258 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



of an orchard dei:)encls in a great measure upon the cultivation it receives 

 during the first three or four years of its existence. 



Prune judiciously. In a short essay of this kind, it can hardly be expected 

 that I can say much on this subject. Tlie orchardist must observe his trees 

 closely, and cut off all superfluous limbs and dead timber, givin^^ the middle 

 or inside of the tree air and sun-light. 



If these few simple ide^s are carried out, you will without fail, raise 

 such fruit as will command the very highest price the market can afford to 

 pay. You need not be afraid of the cry some raise about over-stocking the 

 market. AVho ever knew the market to be overstocked with first class fruit? 

 Why, every one, even the poorest, will purchase good fruit at almost any price, 

 in preference to accepting an inferior article as a gift. 



I make bold to say, that perhaps nothing else in the world is so attractive to 

 the sight as beautiful fruit. The goddesses of old contended for a golden 

 apple, and Atalanta stopped in the race to pick one up thrown by Hippomenes. 

 By so doing she lost the race, it is true, but she gained a husband. Here, in 

 South Haven, peaches have been grown large enough and beautiful enough to 

 tempt Venus to reveal her beauty, and Atalanta to stop short in her race for a 

 husband. In Chicago, last season, Michigan peaches sold so high as $1.50 per 

 basket, while the highest price from any other point did not reach over 95c. for 

 an equal quantity. What has been done year after year by our friends in 

 South Haven, can be done again. We have made our mark. We have gained 

 a name as pomologists. To do so we have had to work diligently, faithfully, 

 perseveringly ; and if we mean to hold the proud position we have gained we 

 must not sleep on our post. Don't be discouraged because the yellows has 

 made some ravages in your orcliards. Let us fill out the rows, and plant out 

 new orchards. Who knows but the next summer may be more favorable 

 than the last? 



A GLANCE IN RETROSPECT. 



BY C. J. MONROE. 

 [Read in January, IS79. ] 



Before closing our accounts for the past year, it occurs to me that it will be 

 profitable for us to glance at some of the items which time has recorded during 

 the year just closed. 



In a general way, it has been a year of great anxiety to our people as a 

 nation ; nearly every person has been striving to make both ends meet, and to 

 bridge over the year with the hope that better times were near. This vicinity 

 has been no exception, and many of our people have keenly felt the depressing 

 influences which have surrounded us. 



The open winter of a year ago, with its freezing and thawing, followed by 

 an unusual spring, was very severe on our trees and crops, causing a partial 

 failure of our strawberries and other small fruits; and, in the opinion of 

 many, aggravating the yellows, tiie spread and development of which has 

 caused more alarm to our fruit growers than any other; — nay, I may say all 

 other causes have not had so depressing and discouraging an influence on our 

 fruit interests, aliliough to many of our people there are numerous reasons, 

 including the one above mentioned, which have led to the unusual development 

 of this disease — causes and reasons which are not likely to occur again for 



