24 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



sixteen years old, in 1850, and tliey put up then one can of fruit for 

 every day in tlie year, and it was looked upon with the greatest wonder, 

 that there was fresh fruit for every day in the year. They used quart 

 tin cans, the same as now, and the cover was sealed on with solder, as 

 now, a pin-hole being left in the center. When it was just in the right 

 condition, after boiling some time, a drop of solder was put on the pin- 

 hole. Shortly afterward came the glass cans or bottles, which were the 

 wonder of the people. Then the}' made an experiment. They wanted 

 to see whether it would stand shipping, and a friend of the Smiths, who 

 was an ocean captain, carried some of it to Europe and brought it back ; 

 and that story was told everywhere, that the fruit had been shipped to 

 England and back again, and had stood the journey. 



Mr. Morrill: It has occurred to me as rather remarkable that new 

 canning companies are being organized everywhere, while the old can- 

 ning factories at Baltimore, along the Chesapeake bay, and all through 

 Maryland, are idle, and could be bought at twenty-five cents on the dol- 

 lar. The industry is being extended in Michigan, and I understand that 

 you have recently put in a factory here for canning vegetables and fruit. 

 These are things which are very pertinent for you to discuss at the pres- 

 ent time, and I wish you could hear something of the success of canning 

 as it has been started here. 



Mr. Markham: We have an industry of that kind here and we think it 

 means business. Two years ago they canned an immense lot of stuff; 

 peas seemed to be the main article, although we canned everything we 

 could get in the shape of peaches and plums. I sold them my peaches; 

 they also canned apples, but last year we were out of apples. We think 

 everything of the factory and believe that it has come to stay and will 

 be useful. I was well satisfied with m^- sale to them, of peaches; they 

 were pretty nearly all one variety. 



Mr. Morrill: Did they take first-class fruit? 



Mr. Markham: The}- took mine, just as they ran, except culls, and they 

 paid me two shillings for those. They gave me seventy-five cents right 

 through, that year, delivered at the factory. I drew eighty bushels in one 

 day with one horse. I was well satisfied ; some thought I might do better, 

 but it saved a lot of work. I can do a little better with my plums else- 

 where than with them. They paid $1.25 that year, and I am inclined to 

 think that, when we have a good crop, that would be a good price, though 

 I think I can do a little better. But if I have a crop of peaches and they 

 will give me seventy-five cents, they will get them. 



Mr. Burdick: If I can get seventy-five cents at the factory I shall not 

 bother much about shipping. 



Mr. Kice: Mr. Markham stated that his peaches were all of one variety. 

 What was that variety? 



Mr. Markham : Mostly Chilis, and they considered them as good stock 

 as they could get. 



Mr. Morrill: I think Mr. Willard has said that is the best canning 

 variety in the world. 



Mr. Burdick: They are if you give them water enough. They want 

 water. 



Mr. Brassiugton: For two years we have been interested in this vicin- 

 ity in the canning factoiy. The principal crop canned has been peas. To 



