TWENTY THIRD ANNUAL, MEETING. 87 



making selections here and there which, when compiled into an orchard 

 list, we believe would constitute a collection from which the commercial 

 orchardist could figure with a tolerable degree of certainty as to his future 

 possibilities in fruitgrowing. 



Is this not a practical work for a practical fruit man of Michigan, thus 

 to compile a list of valuable orchard sorts that can be referred to by future 

 planters as thoroughly adapted to the purposes sought? 



Sure it is that new interest is being awakened on this and kindred sub- 

 jects connected with fruitgrowing, and with a soil, climate, facilities, and 

 markets unsurpassed, abundantly accessible, we can but feel that a field is 

 open and ready for a rich harvest to all whose inclination and taste fit 

 them to engage in the most elevating, ennobling, and healthful occupation 

 in which mankind can engage. Hence we urge upon you, when consider- 

 ing the legacy to be handed down to the family now growing up, teach 

 the girls as well as the boys to love horticultural pursuits, educate them 

 thoroughly in botany, chemistry, and entomology, and neglect not to 

 plant such a variety of those fruits as can be grown with success in your 

 locality, on which practical results can be sought and attained, and the 

 coming generation will be in a position to reap a reward far beyond our 

 fondest anticipations as to the possibilities of future fruitgrowing in your 

 state. 



ROT AND BLACK-KNOT. 



At conclusion of Mr. Willard's paper a question was asked by Mr. 

 Bird of Ann Arbor, " How do you get rid of plum rot? " 



Mr. Willard: In the first place, I feed the trees well. In a measure, 

 rot may be averted by strong, healthy foliage. I also carefully remove 

 the rotting fruit; but, really, we do not have much rot in New York. I 

 think defoliation has much to do with it. Barn manure is a good fertil- 

 izer for plums, but I use wood ashes, getting them by the carload from 

 Canada, and bone meal. I think these make harder wood than do other 

 fertilizers. Plums, of all fruits, need abundant feeding. 



Mr. Joshua Hill of Pontiac had asked by letter if a ten per cent, solu- 

 tion of sulphuric acid would cure black-knot. 



" Well," said Mr. Willard," I would not care to try it. I would only 

 cut the dog off right back of the ears " 



Mr. Post: Have you ever used chemical potash? 



Mr. Willard: O yes, I would not hesitate to use it, but ashes are better- 

 Something beyond the potash and phosphoric acid is obtainable from 

 them. I never saw such results as from two tons of ashes and 300 pounds 

 of fine-ground bone, per acre, to a worn apple orchard, on light soil in 

 Massachusetts. 



Mr. Kellogg: Use of ashes is all right, but don't set the hired man to 

 do it. My man put ashes very thickly on raspberries, among the canes, 

 and when it rained the ashes "ate up" the acre of raspberries. 



