76 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



we expect to escape the yellows for many years. We have no large peach, 

 orchards as yet. 



Pears had full bloom on all trees that were large enough and set full ; the 

 only trouble is we haven't old trees enough, many young trees have been set in 

 the last four years with but little sign of blight. 



Plums, a few old trees are on most every place, but set along the fence or 

 in such positions as to prevent fighting the ''little turk," and he is here in 

 full force. We can have no plums except we work for tlieni. Many have 

 surrendered and still let the trees stand in the hope that something will hap- 

 pen to the curculio and they will bear fruit again, but in the meantime they 

 are stocking their county with the pest, notwitiistanding this our fruit men 

 are setting plum trees by the thousand and intend to fight the curculio. 



Cherries — only a few trees, and they do not live long, but all live trees are 

 full of fruit. 



Small fruit prospects good, — mostly wild berries are used by the citizens. 



There is a prospect of a full crop of strawberries, but no large plantations of 

 them, the spring is late and strawberries will not be in their prime before 

 July 1. 



KALAMAZOO COUNTY. 



J. N. Stearns writes : 



Fruits of all kinds are looking exceedingly well, especially is this true of 

 small fruits. Some kinds of apples, like the Baldwin, that bore too full last 

 season, will have few apples this year. Peaches are looking excellent, wher- 

 ever there is a tree it hangs full. Cherries, both sweet and sour, are fruiting 

 abundantly. 



A word about strawberries. I fear it will be some time before we find a 

 berry to take the place of the Wilson for a market berry, and I have heard the 

 expression made quite often this season by parties from town testing the differ- 

 ent varieties, "Well, it is hard to beat the Wilson." After all I still place the 

 Chas. Downing ahead of all I have tested for a table berry, being hardy, pro- 

 ductive, and of the best quality, the fruit stem being very long, the fruit is 

 easily kept from the ground, 



INGHAM COUNTY. 



AV. Asa I\owe writes : 



Usually the fruit crop of central Michigan is not of sufficient importance 

 to materially effect the growers on the lake sliore unless it be on apples. There 

 appears to be a tendency now growing up, however, to plant and grow a suf- 

 ficient supply for home markets of such small fruits as do well in the interior. 

 Especially is this true of strawberries and blackcap raspberries, of which 

 increased areas are planted about here every year. Strawberries are sometimes 

 hurt by late frosts, and the ends of black cap canes are killed even when well 

 pinched back in the summer, but they never fail to give at least a partial crop 

 where cared for, and the local market is usually fair. 



The prospects for fruit of all kinds is good so far as I have observed. Ap- 

 ples will probably be an average crop. Cherries more than an average, except 

 in some few localities where killed by frost. 



Peaches will be plenty if nothing befalls them. This is a little unusual as, 

 except in very favorable localities liere, we do not get two peach crops in suc- 

 cession, and we had a fair peach crop last year. Many farmers are planting 



