164 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



When we remember to what an extent canning and the improved 

 methods of drying fruit have increased domestic consumption; when we 

 note the improved facilities for the shipment of fresh fruits long dis- 

 tances, thus greatly extending our markets, we must come to the con- 

 clusion that commercial fruitgrowing is still in its infancy. It would 

 seem that there would be no necessity for the person just commencing in 

 horticulture to make any mistakes at the present time, when we take into 

 consideration the vast amount of knowledge that the State Horticultural 

 societj^ and other similar organizations have published and sent broad- 

 cast throughout the land. 



New and improved methods for combating insect enemies have been 

 discovered, also remedies have been found preventing the fungous dis- 

 eases of fruit trees and vines to a great extent. The above facts, 

 together with the low price of farm products, are inducing a great many 

 men to commence fruitgrowing. My advice to such persons would be, 

 investigate the subject thoroughly before commencing the business. 

 This would save much valuable time and expense. Taking the experi- 

 ence of the past five years in central Michigan into consideration, grow- 

 ing apples for profit has become a serious problem. 



i think the facts will warrant me in making the assertion that not more 

 than one orchard in five has paid the cost of cultivation during the above 

 period. Now, it seems to me that some law of nature has been violated 

 by man to create this universal failure to grow apples for so long a period. 

 Almost every conceivable theory has been advanced for the cause of this 

 failure, by leading horticulturists, at different times. The fact that 

 failures have taken place under all these conditions, in the absence of 

 orchard protection, shows conclusively that the true cause is not gener- 

 ally understood. 



I have tried to impress upon the fruitgrowers at different times what 

 I believed to be the greatest cause of failure, and that is insufficient pro- 

 tection to orchards by lack of timber belts. It has been my experience, 

 from extended observation, that though you have every other condition 

 in perfection, you will very seldom grow a good crop of apples. Obser- 

 vation has convinced me that, where orchards are protected by wind- 

 breaks, the fruit attains a much greater degree of perfection. I wish to 

 firmly impress this fact upon all who contemplate setting apple orchards, 

 that they must have protection by wind-breaks if they ever prove suc- 

 cessful any great length of time. This law of nature can not be vio- 

 lated without suffering the penalty. Careful observation has revealed 

 the fact that, as our timber belts have iDeen removed, apple-growing has 

 steadily decreased. Therefore, if the above theory for the cause of fail- 

 ure is correct, we can not with any degree of certainty look to the future 

 for an increase in apples. I do not wish to be understood as advocating 

 that wind-breaks alone will insure a crop of apples. There are other 

 conditions which are necessary to success, namely, keeping up the fertil- 

 ity of the soil, judicious pruning, and spraying to prevent scab and codlin 

 moth. I am not prepared to say at this time what influence the removal 

 of our forests has upon the amount and distribution of rainfall; but, 

 judging from the increasing drouths which have visited this state during 

 the past few years, it is evident to me that agriculture is suffering from 

 this cause to as great an extent as horticulture. I believe it to be a law 

 of nature that the more the timber belts are removed from a countrv the 



