2 STATE rOMOLOGlCAL SOCIETY. 



FROM C. I^. LAWTON', OF THE LAWTOX POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



AVe have chosen Mr. X. II. Bitely to represent us at the meeting of the 

 Pomological Society at Lansing and hope he will ho able to go. Our fruit is 

 in excellent condition, it has gone through the winter, thus far, without harm, 

 not a peach bud is injured, and the promise was never better, — this is true of 

 the whole country, all varieties of whatever kind are in perfect condition. 

 The thermometer indicated a pretty low temperature, but the wood was so 

 well ripened that it was able to resist a greater degree of cold than would 

 otherwise have occurred were the trees in less favorable condition ; besides^ the 

 heavy body of snow which covered the ground, and the fact that the ground 

 was not frozen, doubtless have materially aided in producing the favorable 

 result which we lind to exist. AYe confidently look for a bountiful harvest of 

 fruit the coming season. 



I hope the society will continue at each of its meetings to agitate the subject 

 of varieties — that matter is not settled for this state yet — people are all the 

 while putting out kinds that do not pay. N. II. Bitely of this place, has an 

 apple orchard of 1,000 or 1,500 trees, two-thirds of which are valueless, so far 

 as profitable production is concerned; and the same is true of my own. I set 

 out 1,000 trees 12 years ago and thought I selected just the right sorts — but, 

 I didn't. Soil has much to do with it. I am grafting over some of them, but I 

 am fearful of making a mistake asfain. In discussino; varieties the character 

 of tlie soil should be considered — to some extent the exposure also, i do not 

 think the Greening, Esopus Spitzenburg and Swaar are admissible on any but 

 strong, heavy soils, and I am inclined to doubt if on lightish soils the Golden 

 russet is desirable. I have found the lied Canada doing well on heavy soil, 

 but how will it do on soils that are lighter? As to the Baldwin, AV^agener and 

 Jonathan they do finely on poorer ground, so does the Xorthern Spy, — but the 

 Snow does not ; — they bear, but the fruit is worthless. 



Our experience here with grapes is very different from that of fruit-growers 

 in western Xew York, as indicated from the discussion given in your report of 

 1876. Some of the Ilainmondsport growers find the Hartford most profitable, 

 etc., — here it is nearly worthless. They don't like the Concord, — we find it 

 here of excellent quality with few faults and has a ready market. I hope 

 there will be a large gathering at the Lansing meeting and that they will 

 make our legislature understand the necessity of action regarding the Peach 

 Tree Yellows. We cannot afford to have the promising and valuable peach 

 interest of Michigan destroyed without making all suitable elTorts to save it. 



FROM F. J. DOWLAND, LUDINGTON. 



I heartily wish we could send you some samples of fruit from this section, 

 but you know "the man must first be a child." Our county in the matter of 

 fruit culture is comparatively new. It has only been three or four years since 

 our people awoke to the idea that we could grow fruit of all kinds as well as 

 our southern neighbors on the lake shore. A large number of young orchards 

 are being planted out each year, and I am looking forward to a time not far 

 distant when we shall not have to import apples to supply our needs. So far 

 as I can learn the fruit prospect for '79 in this region is ilattering, but we are 

 now passing through a few days of " break-up" or spring weather, and what the 

 result will be remains to be seen. If we had more horticulturists in this sec- 

 tion we would be better able to give more satisfactory reports and results of 

 labors, but we have really none that make a specialty of it, notwithstanding 



