REPORTS OF DISTRICT AND LOCAL SOCIETIES. 503 



ent varieties, and cared less, so long as he made the sale. I would lay considerable 

 stress on peddlers, for there are many who recommend such varieties for general plant- 

 ing as the Foster, Susquehanna, and Wonderful, which are perfectly worthless in any 

 part of Michigan that I am acquainted with. Beautiful to look upon is the Foster, 

 when you chance to see it, but it is too shy a bearer, and so are the other two named. 

 To illustrate, a man of my acquaintance was induced by some knowing tree peddler to 

 purchase 1,600 Foster peach trees, not by any fruitgrower of experience. With soil 

 the most favorable, and with good care, he, I think, has had but two or three crops 

 in eleven years. That, you see, was not much of a success. Now, in order to secure 

 the best results from the peach orchard, a succession of varieties is important, and we 

 have enough wall-tested sorts to meet the demand, some of which I will give, viz.: 

 Alexander, or Waterloo, which are about the same, is about as good as any for early; 

 Early Rivers, which in our vicinity does well, and has proven very prolific and hardy; 

 Hale's Early, an old and well-known sort; Honest John, yellow; Jaques Rare Ripe; 

 Early Barnard, or Snow's Orange, either one or both; Lewis, a peach which originated 

 in Ganges, Allegan county, hardy and productive, coming just after Hale's, of fine 

 appearance and fair quality; Stump-the-world and Oldmixon, both ripening about the 

 same time, both old and reliable kinds; then the Chilis, well known to all who have heard 

 of peaches, and lastly Smock. In some locations the Smock might not be profitable, but 

 on any warm, high elevation it will pay, for it will ripen in our latitude four years out 

 of five. I would not set any peach later than the Smock. 



Now, with all the above named conditions adhered to, peach-growing may be a suc- 

 cess. We have had but four entire failures of peaches in the peach-growing district of 

 Michigan in twenty-seven years, one in 1864, again in 1875, again in most of the peach 

 districts in 1889, another universal one in 1890. 



This paper was followed by one by J. G. Ramsdell of South Haven, 

 upon " The Peach Orchard," read by Secretary Whitney in the absence of 

 the author. 



These two papers brought the whole subject of peach-growing before 

 the meeting, and elicited much discussion, in which Messrs. Hamilton, 

 Falconee, Anthony, McClatchie, Gephart and others engaged, bring- 

 ing out many important facts, the results of years of experience by prac 

 tical men, which edified and instructed all present. 



H. Anthony of Hart read an interesting paper upon "The Origin and 

 Culture of the Orange Quince." This subject was a new one to many and 

 was ably handled by Mr. Anthony, whose paper was followed by some 

 discussion. All agreed that the quince could be successfully cultivated and 

 at a profit. We regret that this valuable paper is not at hand for publication. 



The evening session was the best attended of any, many having to stand 

 during the meeting. 



The question box gave the question, "Does it pay to plant currants for 

 for market? What kinds?" Decided, yes; and the Victoria and Long- 

 bunch Holland are the most satisfactory. 



An instructive discussion upon "Plum Culture" was largely engaged in. 

 Mr. Markham of Hart said that had he known twenty years ago what he 

 knew now, he could have made a success of plum-growing. He would 

 plant Union Purple, Lombard, and Bradshaw. Some did best one year 

 while others paid best other years. He gathered his plums when ripe, 

 picking only the ripe ones and leaving the others to ripen. He used the 

 shears in gathering, cutting the stems. A word to the wise. It should 

 lead many to see this point and not pull off fruit. 



Judge F. J. Russell of Hart spoke of his success in spraying his apple 

 orchard — thought it easy when properly managed. Others spoke of failures 

 in spraying by getting the mixtures too strong. All should go slow upon 

 the use of mixtures recommended by theoretical men. Experiment lightly 

 until you are sure you will not kill your trees as many have. Pear, plum, 

 and peach will not bear as strong an insecticide as the apple. 



