PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 155 



tion, careful pruning, and fertilization. With us we do not adopt the 

 same systems that you do, but the methods are essentially similar. We 

 do not find it necessary to use wood ashes in fertilizing, as much as you 

 do. Our great fertilizer is clover and barnyard manure. 



Mr. Henry Augustine of Illinois: I feel since taking that ride this 

 morning, and observing how the people of Michigan treat their orchards, 

 and the work they are doing, as if I didn't know anything; and I am 

 glad a hundred fold that I came here, for I learned some things which 

 will probably do me good when I need them. I have heard great stories 

 of your orchards, and the work here, but the half was never told. In 

 reference to the subject of discussion, I wish to say that I have, in the 

 last two years, been more fully convinced than ever of the advantage of 

 thinning fruits of different kinds, not only the peach and apple and plum, 

 but manv other varieties of fruit; and not onlv for the sake of maturing 

 the present crop, but, as has been intimated, it prepares the trees better 

 for future usefulness, and I am satisfied that we have never appreciated 

 the value of that part of the work. I don't know that we do yet. I am 

 sure I was in deep ignorance until a year or so ago, when my attention 

 was called to the matter of thinning; and further, I am satisfied the great 

 majority of us have not even yet a full appreciation of the work of culti- 

 vating, the necessity for thorough cultivation of our orchards. We 

 observed that this morning. I noticed some orchards which did not 

 promise so well, and they were seeded down in timothy. I don't think 

 we saw a tree anywhere, under cultivation, but it was in a flourishing, 

 healthy condition. I doubt if we appreciate the value of thorough culti- 

 vation as a fertilizer and as a mulch and everything else. People say, 

 *'Shall we mulch our trees?" Mulch them by thorough cultivation. 

 President Morrill referred to what I thought of the prospects of this 

 business in the future. I don't believe we are planting trees half fast 

 enough to keep pace with the increased population of our country. Not 

 only that, but, with the increased demand for fruit, I believe, as someone 

 said before, the more fruit is eaten the more it is in demand, and I am 

 convinced of that fact myself, that we are just beginning to appreciate 

 the value of fruit. I would call your attention to the fact that, in a 

 niajority of years, not one person in ten, nor one in twenty, uses fruit 

 as a daily diet; and when we get enough fruit so we can supply the whole 

 country, even if we have to grow it a little cheaper (we can afford to 

 grow it cheaper), I think when we do that we will begin to realize the real 

 value of fruit. 



Prof. VanDeman: There is one other thought I would like to mention, 

 and that is in regard to one of the effects of spraying, which I think we 

 often overlook. The spraying of trees or plants affected with fungous 

 diseases makes the fruit larger and thicker and of better qualit.y. I 

 don't care if the spraying don't touch the fruit, it makes the fruit better 

 because it gives the leaves an opportunity to develop the tree to an 

 extent not attainable with diseased leaves. It makes the fruit larger and 

 better in quality. We do not apprehend that at first, until we come to 

 think about it. In a new country they can grow beautiful fruit, because 

 they are not troubled with a myriad of diseases and pests which affect 

 orchards in the older country. P.ut they say now, in New York state, that 

 with the recent information in regard to spraying they can grow just 



