SECRETARY'S rORTFOLIO. 405 



Store for winter, carefally lumd pick and sort, pack in l^arrels and remain in 

 cool place till danger of frost, then store in cool cellar of even temperature. 

 AYould cultivate an orchard. Fruit culture is rather on the gain. It adds to 

 the value of home greatly; and for selling, much. 



The best and most profitable varieties of grapes for cultivation in this 

 locality are the Hartford Prolific, Concord, Delaware, lona, Salem, and Kala- 

 mazoo. Peaclies — Early and Late Crawford, Barnard, Snow's Orange, Hill's 

 Chili, and Jacques Ivareripe. Good to eat and profitable to sell. All fruits of 

 good quality are abundant except apples, which are perhaps half a crop. In 

 establishing an orchard, I would top-graft licd Canada, Baldwin, Jonathan, 

 and Wagener on well grown, two-year-old Northern Spy stock. Think it will 

 increase the vigor of growth in Bed Canada, Jonathan, and Wagener, and 

 render the Baldwin more hardy. Emmoxs Buell. 



Vail Buren County. — Mr. A. C. Glidden, of Paw Paw, says : Strawberry 

 culture has increased and for that reason is not profitable. Our market is 

 limited to Paw Paw and its vicinity, and the consumption is not equal to the 

 supply. Yes, people will buy the Wilson as soon as anything, and wouldn't 

 pay any more for a strawberry as large as a tomato and as sweet as a Craw^ford. 

 Peaches are the most profitable, because the location is favorable and compe- 

 tition limited. The best varieties of apples are the Baldwin, Northern Spy, 

 Golden Russet, Canada Red, and half a dozen other varieties equal to the 

 Greening. The Baldwin is the most profitable and succeeds well; Greening, 

 poor bearer; Northern Spy gaining in favor; Red Canada losing prestige ; we 

 store in cellars, packed in barrels. Orchards not generally cultivated. Fruit 

 culture is at a standstill, except for peaches. 



Peaches for succession and profit: Alexander, Early Rivers, Hale's Early, 

 Mountain Rose, Crawford, Snow's Orange, Jacques, Mixon and Stump, Late 

 Crawford, Hill's Chili, Smock Free. Grapes — Concord and Delaware. Their 

 proper cultivation is exceedingly profitable. Apples are slim. Grapes and 

 peaches good. 



Mr. A. G. Gulley, of South Haven, also says: Strawberry culture is in- 

 creasing here each year. Cannot give the average, but about 250 bushels per 

 day were shipped from this port this year. Chicago was onr market. Unless 

 a grower has a home market, and can select his customers, the AYilson is by 

 far the best. 



The peach is our most profitable fruit, because it does well here. We have 

 a good market, and it cannot be grown everywhere. For apples, the best six 

 are Baldwin, R. I. Greening, Northern Spy, Red Canada, Wagener, Golden 

 Russet; Baldwin the most profitable. All varieties would do well. Apples 

 here all sold in the fall. Our orchards are cultivated. In this section the 

 following peaches are the best: Alexander, Amsden's, Early Louise, Hales' 

 Early, Early Crawford, Kichmond, Foster, Late Crawford, Jaques Rareripe, 

 Old Mixon Free, Hill's Chili, and Smock Free. The Concord and Delaware 

 grapes are very profitable. Apples are light but fine. All other fruits very 

 good . 



Cass County. — Mr. B. Hatliaway of Little Prairie Eonde, originator of the 

 Michigan strawberry, furnishes a letter of great value, from which we make 

 free extracts : The cultivation of the strawberry has increased in this part of 

 the Stat<3, especially on the line of the various railroads. I think it evident 



