86 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



seems now to be working harmoniously. They pull together for a com- 

 mon purpose. The railroads, when they made up their minds these 

 people had joined for business, niet them. Today I feel that Grand Rap- 

 ids has secured more in the way of market facilities than any other city 

 in the state. That is, they have accomplished more, because they have 

 combined and done a good business on their own ground. 



I live in a good market town, but we ship everything. In Grand Rap- 

 ids they sell everything. When they drive in with a load of peaches, 

 they are brought in the most economical manner, they are delivered 

 quickly, and the producer finds the money in his vest pocket. That is the 

 perfection of marketing, when you can secure good prices. They have 

 succeeded in bringing the buyers there, and they certainly get good 

 prices. 



There was another lesson we learned from this drouth. We learned that 

 the various fungi did not spread rapidly. Many people say that the apple 

 scab is leaving us. 1 pi-esume Prof. Taft will tell you the conditions were 

 not present this year for its rapid propagation. But that does not mean 

 that there is not seed left sufficient to go around in case the conditions 

 were right. 



Curl-leaf theories — we have had many of them, and they were all upset. 

 The conditions under which most of us supposed curl-leaf occurred, 

 existed on the 22d of last May, as perfectly as I ever saw; after a rapid 

 growth of the leaf, there was a rapid turn of the weather, that froze ice in 

 many instances, and we expected it to rupture the sap cells, and that curl- 

 leaf would follow; but I did not see a single curled leaf, so I have no 

 more theories on that point. 



There are a few suggestions I can make in regard to this winter. It is 

 a time of preparation — the only leisure time we have ; the time we must 

 read and attend meetings, and possess ourselves of every valuable im- 

 provement, if we expect to keep up with the procession. The man who 

 does not keep up will be far behind in a short time. 



There has been great advance in many things — tools and implements, 

 methods of working and cultivation, little economies; by a little study 

 you can get at what they are. 



I don't know as the spirit of organization is very general in the state 

 this winter. Perhaps we are not far enough along into the winter to 

 know, but it is quite common to hear that local horticultural societies are 

 dying out. There is always something wrong where that occurs. There is 

 certainly a weakening of knowledge and intelligence connected with the 

 business at that point. I hope that Adrian will maintain its society, take 

 good care of it, assist it in every way, and so assist itself. 



When I get through with this meeting, we will have probably two more 

 meetings before we get together for an annual meeting again, and I sup- 

 pose considerable good will come of it. In all probability the next meet- 

 ing will go to Oceana county. That is a center of enthusiastic peach- 

 gi'owers; they grow principally peaches and plums. Where we may be a 

 year from now we can not tell. We hope, however, to see there a good 

 many Adrian people, and we hope that when we come together a year 

 from now that every section can report some advancement in some 

 particular line or in all lines. 



