403 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



LOCALITY EEPORTS. 



J. P. Thompson, agricultural editor of the Detroit Post and Tribunc,during 

 the summer of 1879, sent out a circular of enquiry to various fruit growers 

 throughout Michigan, and has kindly given his summary of the replies to- 

 gether with the text of a large number of them which we are pleased to insert 

 at the close of this portfolio : 



MR. Thompson's questions. 



1. The Stvawherry — Has strawberry culture increased in your vicinity, and 

 is it profitable? What is its extent, your market and your experience witli new 

 varieties? Do you think it best for strawberry growers to stick to the Wilson? 



2. What do you regard as the most profitable fruit grown in your section? 

 Why? 



3. The Apple — What are the best six winter apples for your neighborhood? 

 What is the most profitable winter apple? How does the Baldwin succeed? 

 The Ehode Island Greening? The Northern Spy? The lied Canada? How 

 do you store for winter? Do you cultivate your orchard? 



4. Is fruit culture on the gain in your section ? Does it add to the value of 

 home and farm property for selling purposes ? 



5. The Peach and the Grape — What do you regard as the best varieties of 

 these fruits for Michigan? Is their cultivation profitable? 



6. What are the prospects of the fruit crop of 1879 in your section? 



SUMMARY OF REPLIES. 



1. We have the general declaration that fruit culture adds to the charms of 

 the home and household, to the value of farm property, and that especially 

 for selling purposes it has no rival. Farms, plantations, village and city lots, 

 are pointed out where this increased value has been 50 per cent. 



2. AVe desire to call attention to tlie fact that notwithstanding the wide- 

 spread destruction of the two severe winters of '73-74, that fruit-growing and 

 fruit production has so far recovered that the year 1879 will be long known as 

 an abundant fruit-producing year, excepting in apples ; and that no weather 

 or winter can extinguish the inherent fruit-producing tendencies of the State. 

 The lesson seems to be that it is only necessary to plant another tree where 

 one is lost. Kecuperation follows disaster with a rapidity that is absolutely 

 astonisliing, and that has again covered the State with orchards and vineyards. 



3. The testimony relating to the growth of the peach is certainly very grat- 

 ifying. Notwithstanding tlie great peach orchards of the St. Joseph region 

 are sufferers by the yellows, we yet find the peach produced in nearly all the 

 counties, and always with much profit. Thus in the north part of Berrien 

 county we have a peach orchard reported, the net profits of which in 1878 

 were 86,400, and in the interior and older counties we hear of the broad plant- 

 ing of the peach tree. The culture of the early varieties is a marked feature, 

 thereby extending the peach season nearly a month. 



It appears that the peach is to remain with us, tliat it has come to stay, that 

 if it fails in one locality its culture springs al'resh in another. In the interior 



