REPORTS OF LOCAL SOCIETIES. 281 



]3cliiware, Siilein, Wilder, lona, and Martha. I consider the peach very prof- 

 itable ; the grape moderately. 



Berries of all kinds were abundant. Cherries yielded well. Apples light. 

 Peaches very heavy. Grapes a full crop. Pears are plenty, coming mostly 

 from young trees. Trees over 15 years old are rarely found. Quinces are 

 bearing well. The culture of this fruit and the plum is strongly increasing. 



The letter was fully discussed by the society in regard to the moderate prices 

 for fruit. President Scott said cheap fruit is not inconsistent with fair prof- 

 its, and the public health is promoted by the free use of fruits. The same 

 views were shared by the others in attendance. N. B. Covert said that he re- 

 membered when 100 quarts of strawberries were sufficient to supply Ann 

 Arbor; now, in the present season, 100 bushels were marketed here daily during 

 the strawberry season. 



The President alluded to the successful peach culture of Judge Lawrence 

 and of the extensive fruit enterprise of ^Ir. J. D. Baldwin. The example set 

 by Mr. Baldwin in the thorough management of his orchard, is highly com- 

 mendable, and said he hoped that the fruit-growing 2:>ublic would follow in Mr, 

 Baldwins' foot steps and so raise the standard of fruit culture. 



Sei)temhcr Meeting. 



After the transaction of business the President announced a recess for a so- 

 cial chat and to give all an opportunity to taste of the new seedling grapes and 

 peaches presented for examination by Chas. H. AVoodruff. 



One of these new grapes was white and the other black, both seedlings of the 

 Concord. The one white was much admired. The seedling peach was large, 

 yellow, with a red cheek, resembling the Barnard in shape, and Early Craw- 

 ford in color. It was presented to the President, who is to report on its qual- 

 ity at the next meeting. 



On re-calling the meeting to order, the President introduced Mrs. Pierce, 

 who delighted the meeting with an essay. A vote of thanks was given to Mrs. 

 Pierce in acknowledgment of her interesting paper. 



The President asked Mr. Dorr, Vice President, to take the chair, as he 

 wished to speak to the meeting. He said that he had labored with a society 

 in Ohio for 20 years; he came here to Ann Arbor to rest, but feels still enthu- 

 siastic to build up a pomological society. The fruit interest he believed second 

 to no other interest in the county. While he acknowledges the importance of 

 other industries he considers the fruit interest one of the most important. He 

 referred to the successful fruit enterprises of Mr. Baldwin and Judge Lawrence. 

 In his own case, he said that his apple crop in Ohio had amounted to nearly 

 $4,000, and when he sold his place some of his fruit netted him $200 per acre. 

 More can be accomplished with the same outlay, than in other farm products. 

 He alluded to the saying that fruit culture may be over done. This, he said, 

 was feared 20 years ago, but is less apparent now. Washtenaw county he 

 believes one of the foremost for fruit culture, and he hoped that more will en- 

 gage in this business in the future. 



Judge Page here took the floor, and said that he got entirely over being dis- 

 couraged at our meetings. In the last meeting he learned more in a half hour 

 than he could learn out of all the books. *'I must say," he continued, *^that 

 President Scott is entirely correct in his remarks. The income of fruit, is 

 better than that of farm products. This is one of the favorite States out of 



