20 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



Whereas, It has come to our knowledge that it is the practice of many fruitgrowers 

 to spray their trees when in full bloom, which we believe to be a waste of time and 

 material, and as great loss has resulted to the bee keepers by this practice; and as we 

 recognize in the bee one of the fruitgrowers' best friends and colaborers; therefore 



Resolved, That we request the legislature now in session to pass bill No. 68, file No. 

 3, entitled a bill to protect bees from poison, etc. 



Resolved, That we ask for the continuation of the weather bureau and forestry 

 commission. 



Resolved, That the Michigan State Horticultural society endorse the classification 

 proposed by the committee of the Peninsula (Del.) Horticultural society, for depart- 

 ment B (Horticulture) of the Columbian Exposition, the same being practically an 

 amplification of that proposed by the schedule committee of this society. 



Resolved, That the secretary be instructed to notify the Peninsula society of this 

 action, and also request the Michigan members of the national commission to urge its 

 acceptance by the commission. 



L. B. Rice, 

 H. Bird, Jr., 

 E. W. Allis, 

 C. J. Monroe, 



Committee. 



DECLINE OF APPLE ORCHARDS. 



« 



A remark by Mr. E. W. Allis of Adrian, that he had read that 100 

 barrels of pears would take from soil as much nutriment as 100 barrels of 

 wheat, caused a brief discussion as to the decline of apple orchards. 



Mr. Watkins expressed an opinion that apple orchards are not specially 

 exhaustive to the soil, citing cases of extreme longevity and fruitfulness 

 among apple trees in New Hampshire. 



President Lyon had heard of old Indian orchards, fruitful despite their 

 old age, and said he thought the infertility of apple trees is due more to 

 starvation than any other one cause, though the manner of propagation 

 very likely has much to do with it. But such instances show that where 

 even the natural processes of fertilization of the soil occur, the trees keep on 

 bearing. In some such cases, however, the trees may be on soil incapable 

 of exhaustion for some reason. But, as a rule, too much cropping of the 

 land causes the trouble. 



Mr. Rice: Often the premature decay of apple orchards is due to imper- 

 fect drainage and cold, wet subsoil. It is so in parts of my county. 



Mr. Bird: I have read that much of the trouble is due to the practice of 

 grafting upon pieces of roots. 



FINAL TOPICS. 



Mr. Rice: A friend has asked me to request that writers upon new 

 fruits shall state the kind of soil upon which they have succeeded. 

 My Manchester strawberries are excellent upon heavy soil, but near by, 

 on light soil, they amount to nothing. 



Replying to a question. Prof. Taft said he believed the copper solution 

 (except eau celeste) had sufficient strength of poison to kill insects which 



