REPORTS OF DISTRICT AND LOCAL SOCIETIES. 347 



attended. The fruit business is a very active one, and the fruitman must 

 make use of every moment in order to keep up with bis work. During 

 the ripening season, shipments are made daily, excepting on Saturday, 

 and on this day, often, the home demand is generally supplied, and thus 

 local orders are delivered. Our meetings are held on Saturdays; and, 

 besides delivering fruits about the city, there is often important field work 

 put off for this day, and thus the time for attending a horticultural meet- 

 ing is frequently crowded out, though often with much regret. 



The fall meetings were largely devoted to the perfecting of arrangements 

 for the holding of the annual State meeting. Different committees were 

 needed to perform this work; these to meet frequently and reported 

 progress made, and a good deal of time was thus consumed. 



General review of fruit crops. — The apple was a total failure. The 

 trees had blossomed well but failed to bring forth the fruit. Severe night 

 frosts were probably the cause. The leaves were badly damaged, also, so 

 that most of the growing season was required to refoliate the trees. The 

 peach crop was good on the whole, though the orchards on the banks of 

 the Huron river had their fruit buds largely killed during the winter. 

 Prices were good. From $2.00 to $3.00 per bushel was realized for first- 

 class fruit. The crop was mostly shipped to Detroit, the bulk going as 

 freight during the night. The loading was done during the day, and in 

 good order, no hurry being necessary as when shipped by express and 

 tossed pell-mell into the car. The pear yielded fairly well and a satisfac- 

 tory price was obtained. The plum does not make much headway here 

 with us. A good many trees have been planted, though the fruit is always 

 scarce. Some scattering trees bear pretty well, though, as an orchard 

 fruit, it has not been successful. The black knot is largely responsible for 

 the failure. The plum and the peach do not seem to thrive well together. 

 The conditions, right for one, seem uncongenial for the other. The grape 

 crop in general was good, though black rot still cuts off a portion of the 

 crop. It is a very serious disease to fight. For commercial jourposes the 

 grape is not planted very much, and the number of vineyards does not 

 increase largely, but many vines are planted by farmers for home use. 

 The Concord is still the chief variety grown. Woodruff Red is making 

 considerable headway among the newer sorts. The Niagara is a popular 

 white grape and is a fairly good keeper. For winter keeping, the Rogers 

 hybrids, owing to their thick skins and richness in sugar, are good sorts. 

 Quinces usually do well here, but are grown in limited quantities. Straw- 

 berries are not grown extensively any more. The crop this season was a 

 limited one. The raspberry is grown very extensively with us, and is 

 increasing very much about here. The Cuthbert leads all other sorts, the 

 Gregg closely following. Currants and gooseberries do well but do not 

 receive much attention as a market fruit. Our heavy clay soil, largely 

 prevailing, is a hindrance to these small fruits. 



Ever since the organization of this society, the fruit exhibits at our 

 county fairs have been in charge by our members, and the displays have 

 been much improved. The nomenclature of fruits is attaining a higher 

 standard at these fairs, and artistic displays are growing features. Farm- 

 ing is giving way to fruitgrowing in the vicinity of Ann Arbor, the peach 

 leading. Jacob Ganzhorn, 



Sec'y, 



