MICHIGAN" STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 24^ 



ties of seeing, the fruit crop of the past season in Europe had 

 been a failure, and there, was a general complaint of loss in 

 the vineyards. Pears were a failure, so much so that the crop' 

 of seed was scarce. He had seen no pears there which would 

 compare Avith those grown here. But fruit he considered 

 cheaper there than here. In New York he had to pay twenty- 

 five cents for a pear which he would have bought in the 

 London market for two pence, or four cents. In regard to 

 grape growing, the system was different, and a number of 

 the vineyards which he had seen were composed of terraces 

 built with stonework, sometimes six and eight feet in height, 

 against the steep side hills. Vines were set close and severely 

 pruned, and not permitted to grow the quantities of fruit 

 which are grown in America. The plants stood only three feet 

 apart, and sometimes not more than two and a half feet. Not 

 having had the advantage of being familiar with the French 

 language, he could not make the inquiries he would, and 

 therefore he could only state his observations. 



The President then read the report on the awards on 

 orchards, made by Mr. T. T. Lyon, the chairman of the com- 

 mittee on orchards and gardens, which may bo found in tlie 

 list of premiums a^rarded at the fair. 



A letter from J. Chapel of Eastmauville was read, relative 

 to grapes, in which he says : " In regard to the grape question 

 I will say that tlie Concord, Delaware, and Kogers No. 4 are 

 the grapes for this part of the country. I liave sixteen varie- 

 ties in cultivation, and the three above named are all I would 

 plant for general cultivation. The names of the other varieties 

 I grow are Creveling, Hartford Prolific, lona, Israella, Ives* 

 Seedling, Miles, Rebecca, Salem, Rogers No. 15, Union Village, 

 Diana, Northern Muscadine, and Catawba. These are all 

 either poor bearers, or tender with me. I have fifteen varieties 

 of raspberries in cultivation, and hope to be present and give 

 you my experience with them at the January meeting." 



A dispatch was received from W. H. Schuyler of Niles, stat- 



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