REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 311 



Another class of shrubs for hedges and screens might be added. Mr. Whit- 

 ney had these arranged on a large sheet of paper in their several classes. 



Mr. Holt spoke in favor of and encouraged the planting of nut-bearing 

 trees. He thought that either the butternut or chestnut were more profitable 

 than the peach and the trees were not so liable to get winter-killed. 



The meeting then adjourned until the next monthly meeting, to be held on 

 Saturday, May 1. 



May Meeting. 

 Wm, M. Collier read the following paper at this meeting. 



A CITY MARKET. 



In bringing this subject of the establishment of a city market before this 

 society, it is not with any expectation that any action will be taken to bring 

 about a much needed reform in our methods of disposing of the products of 

 the soil; but rather with the hope of drawing out considerable discussion. 

 The more we agitate this subject, the better. The protection of home indus- 

 tries is one of the fundamental principles of our national government. But 

 why confine it to the jurisdiction of the nation ? Why should not our city 

 government protect and foster the agricultural and horticultural interests of 

 the surrouuding country? 



Under existing conditions, our products — both fruit and vegetable — are sold 

 from door to door, by a large number of small growers, and by another class 

 living in the city who procure their stock from Grand Haven, Grand Rapids 

 and other places, and usually consists of the refuse and stale stock left over 

 from day to day. The stock they offer for sale naturally accumulates at com- 

 mission houses and should go to the refuse pile instead of being offered for 

 consumption. Where no city market exists and where peddlers are not 

 licensed, fresh wholesome products must be brought in competition, and sold 

 for nearly the same price as an inferior article. Consequently producers have 

 nothing to encourage them in trying to grow anything of superior quality or 

 attractiveness. We do grow fruits here, as you all know, that we need not be 

 ashamed to offer for sale in the most exacting market, or place before the most 

 critical epicure. But you rarely see them offered for sale in our home market. 

 It is very seldom that our retailers place our finer fruits before their custom- 

 ers. Why ? Because our streets are full of peddlers following each other 

 from house to house like a funeral procession with their cry of "Strawberries, 

 sweet corn, green peas," etc., from morning till night. Morning did I say? 

 Why I have been told that there is no rest for the weary citizen after four 

 o'clock in the morning. They are kept awake by the monotonous cry of the 

 peddler. Now what is the result ? The growers who rajse fine fruits and 

 vegetables do not peddle. To produce that class of goods, the time that 

 would be consumed in peddling must be devoted at home. 



We offer a superior article of fruit to our retailers here at home, but they 

 do not offer us any better price than for an inferior grade, for the reason 

 that the market is so uncertain, owing to consumers being supplied by 



