MICHIGAK STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 25 



OUR ORCHARD SYSTEM. 



THE NEED OF CONCEifTRATION — "WANTED, FEWEE KIND3 AND 

 SORTS — THE LEATHER-JACKET CLASS. 



ADDRESS BY J. P. THOMPSON. 



Mr. Prmdent and Gsntlemen of tlie State Pomologkal Society : 



111 contemplating tlis Apple Culture of the famous Fruit 

 Belt of Western Michigan, the characteristics are so well 

 defined that they will not escape the attention of the most 

 casual observer, and these are : 



1. The total absence of system ; 



2. The want of a correct and authoritative nomenclaUire ; 

 and, 



3. The lack of a well defined purpose. 



The system appears to be to plant a great variety of trees 

 without regard to soil or climate, or intended use ; the nomen- 

 clature comes from provincial traditions, and is derived from 

 Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western associations ; and 

 the purpose seems to be undefined and vague, partly experi- 

 mental, but mainly to raise as many as possible of all kinds 

 and sorts. Every apple culturist, in a certain sense, appears 

 to be an amateur; he goes into the business hap-hazard to 

 suit himself, without due regiird to the demands of the 

 market, aud with no well conceived calculations about profit 

 or utility. Now amateurs are well enough in their places; 

 they serve oftentimes a valuable purpose; are useful as well as 

 ornamental ; but to be a successful amateur requires leisure 

 and capital, as well as taste and cultivation. Men who settle 

 a new country and lay deep tha foundations of a profitable 

 4 



