 trees all set without a single failure. He does not 

 believe that there is any need of losing trees. His apple trees were not killed 

 accidentally (?) by mice or by rabbits the first Avintcr, because he mounded them 

 up well with soil at the base, and above this conical mound he wound and tied 

 on two thicknesses of paper, the outer one of ^^■hich Avas tarred. One tree was 

 left without such protection by accident or design and it was peeled from the 

 roots to the limbs. The mounds of soil and paper wrappings cost about 

 ten dollars. 



We spent considerable time in passing over the nursery of I. E. Ilgenfritz. 

 We called twice at the nursery of Keynolds, Lewis & Co., but the proprietors 

 Avere both absent. We can only say that we found an abundance of good stock, 

 of fruit and ornamental trees and vines. We can only wonder and exclaim 

 ■why do people go to other States to buy trees which arc no better than those 

 near home? Tlie two nurseries Ave examined, one at Kalamazoo and the other 

 at Monroe ha\'e large cellars Avell drained in Avhich they store in autumn an 

 immense stock of trees and other stock for spring trade. They no longer heel 

 in trees in the old fasiiioned Avay over Avinter. No matter Avhat'the winter may 

 be, next spring any man may be sure of getting sound trees at either of these 

 nurseries. 



Over the State among the farmers almost everywhere Ave heard the complaint 

 of tree swindlers, — irresponsible dealers. They are doing a great injury to the 

 people of our State and to the nurseries of our State, and this Avill continue so 

 long as farmers are Avilling to be duped and pay their money to any stranger 

 Avho tells a smooth story. A farmer Avill often pay tiiree or four times the cost 

 of a Concord grape because a stranger tells some great stories about it and 

 shoAVo a picture Avhich represents some nice fruit. AV'e have no axe to grind in 

 this matter, but only to speak a Avord Avhich may first benefit the purchasers of 

 fruit trees in our State, and secondly benefit honest raisers of good stock in our 

 State. If men Avill be swindled after a good Avarning, Ave shall not be to blame. 

 Nine-tentlis of tiiese traveling tree agents are dishonest and irresponsible. Buy 

 only of those men you knoAV, or else send directly to a dealer near by Avho has 

 his reputation to maintain. Granges, farmers' clubs, neighborhoods can club 

 together and send a good man to a nursery and procure good stock at reasona- 

 ble rates. Do not try to beat down and buy stock Avliose only recommend is 

 size or cheapness. More on this important subject at another time. 



S. M. Dorr, near Manchester, called us to see liis thrifty apple orchard, Avhich 

 has done so avcH. 



