REPORTS OF DISTRICT AND LOCAL SOCIETIES. 561 



established in our markets, and growers could realize more for their fruit. 

 A few leading growers spoke very highly of the fifth bushel or climax 

 basket. 



E. H. Hotchkiss said it was the wish of many commission men that we 

 ship more fruit in one-half bushel and one-bushel baskets for the use of 

 wholesale trade. 



Wm. Markhah said fifth climax baskets were the best baskets made to 

 ship our choice fruit in. 



A. Adams with others said, put extra or choice fruit in the fifths, and 

 lower grades of fruit in one-half bushel and *bushel baskets, to get best 

 returns. 



SOUTH HAVEN AND CASCO POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1S91. 



President — John Mackey. 

 Vice-President— Ma rtin Bixby. 

 Secretary — W. H. Payne. 

 Treasurer — J. J. Atherly. 



This society has held weekly meetings during the year, except during 

 the busy fruit season, when they were discontinued to be resumed again 

 when the members had more leisure to attend them. The meetings have 

 been usually well attended and the discussions animated and profitable. 

 A year of plenty coming after a year of scarcity, filled every heart with 

 hope. The best modes of caring for and marketing the promised abund- 

 ant crop was the all-important topic, and new methods were eagerly taken 

 up and discussed with great interest. Such questions as condition of our 

 orchards; new varieties of fruit; what shall we plant? best varieties of fruit 

 for profit; why do our trees become black, scabby, and gummy? is it 

 practicable to sell our own fruit and fix the price? seed and vegetable 

 growing; commercial gardening; improvements in town and country ; peach- 

 growing and apple-growing; fertilizing and spraying; planting, cultivating 

 and trimming, each came in for a share of our attention. Sometimes vis- 

 iting fruitgrowers met with us, and, while willing to tell them all we knew, 

 we were pretty sure to draw out all they knew. Yellows was not discussed 

 — we are through discussing that question, for, whenever a peach-grower 

 finds a tree affected with yellows, he does not rest until he gets his ax and 

 cuts it down; and he don't need have anyone tell him to, either. 



The annual dinner, given by the ladies of the society, January 14, is the 

 one day of the year marked with a white stone in this society; not alone 

 for a good dinner and a nice programme, but that the fruitgrowers and 

 their families can all meet together for renewal of acquaintance and for a 

 good time generally. 



The most important of the subjects debated during the year was that 

 of fruit packages, and whether we should have full packages, pecks, half- 

 bushels, and bushels, or use the common fifth-bushel. The aldermen of 

 Chicago had started the ball rolling by passing an ordinance forbidding the 

 sale of fruit packages except in aliquot parts of a bushel, and a state stat- 

 71 



