PROCEEDINGS OF THE AUTUMN MEETING. 75 



strawberries, just as carefully managed, which, because of circumstances 

 over which the grower had no control, were unprofitable. It is well to 

 have before us the possibilities, but not to bank upon them too implicitly. 



The local attendance was very light, and I have often wondered if 

 societies pay enough attention to the immediate needs of the community 

 inwsvhich meetings are held. In every town there are matters touching 

 a large part of the community, which are distinctively horticultural in 

 their character. If these were discussed and the fact of their considera- 

 tion by the meeting well advertised, it seems as if the local attendance 

 upon all such meetings might be greatly augmented. 



The meeting was a treat to us, and the Michigan delegates were made 

 honorary members of the society. We extended to the Indiana society 

 a cordial invitation to have a delegation at our annual meeting'in Adrian, 

 and returned to our homes quite satisfied with the trip and greatly 

 pleased with the generous treatment we had received from the Indiana 

 people. 



EEVIVAL OF APPLE CULTURE IN MICHIGAN. 



BY MR. SMITH HAWLEY OF LUDINGTON. 



The apple as a money crop has never received the attention from the 

 average farmer and fruitgrower that it deserves. The orchard is too 

 often neglected. Men will plant orchards, cultivate them well for a few 

 years, till they begin to bear, and think they have then done their whole 

 duty, and expect the trees to go on bearing indefinitely. But soon a 

 change comes. Their trees cease to bear to any extent, and what they do 

 produce are scabby, worthless culls. They begin then to realize that 

 something is wrong, but what it is they do not always know. Their trees 

 become mossgrown and covered with bark-lice, fungous growths, etc. 

 The thoughtful grower will turn over a new leaf and begin to hunt for 

 causes and remedies, and right here comes in the benefit of spraying for 

 all these diseases, for diseases they are. 



It would seem at this late day that there could be no necessity for any 

 one to say anything about the benefits of spraying ; but there will always 

 be doubters and sceptics in regard to that as to all other innovations, and 

 it is with the hope of converting sceptics that I write this article. I hope 

 to see the day when the northwestern Michigan apple will have the repu- 

 tation that the apples of western New York have enjoyed so long. Then 

 we will no longer be obliged to seek a market for our fruit, as buyers will 

 be only too anxious to get it. It is well, therefore, to give heed to what 

 is being done by scientists in the way of investigating diseases of fruit 

 trees, and the remedies therefor. 



Being a practical rather than a theoretical horticulturist, you will not 

 expect from me a long dissertation upon the subject under discussion. 

 Theoretical knowledge is all right, but not good unless put into practice. 

 Experience, you know, is always the best teadher, although sometimes an 

 expensive one. But spraying is no longer an experiment. It is a most 



