PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 109 



A most pleasant and valuable feature of the meeting was ttie drive 

 made about the country Friday forenoon. Here again the generous atten- 

 tion of the St. Joseph people was manifest. Carriages were provided for 

 from sixty to one hundred guests, including the delegation from the 

 nurserymen's convention, and they were taken south from St. Joseph, 

 then east across the river, out to the orchards of President Morrill, and 

 back through Benton Harbor. Despite the cold, drizzling rain which 

 fell during a considerable part of the forenoon, this ride was enjoyed 

 thoroughly, both for the beautiful scenery it afforded and for the study 

 of methods of cultivation of nearly every species of fruit grown in the 

 state. Upon many of the farms the cultivation is of a high order, though 

 there were enough lamentable exceptions to park the rule. On the whole, 

 we think cultivation is much better in this region than in any of the 

 counties further north. Only in a few cases, however, was apparent the 

 practice of thinning the fruit from peach trees. The only orchards which 

 were inspected on foot were those of Mr. Morrill, of which much has 

 already been said in print, and concerning which the report of the com- 

 mittee given herewith in no respect exaggerates. The scrupulously clean 

 ground; the wonderfully perfect and vigorous foliage, marking the 

 orchards from a long distance; the strong, smooth, healthy trunks; the 

 rich earth, showing everywhere the color and texture acquired from 

 generous fertilizing; the abundant fruit, carefully thinned, only that 

 which was perfect remaining; the remarkable size of the trees according 

 to age; the round, open, symmetrical heads of the trees, set low on the 

 trunks, bearing evidence of extreme care and intelligence in pruning, 

 and the general air of thrift and completeness, elicited unrestrained 

 praise from every visitor. It was clearly evident to all that Mr. Morrill's 

 precepts, so often and freely given to his fellows, in no respect exceeds 

 his practice, but, rather, are below his actual demonstration of them. 

 In comparison with the orchards of Mr. Morrill and some others of the 

 neighborhood, there are thousands of plantations in Michigan which 

 appear as brush patches; and still the owners of the latter think they 

 are growing peaches as well as anybody. Verily, the average Michigan 

 fruitgrower has much yet to learn and much still to practice before he 

 becomes really worthy of his calling. 



The visit of a delegation of twenty to thirty members of the American 

 Nurserymen's association, w^hich had been in session the preceding two 

 days, in Chicago, added very much to the interest of the last day's pro- 

 ceedings. These gentlemen made many expressions of their wonder and 

 pleasure in the views they had that morning of Michigan orchards and 

 methods. Not less profuse were they in their thanks for the hospitalities 

 they enjoyed. Among the number was Prof. VanDeman, now of Virginia, 

 but for some years a resident of Michigan, and who was for some time 

 pomologist of the national department of agriculture. His participation 

 in the discussions was a source of much enlightenment to his hearers. 

 The nurserymen were an exceptionally bright-looking lot of men, com- 

 ing from nearly all the eastern and some of the southern states. 



