338 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



cated, as a remedy for the evil of unhandy packaf?es, which are a bugbear 

 in shipping fruit, that by a unanimity of action the fruitgrowers establish 

 a certain size. All manufacturers would then manufacture that size, and 

 those that would not do so would have to stop making other packages if all 

 growers would agree to buy only a certain size. This would make ship- 

 ping easier. He urged the necessity of having good roads. This is of the 

 utmost importance to those who have to go a long distance with their pro- 

 duce, and is of equal importance to all farmers, whether fruitgrowers or 

 not. "The society is out of debt," he said, "and our expenses were less 

 than the year before, and this year they will be still less." 

 |i iThe following committees were announced by the president: 

 HEesolutions— The Hon. F. J. Kussell of Hart, D. W. Wiley of Doug- 

 las, and Clark Sheffer of South Haven. 



Fruit — A. Hamilton, Thomas Wilde, and A. Bos. 



The question box was opened for the receipt of questions during a recess 

 which was taken for that purpose. Then followed a general discussion. 

 Mr. E. M. Kellogg of Ionia was called upon to give his opinion on the 

 benefit derived from mulching sandy land in the fall. He said there was 

 no benefit in doing so, with sandy soil, but he had found it beneficial on 

 heavier soil. For several years he had mulched everything. Mulching 

 strawberries made a late crop, but it gave a better crop and was conse- 

 quently profitable. Mulching with manure was a bad policy and spread 

 weed seeds, but with a covering of chafipy straw the plants are protected 

 and the leaves remain green during the winter. As soon as picking is 

 over he mows his plants and then burns them over. He thought a great 

 deal of that practice, as it helps to kill off the insects. 



" Will cutting back new peach trees in September help to ripen the 

 fruit?" was the next question, D. W. Wiley knew no good reason for 

 cutting back the trees. Alexander Hamilton thought it would not tend 

 to ripen the fruit, having the contrary effect instead. W. N. Cook knew 

 of a case in which a growth of brush had been stimulated with detriment 

 to the fruit. Mr. Pearce knew of an instance in which the trees had been 

 seriously injured by the practice, and did not favor it. Mr. Adams tried it 

 on one tree, and the tree did not produce any fruit and was permanently 

 injured. 



Secretary Whitney related the history of the Michigan exhibit of fruit 

 for the world's fair. The canned fruit exhibit, he said, had been neglected. 

 Cans had been contracted for to hold seven and eleven pints; but when 

 they were ordered the committee was told that the works had shut down, 

 and no cans could be procured until Sept. 1. 



J. J. Woodman of Paw Paw was called upon to open the discussioii on 

 the question, "What has been done, is being done, and should be done, to 

 make the Michigan fruit exhibit at the Columbian Fair a success?" He 

 said that he had not been connected with the pomological exhibit 

 as was understood, but had taken a few steps in the matter and that 

 he had appointed Judge J. G. Kamsdell to take charge of the 

 same. He was not here to instruct or advise, but merely on business con- 

 nected with the World's Fair. "You have started," said he, "to make an 

 exhibition at the World's Fair and you can do it well. I've been over the 

 world a great deal and I have never seen a place that equaled Michigan. 

 I have said it and say it again, Michigan is the garden of the world. I am 

 here to hear what you have to say. I am not a fruitgrower, but am an 

 ordinary farmer, and as such I'm connected with you in your interests, 



