TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING. 63 



fungi are not so severe, where the natural elements of both soil and climate, 

 abound to the extent they do there. 



When our fruitgrowers learn that fungicides, to be effective, must be 

 applied as a preventive, rather than a cure, I believe there will be nothing 

 to fear in that direction. 



In conclusion, to any one desiring to engage in fruitgrowing. I would 

 say, look well to the natural elements of soil and climate. 



C. A. SESSIONS. 

 IN LENAWEE COUNTY. 



The present condition of fruitgrowing in Lenawee county is rather quiet. 



In years when the insect crop is a failure and fungus diseases do not 

 materialize, and when the sunshine and the showers come at proper intervals, 

 and the fruit grows large and handsome without any labor, and prices are 

 exceptionally good, then many of our people become quite enthusiastic 

 horticulturists; but in years like the past two or three have been, when all 

 these conditions are reversed, then these same men may be found running 

 some other line of business, or possibly waiting for the good seasons to 

 come again. 



We have, however, a few faithful, hardworking horticulturists who are 

 meeting every obstacle according to the best known methods, and are 

 making a fair degree pi success and advancement from year to year. 

 ^ At blooming time last spring, the promise for a fine crop of fruit was 

 perhaps never better; but June and July set these fair promises all aside. 

 Our orchards looked as though a fire had run through them. 



The excessive wet of the spring and early summer was followed by 

 severe drouth, and the foliage on the apple and pear trees never seemed to 

 recover. Consequently it is believed the trees are not now in the best 

 condition for future usefulness. 



In the northwestern part of our county, where peaches are grown to any 

 considerable extent, the crop was a fair one the last year, and the trees are 

 believed to be in fair condition for future crops. In many of the vineyards 

 the grape crop was almost an entire failure, from mildew and black-rot 

 and neglect, while in other vineyards, that were well cared for, the crop 

 was fair, and the present condition of the vines is good. 



So, taking all things into consideration, we believe the prospects of a 

 reasonably good reward to the faithful, industrious fruitgrowers of Lenawee 

 county are not wholly discouraging. d. g. edmiston. 



IN WESTEEN ALLEGAN COUNTY. 



Fruit trees and plants of all kinds here in western Allegan county went 

 through the winter of 1891 and 1892 in the best of condition, and the 

 prospect for a full crop of all kinds of fruit was highly encouraging up to 

 the first of May. About this time, or perhaps a little later, cold rains set 

 in and continued for some time; and as most kinds of fruit trees were in 

 fnll bloom, great damage was done. 



The peach crop within one or two miles of lake Michigan has been almost 

 an entire failure in many of the orchards, owing, it is thought, to the fogs 

 that prevailed near the lake, together with excessive and continuous wet 

 weather. Peach orchards that were located inland and away from the 

 lake from three to six miles, produced full crops of fine fruit. The fogs 



