342 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Hoarketed in bushel baskets because they are best known in such a package. 

 The following resolution was offered by Mr. W. K. Munson: 



Resolved, That a committee, compoeed of the basket manufacturers repreeented 

 here, and two members from each fruit society, be elected to confer together and 

 recommend a standard size and style of package for our use, and report at the 

 afternoon session. 



The resolution was adopted and J. A. Pearce and W. K. Munson of the 

 Grand River Valley society; D. W. Wiley and Alexander Hamilton of 

 the West Michigan association; A. J. Brown on the part of the commis- 

 sion men; E. A. 8towe on the part of the retail grocers, and H. O. Brah- 

 man and L. C. Woodman on the part of the Grand Rapids fruitgrowers^ 

 were chosen such a committee. 



afternoon session. 



At the afternoon session, the subject for discussion was that of " Experi- 

 ence of the season with varieties under cultivation." In the absence of 

 G. H. LaFleur of Millgrove, the discussion on his paper, "Can anything 

 be done to induce our old apple trees to produce fruit enough for home 

 use?" was general, and several members gave experience with apple 

 orchards, showing that with proper care and cultivation the orchards could 

 be made to bear good crops. It was the opinion of the members that the 

 apple crop properly attended to was a very projQtable crop. 



J. G. Ramsdell of Traverse City, who was on the program to read a 

 paper on " Small fruits," was not present and the topic was given out for 

 general discussion. Thomas Wilde, the veteran fruitgrower of Ottawa 

 county, gave his points on strawberry culture. He said the Warfield berry 

 was altogether the best for market. He said the best fertilizer for berries 

 on sandy soil is potash, although plenty of stable manure was excellent. 

 He said the three best varieties for shipment were Warfield, Crawford and 

 Long John, while Jessie, Bubeck, Crawford, Sharpless and Eureka were, 

 in order named, the best for the home market. He had strawberries for 

 sale from June 15 to July 15. 



James L. Hopkins of South Haven, who is a successful grower of goose- 

 berries, gave some points on the culture of this not very popular berry. 

 He said the gooseberry was the most profitable of small fruits. A neigh- 

 bor of his put out half an acre of gooseberries and netted from $100 to 

 $200 per year from it. The same man had spent $90 for ninety bushels 

 of seed wheat and had raised 400 bushels which he sold for $350, He put 

 out 500 plants of the gooseberry and was sorry he had not mortgaged his 

 farm and bought 5,000 plants, for the gooseberry proved to be the best 

 crop on the farm. 



evening session. 



« 



In the beginning of the evening session the committee appointed to 

 suggest a uniform shipping package for fruit, presented the following 

 report : 



Resolved, That we, the committee appointed by the meeting of the fruitgrowers and 

 basket makers, recommend the adoption for the shipment of peaches and grapes, what 

 is known as the regular one fifth Climax peach basket, that has been so largely used 

 the past season; we also recommend the adoption of what is known as the standard live 

 poxind basket. 



