408 IlEPORT OF THK SECFvETART OF THE 



promulgate information as to the best metliodg of grovvino- the 

 best varieties of fruits for our vicinity, and for our own profit 

 and improvement." 



This 8ociety has steadily increased in members and interest. 

 The meetings are well attended ; the discussions are spirited ; 

 the expressions of opinion, and statements of experience, 

 candid ; the feeling harmonious ; and we are more and more 

 assured that our interests are mutual, and that the greatest 

 obstacles in the way of making fruit-growing a constantly 

 profitable business may be overcome by co-operation. 



The first important step in this direction, was the adoption 

 of a trade-mark, Avhich represents the credit of the Society, as 

 ■a wan-ant that the package of fruit to which it is attached is 

 ■first quality of its kind, sufficiently ripe, and uniform through- 

 ■ont, as it appears on the surface. All members of the Society 

 can use the mark, being responsible to the Society for its proper 

 use. It was used the past season, and no complaints received. 

 Our Society, last fall, gathered a large collection of fruit, 

 which was exhibited at the State Agricultural Society's Fair, 

 at Kalamazoo, and a portion of it at the Exposition of the 

 State Pomological Society at Grand Rapids, and also at our 

 county fair. 



Whatever may have been the judgment of others in 

 regard to this collection, it had a marked efiect on ourselves, 

 in reassuring us of the capacity of our soil, and suitableness 

 of our atmosphere, to so many varieties of fruit, and in 

 strengthening oiir ambition to excel. 



The collection embraced about ninety varieties of apples, 

 thirty varieties of pears, forty-two varieties of peaches, seven 

 vai-ieties of quinces, over forty varieties of grapes ; also almonds, 

 nectarines, figs, and cherries, and a variety of sm.all fruits 

 preserved. 



Opinion here, however, is not in favor of planting many 

 varieties of each class of fruit. 

 .Apple orchards, for market, are set principally with from 



