350 STATE HORTICULTURAL. SOCIETY. ' 



prove beneficial in many ways, but cooperation of the growers will be necessary if any 

 reformation is to be obtained." 



CARELESSNESS WITH THE YELLOWS. 



A general discussion of the paper followed in which it was stated that 

 it was not a difficult matter to burn yellows trees green. Mr. Williams 

 emphasized the fact that more care must be used to destroy all infected 

 trees. It was stated that, by using proper care, new orchards are now 

 being raised around South Haven, where the yellows was once so destruct- 

 ive. O. S. Bush stated that he had no faith in Mr. Bigelow's article as a 

 preventive of the yellows, but moved that a committee be appointed to test 

 it. The motion was carried and the chair appointed O. S. Bush, H. J. 

 KiNGSLEY and James Williams. Mr, Kitchen moved to collect the sub- 

 scriptions that were signed in aid of enforcing the yellows law. Motion 

 carried. 



The question of methods of selling fruit was brought up and Mr. Bige- 

 LOW, who was at one time a commission man, said that if he was a fruit- 

 grower he would not shii) a single package to a commission house. By the 

 present system it is customary for the houses to reship their consignments 

 and make returns at a fair average price. He advocated the auction sale 

 system which is so generally used with California fruit. He knew that 

 buyers soon learn the mark of an honest shipper and always paid a good 

 price for that fruit. 



The march meeting was held in Fennville and a very large attendance 

 was secured. 



After a fine bass solo by Rev. Peschmann, J. H. Crane read the 

 following paper on 



TRANSPORTATION. 



We all understand the meaning of this word in a literal sense, but when the implied 

 meaning is brought to practical application we see there is often a lack of system that 

 greatly detracts from the comprehensive view imagined. Fruit transportation being 

 the subject under consideration, I will endeavor to present some thoughts for our 

 consideration: 



First: — After the fruit is grown ready for harvesting, the question arises what shall 

 be the mode of transporting from the orchard to the packing house. There are various 

 methods employed. Some by locating the packing house in the center of the orchard, 

 have the fruit carried in, thus preventing any damage in getting this far to market. 

 Others convey fruit to the packing house by means of an orchard spring wagon, fruit 

 in bushel baskets. This conveyance is perhaps the best. Others use a boat similar to 

 a stone boat and this makes a very good rig for the fruit is moved with but little jar. 



Having considered transportation from orchard to the packing house, we will dwell 

 for a moment on transportation to place of shipm-^nt. In the pioneer period of fruit 

 raising the means employed in hauling fruit were somewhat ruder, leaving a field open 

 for much improvement in the way of perfecting more accommodating contrivances in 

 the shape of wagon boxes or fruit racks with a diversity of springs under them, which 

 by our past experience has shown us to be absolutely necessary for the moving of fruit, 

 if we would overcome the great strain on the baskets and the bruising of the fruit by 

 the jar of the wagon. These being very objectionable features when the old-fashioned 

 wagon boxes without springs under them were in use. Thus we see the advancement 

 made in perfecting the means of transportation to place of shipment. 



Now we proceed to consider the two modes of transportation to the market of con- 

 sumption. This beautiful fruit country possesses all of the natural advantages, for the 

 surety of a crop almost equal to California, for quality of soil a richness that produces 

 the most luscious fruit raised on the face of the earth, for season of ripening we have a 

 climatic influence which enables us to grow any of the excellent varieties that are now 

 propagated, all ripening with perfection. For nearness to market, our location is nearly 



