TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING. 109 



farmers must combine for self-protection. The Farmers' Alliance would 

 have been a grand institution had it been devoted to mutual improvement, 

 letting politics entirely alone. 



In order to fully develop the resources of our state we must have better 

 harbors. Humanity demands it, commerce demands it, and the people 

 demand it. The time will come when the true American spirit will rise 

 above party ties and unite in demanding a suitable outlet for the products 

 of this growing section. 



BETTEK ROADS WOULD HELP. 



Good and permanent country roads will do much to make possible the 

 changes here spoken of. The products of a truck farm are very heavy. 

 Easy grades and solid gravel roads would lessen the cost nearly one half 

 in getting our stuff to lake or railway. 



If our legislature does not move in the matter of their own accord, they 

 should be flooded with petitions for the improvement of wagon roads. 

 This work should be largely done by convict labor, and a stop put to the 

 manufacture of goods by enforced labor at forty cents per day coming into 

 competition with the same article manufactured with labor at one dollar 

 per day. 



EEPORT ON FRUITS AND MODELS. 



Mr. Nelson Bogue of Batavia, N. Y., submitted the following report from 

 the committee on fruits and models, which was adopted: 



We find from the Cold Storage company of Kalamazoo, fifteen plates of remarkably 

 well preserved varieties of apple. The plates of Hubbardston, Ben Davis, and Spy were 

 particularly fine. This display shows what the system of cold storage will do to pro- 

 long the season of fruits worth preserving. 



The fine display from the Agricultural college consists of ten varieties of apple, four 

 of pear, and one of orange quince. 



The collection of apples was grown by F. G. Porter, Lenawee county. To him are 

 due many thanks for aiding so extensively to make up this fine exhibit. 



The display of pears from Emil Baur of Ann Arbor contains eleven varieties. The 

 Angouleme, Anjou, and Vicar were particularly fine. Added to these are seven vari- 

 eties of apple and samples of fruit syrup. 



Next comes the exhibit of C. W. Millett of Port Huron, made up of ten varieties of 

 apple. The object was to show the disastrous eff'ects of apple scab and to furnish sub- 

 jects for discussion by Prof. Fairohild. 



John C. Schenck of Ann Arbor shows fine samples of quinces and pears. Your 

 committee would make honorable mention of a plate of magnificent Josephine de 

 Malines pears from Mr. S. D. Willard of Geneva. 



We find a very creditable exhibit of grapes, and would favorably mention the collec- 

 tion of fifteen varieties, in excellent condition, shown by W. F. Bird of Ann Arbor; 

 also three plates of seedlings from C. P. Chidester of Battle Creek. These show some 

 keeping properties and are very good in quality. 



The display of canned fruits is exceptionally fine. Jacob Ganzorn of Ann Arbor 

 shows ten cans, made up of raspberries, plums, and peaches in assortment. W. F. Bird 

 of Ann Arbor shows ten cans. Your committee would specially commend the sam- 

 ples of peaches, raspberries, strawberries and crabs. Miss Sarah Fletcher of Ann 

 Arbor exhibits twenty cans, consisting of perfect specimens cf peaches, quinces, cur- 

 rants, pears, and plums. In this display are cans of pickled citron and muskmelon, also 

 cans of blackberry and grape jam. There are also eleven glasses of superior jelly in 

 variety. Added to the above are six specimens of fruit vinegar. The variety and 

 excellent appearance of this collection is especially worthy of most honorable mention. 



Your committee find themselves unable to give proper expression in describing the 

 life-like and natural appearance of the wax specimens of fruit and vegetables placed 



