SUMMER 3IEETIXG, 187!). 85 



The contest was over the Wilson's Albany, which was marked in the society's 

 catalogue at the highest figure, 10, in a scale of 10, as a market berry. 

 Mr. J. P. Thompson, of the Post and Tribune, moved that this mark be re- 

 duced one point, to 9. lie said the Wilson was demoralizing the market. 

 From the standpoint of the consumer he said it was an imposition to shove this 

 strawberry upon the fruit-loving community. A market berry should possess 

 something beside size, color and firmness — it should possess some quality. 

 This berry would ruin the business. Anybody could grow it. Any fool could 

 grow it. The glut in the market which had brought the market down to 3, 4 

 and 5 cents, was occasioned by this Wilson which growers were producing in 

 excess. Consumers were sick of it and would not buy it. They asked for some- 

 thing better and were willing to pay for it. Quality in fruit should be the aim 

 of the society and not mere quantity. The strawberry business was a good one, 

 but the men engaged in it would soon ruin it if they persevered in glutting the 

 market with the Wilson. He was willing to acknowledge the great merits of 

 the AVilson as a market berry — but people who paid their money for strawberries 

 wanted, and would have, something better or else would cease buying. Let 

 us knock the Wilson down just one point. 



Mr. Bridgman, of Berrien county. — Nature has never concentrated all qual- 

 ities in one berry. I like the Wilson when it is pretty mature. I think that 

 size, color and firmness are the main points in a good market berry. 



Mr. Merriman, of Pentwater, said the Wilson was not worthy of a high 

 mark — it should be put down. 



Mr. Whitney said that growers must abandon the Wilson or the strawberry 

 business would come to an end. It is too cheaply raised. 



Mr. Johnstone, of the Michigan Farmer. — We must look for the strawberry 

 of the future as well as of the past. The Wilson has been of great service ; 

 but to say that it is perfect is to say that the Concord is a perfect grape. 



A gentleman said this was the keynote of the whole thing : Glutting the 

 market with a cheap growing variety like Wilson was killing the trade. The 

 Wilson was flat on the market. Growers had pandered to the selfish idea and 

 would lose money. The whole business must be changed and quality must be 

 a ruling principle with producers as well as with consumers. Consumers were 

 getting educated. The growers must learn as well. Four cents a quart was 

 fast teaching them. 



Calls were here made for the question and for a division, when by a rising 

 vote the motion to put the Wilson down one peg was carried. 



The society now took a recess until two o'clock. 



Wednesdaij Afternoon Session. 



At the opening of the afternoon session several new seedling berries were 

 brought forward for consideration, and on motion they were referred to the 

 committee on fruits, who were instructed to report upon their prospective 

 value and give them a name if they saw fit, the report to be subject to adop- 

 tion by the society. 



The essay of the afternoon was prepared by Mr. II. S. Tyler of Muskegon 

 upon the subject of 



