312 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



peddlers' wagons, that they do not like to take any risks of its spoiling on 

 their hands. Consequently our finer fruits seek a foreign market to the detri- 

 ment of our consumers. With a city market our retailers would know how 

 much of it they could handle to advantage, because they would better under- 

 stand the needs of the consumer and the amount of their daily trade, as it 

 would be more uniform. As it is now they can tell nothing about it. 



But some will say, if we buy at a store we will have to pay more for it than 

 if we buy of peddlers. Perhaps there is occasionally a case where the retail- 

 er's price is higher than the price on the street, but I can assure you it is not 

 the rule. To the consumer a city market would give the advantage of a bet- 

 ter assortment, and a greater variety to choose from, than could be found in a 

 peddler's wagon. It would have the advantage of being fresh and clean, as 

 anything not wholesome would be ruled off the market, as it all comes under 

 inspection. Then there would be a stated price each day according to the 

 supply and demand for each product on the market. Now there is no market 

 price for anything, every man has a price of his own without regard to quality 

 or grade. To the producers it would be of great benefit also. It would be the 

 means of bringing them together to their mutual advantage. It would have 

 the tendency to create a pleasant spirit of rivalry between them as to who 

 should offer the finest products to be placed on the market in the most attract- 

 ive shape. 



It would in fact be one of the best means of educating him to the needs of 

 our home market in regard to better fruits and vegetables, and the best meth- 

 ods of placing them before all classes of the trade, both wholesale and retail. 

 Under the present system of go-as-you-please, he knows nothing of the supply 

 and demand for any product, and consequently does not plant either with 

 intelligence or profit. As a sanitary measure it would be of considerable 

 importance, as everything offered for sale would be open to the inspection of a 

 health officer, or market master. Perishable fruits are carted all over the city 

 from morning till noon — over cross-walks, etc., through the dust and dirt 

 which they cannot escape, and surely are not in very good condition for the 

 table. 



Muskegon, as every one has reason to believe, is bound to make a city of 

 considerable importance. With the advent of greater transportation facilities, 

 both by rail and water (for one will certainly bring the other), come increased 

 manufacturing interests, and a largely increased population. This will call 

 for an extension of the street railway all over the city; the paving or gravel- 

 ing of streets, and other internal improvements; and with these improvements 

 do not forget " the establishment of a city market." 



Mr. Collier's paper was discussed by Messrs. Campeney, Tyler, C. L. Whit- 

 ney, Chas. Whitney, and Wm. Collier. 



June Meeting. 

 At this meeting Henry H. Holt read the following article: 



CAN SANDY SOIL BE MADE PROFITABLE. 

 The question proposed as the subject of this article will perhaps suggest 



