PROCEEDINGS OP THE ANNUAL .MEETING. 233 



while the standards (Bartlett and Clapp Favorite) have had a fine crop. 

 The soil and cultivation are same for each. Who will give an explana- 

 tion? The Angoulemes blossomed each year, except one, and have 

 other sorts mixed with them that do bear. 



The quince orchard failed to blossom, owing, I think, to the slug 

 destroying the foliage the year previous, but by spraying the past sum- 

 mer the trees have held their foliage and I shall expect better results 

 next season. 



As to apples, I do not know as they are worth mentioning. After 

 planting and waiting twelve years, I got the first crop, and now do 

 not know what to do with it. For my first shipment, ten crates of 

 fall apples, I received a draft for thirty-one cents. The second ship- 

 ment, five barrels of choice fruit, gave me just thirty-one cents less 

 than the first. Shall we lay it to "free silver" or to the "gold stan- 

 dard"? We will let the politician decide. However, to a "man up 

 a tree," especially an apple tree, it looks like a case of over-production 

 and under-distribution. 



In planting a couple of thousand gooseberries, I made the mistake 

 of setting them in the plum orchard; for I believe that, when plums 

 are set rather closely, they need all the ground, and the berry plants 

 prevent the use of the wheelbarrow bug-catcher. 



Since the experience of 1896, the writer is confident that, to make 

 a success of fruitgrowing on a large scale, requires as much tact, energy, 

 and perseverance as do commercial or manufacturing enterprises; for 

 if not well conducted, the orchardist may find himself in the condi- 

 tion of a groceryman in our town who formerly sailed a lumber craft 

 on lake Michigan. I asked him one day which paid the better, sailing 

 or selling groceries. "Well," he said, "when sailing I made a living 

 and a little more; now I make a living and a little less." 



BY ME. BENTON GEBHART OF HART. 



As I will not be able to meet with you at this time, perhaps you 

 will excuse me and accept my good-Mill with a few words on new 

 and most profitable varieties of fruits as tested by me the past season. 



As regards peaches, a great many were not satisfactory this season. 

 Both new and old varieties were not up to size nor quality. Elberta 

 and Lemon Free stand at the head among new varieties. 



In plums, only the large blue and late-ripening varieties were of any 

 value for profit. Burbank, Gueii, Hudson Egg, German Prune, Quack- 

 enbos. Black Diamond, and Stanton were all good and gave fair returns. 



In apples there were fine specimens of every old standard variety, 

 with many new ones also. Hulbert is one of the best and finest eat- 

 ing apples at this season of year. Its fruit is of size of Wagener, red 

 in color, very crisp and tender. Of several new varieties fruited, Sutton 

 Beauty is a very large and fine red apple, a fine grower, but not so very 

 productive on seven-year trees. Mcintosh is the finest in appearance 

 and quality of all fall apples, with me; beautiful dark red and very 

 productive. Wealthy is productive,, but ripens and drops its fruit too 

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