240 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



''Dried Fruits as Food," was the title of an excellent address by Prof. 

 Allen of San Jose. The dried fruit, already mentioned as being served 

 by the young ladies, was under his supervision. He pointed to this as a 

 practical object lesson. The audience had a chance to sample sun-dried 

 apricots, peaches, pears, prunes, nectarines, cherries, and many of the 

 small fruits. He claimed that fruit was very digestable and economical, 

 that its medicinal qualities were not properly appreciated. He declarea, 

 "If you would retain the bloom of health upon your cheek, the elasticity 

 of youth in your step, the vigor of manhood in your brain and brawn, eat 

 fruit.'' Quoting from another, he added : "Fed by the best milk drawn 

 from the breast of old Mother Earth, fostered by the pure rains of heaven, 

 ripened by the glorious, life-giving sunshine, it is not a symbol or type, 

 but the very embodiment of a perfect food for the human race." 



I have given prominence to the pleasant manner we were received and 

 shown about the state, and to how our attention was frequently called 

 to the productions of each locality as displayed in some room or building 

 in every village and city we visited, the fine appearance of their orchards 

 and vineyards; and even in their royal hospitality the possibilities of 

 horticulture were constantly spread before us in fruits and flowers and 

 after-dinner speeches. 



The overshadowing importance which Californians attach to their 

 products was strikingly illustrated in their wonderful display at the 

 World's Columbian Exposition. The state has shown its appreciation 

 by making liberal appropriations for the encouragement of fruitgrowing, 

 and in passing stringent laws for protection against disease and insects. 



A month's contact and observation with this sort of enthusiasm 

 impressed me more than ever before with the like importance of our own 

 horticultural interest, recalling political conventions, Fourth of July 

 orations, and many other gatherings where state affairs are considered; 

 and you will remember our frequent boast, "Michigan: first in lumber, 

 copper, iron ore, and salt." How little we have to show for the rapid 

 disappearance of what was once the grandest forest on the continent! 

 True, it built up villages and cities, gave employment to men, stimulated 

 railroad building, and the establishment of boat lines, but its great 

 wealth has mainly gone out of our state, leaving vast areas of barren 

 land with little permanent improvement of value. With what pride we 

 talk of our immense deposits of copper and iron ore! The mines are 

 principally owned in other states, and not much of the profit remains for 

 the development of our own commonwealth. It seems to me we shall 

 repeat California's experience in finding that horticultural pursuits lead 

 in the production of home wealth, in occupying and improving its vacant 

 lands, building homes, school-houses, churches, and the usual equipment 

 of a progressive state. 



I remember selling many parcels of land for eastern owners to those 

 who bought for the timber, the purchaser often remarking there was 

 little value after the timber was taken off. Of many notable examples, 

 I will mention one in Allegan county, near South Haven. Eighty acres 

 sold for $10 per acre; the timber brought a good price, and five acres of 

 it netted |51 per acre for the timber. The purchaser declared this would 

 be the most valuable crop it would ever produce, and was pleased when 

 he sold it for |7 per acre. Soon after, ten acres, which included the said 



