PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. Ill 



We desire particularly to call the attention of the society to two varieties of seed- 

 ling cherry (unnamed) originated twenty years ago and exhibited by Stephen Cook 

 of Benton Harbor. They are seedlings of Yellow Spanish crossed with Black 

 Tartarian. No. 2 is of large size; very dark red, nearly black; ovate heart-shape, 

 flattened on one side; stem 1% inches long, slender, deep set; skin firm, pulp mod- 

 erately soft, melting, very dark red; quite sweet and juicj\ Said to be very hardy 

 and productive, after a test of twenty years. A very promising sort for market 

 or family use. No. 4 is of a dark, rich red slightly shaded with black; large; slightly 

 ovate, laterally compressed, slightly heart-shape; stem rather larger than No. 2, 

 firmly inserted; flesh quite firm; free from strings, sweet, light red, free. An 

 excellent shipper. Both of the above sorts are too promising to be lost sight of, 

 and we urge the originator to have them tested in other sections. 



We also noted a seedling strawberry originated by Thos. Wilde of Harrington 

 and named Flush. The foliage is large, firm, and healthy; fruit-stems very stout, 

 berries large, regular, and quite firm; color light I'ed; flavor good, slightly acid. 

 Season said to be late, about with Gandy. Worthy of trial. If it proves equally 

 valuable in other sections it will find an empty place in the fruit list. 



There was also on exhibition by Geo. F. Comings of St. Joseph a collection of 

 pear twigs showing the foliage and fruit of twelve varieties. 



R. Morrill of Benton Harbor exhibits a branch of North Star currant. It is of 

 strong growth and very heavily laden with clusters of medium size. The berries 

 are of good size, bright red, and just beginning to ripen. Mr. Morrill also shows 

 a branch of Columbus gooseberry. This also shows a strong, healthy growth, 

 and bears a very heavy crop of large, yellowish-green oval berries. 



Other parties have brought in branches of peach, plum, apple, and cherry, which 

 show that the fruit trees of all kinds in this section are already bending under 

 their load. 



Mrs. B. F. Pixley has contributed a number of handsome ornamental plants, 

 including palms and ferns, for the decoration of the hall, and the thanks of the 

 society are due to J. H. Brumby of St. Joseph for his efforts in ornamenting the 

 stage with greenhouse plants, hanging baskets, and cut flowers. 



J. R. Johnson of Dallas, Texas, exhibited a plant of the Columbian Imperial 

 grape, together with specimens of the branches, leaves, and green fruit. It is 

 claimed to be of Labrusca parentage with a trace of Riparia, but the latter does_^not 

 show in the foliage. The plant is verj- strong and vigorous, with numerous roots 

 of unusually large size. The stems are coarse but firm, with internodes of medium 

 length. The foliage is very large, smooth, and but slightly lobed; petals very 

 long and stout. From the half-grown specimens it is evident that the bunch is 

 of large size, with berries of enormous dimensions. The appearance of the plant 

 indicates that it has unusual ability to withstand drouth and disease, and, as it is 

 said to have originated in Ohio and to have Avithstood a winter, with a tempera- 

 ture thirty degrees below zero, in the northwest, its hardiness in Michigan is 

 probable. 



Your committee visited the fruit farms of the president, R. Morrill, June 11. 

 The blackberry plantation is remarkably fine and is setting fruit abundantly. The 

 treatment of the vines is peculiar, they being cut back to less than three feet, each 

 vine being tied to a wire stretched along the rows. The peach orchard of Mr. 

 Morrill, comprising thirty-five acres in excellent condition, contain a large number 

 of trees set during the last three or four years which are loaded with fine fruit. 

 The soil is of ideal quality, heavily fertilized with wood ashes and freely culti- 

 vated with Breed's weeder. The system of pruning is peculiar to Mr. Morrill. 

 The trees are headed low and the tops are severely cut back each year. An open 

 top is secured for the purpose of receiving the largest amount of sunshine. The 

 large number of muskmelons just coming into flower are in fine condition and 

 promise a large crop. 



We also find a large and interesting exhibit of punlps and spraying apparatus 

 by Mon-ill & Morley of Benton Harbor. Their Eclipse pump has recently been 

 improved in several minor points and deserves high rank on account of its sim- 

 plicity and durability of construction, easy working, accessibility to different parts, 

 and, above all. its efficiency. The assortment of bamboo and brass extension rods 

 furnishes sizes adapted to all kinds of crops, and form an attachment that should 

 be with all spray pumps. The double Vermorel nozzles, as shown by the above 

 firm, are adjustable at all angles and do excellent and rapid work. The copper 



