296 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



first time this season. The trees were loaded to their utmost. Fruit of large 

 size; beautiful yellow flesh; form round, and outside color dark red; quality 

 good. 



The apple crop was full, though the codling moth rendered the major part 

 of the yield unprofitable. The good Northern Spy is falling in line with 

 other good old sorts in failing. The apples of this variety are largely ill 

 shaped and otherwise very imperfect. The Baldwin is about the only good 

 market apple left us. We must either learn to revive our good old sorts, or 

 we must get new varieties to take their places. This is certainly an import- 

 ant matter for us fruit men to work at. There is a great deal of experimental 

 work to be done. The man who grows fruit for market hesitates to under- 

 take it. His earnings do not allow of much experimental work. Experi- 

 mental stations are becoming public necessities and ought to be established 

 numerously without delay. 



Marketable apples sold for #1.00 per barrel to shippers. 



The grape crop was excellent. The steady dry weather was favorable to 

 develop its best qualities. Even the Catawba put in its smiles which seldom 

 ripens here. How good were the Jefferson, Martha and many others of the 

 newer sorts ! 



The Concord was unusually good. The bees worked industriously upon the 

 berries that were cracked. I don't believe they puncture grapes without a 

 broken skin. Home prices ranged from 2 to 3 cents per pound, in quantity; 

 from 4 to 5 cents at retail in the stores. There was very little grape rot this 

 season. I had all affected berries picked off from my clusters and destroyed 

 iis fast as they were detected, being careful not to lose any on the ground. 



Pears and quinces bore generally well and sold for $1.00 to $2.00 per bushel 

 at home. Cherries were also abundant and cheap. Common sour cherries 

 were sold for $1.00 and $1.50 per bushel. Home grown plums are rarely seen 

 in our market. The finest are shipped in here from the northern counties. 



Mr. George April, a large and enterprising farmer seven miles from Ann 

 Arbor, has placed on his farm an improved cider press for the manufacture 

 of apple jelly. The works are run by steam, with a capacity of 20 horse 

 power. The cost of complete machinery is $1,800.00. 



Our society sent a committee to inspect the works, which reported very 

 favorably of the jelly made by this process and of the dispatch with which it 

 is made. Six gallons of jelly is the yield from 15 bushels of apples. Farm- 

 ers go there to have apples worked into jelly on shares. Some of our mem- 

 bers have had jelly made from pears and quinces at this establishment, and 

 they report satisfactory results. It is believed that by this process of manu- 

 facturing jelly, the red raspberry may be turned to good use in case af a glut 

 in the market. Also the soft red raspberries which often accumulate in wet 

 seasons. 



The following abstract of a paper was appended to Mr. Ganzhorn's report, 

 entitled 



INSECTS AND INSECTICIDES. 



BY PROF. J. B. STEERE. 



The subject of insects and insecticides which you have given me to speak 

 upon is a broad one, altogether too broad to be carefully and fully treated of in 

 the time allowed at our meetings. 



