870 STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Smith has been quite successful in growing grapes, securing abundant 

 CTops, and obtaining good prices; also securing many premiums at the county 

 fairs. The apple orchard of 100 bearing trees, together with pears, plums, 

 quinces, and berries, furnish the family with fresh fruit the entire year. There 

 is also a fish pond near the house, supplied with water from a small brook, the 

 supply being controlled by a ditch with gates. Mr. Smith placed some carp in 

 the pond last March, which were three or four inches in length at the time; 

 now they measure twelve to sixteen inches. Mr. Smith is well known for the 

 interest he has always had, and the active part he has taken in fruit growing; 

 also for the hospitable manner in which he and his estimable wife entertain 

 those who visit them at their farm home. 



The topic of this meeting was " The future of peach growing in the east part 

 of Allegan county." 



Allen Wood said fifteen years ago his convictions were somewhat different 

 from what he thought at the present time. Then the prospect was flattering; 

 but within that time some changes had come about which rendered the business 

 more uncertain; due, perhaps, to the destruction of timber belts, or climatic 

 changes, and also the prevalence of a disease known as yellows, which he 

 feared was on the increase in some parts. 



A. J Bracelin said formerly abundance of peaches were grown, that was 

 before the forests were cut down; thought they could now be grown only in 

 favorable situations. The yellows and hard winters combined had lessened the 

 chances; did not consider the prospect very flattering. He did not know if 

 the yellows was contagious; had no positive evidence that it was; but thought it 

 best to treat trees so affected upon the supposition that it was contagious; 

 thought the use of pits and buds from trees affected with yellows was one way 

 in which it was transmitted. 



Mr. LaFleur asked: " Do you think a bud taken from a diseased tree could 

 grow into a tree to bearing age, and then develop the disease that had remained 

 dormant all that time?" Mr. Bracelin thought it might. In reply to a ques- 

 tion : A peach tree will not live over three years with the yellows. 



Mr. Frank Hickok said: If we could plant only hardy varieties they would 

 resist the extreme cold of winter, and consequently be more if not entirely 

 exempt from disease. Seedling trees grown from healthy pits would produce 

 healthy trees. Many valuable sorts come from planting such pits; thought if 

 one could produce trees in that manner, and plant them in favorable situations, 

 peaches could be grown quite profitably. Did not consider seedling trees as 

 liable to yellows as budded trees. 



H. G. Buck said that he had found no difference. Seedlings were no more 

 exempt from yellows than budded varieties; he considered the yellows a con- 

 tagious disease peculiar to the peach, and all peach trees were alike subject to 

 the disease when exposed and the conditions were alike. A peach tree will sel- 

 dom live over three years after being attacked with yellows. The tree is in a 

 dying condition from the first attack, ceases to grow, and decay begins. 



G. H. LaFleur said that he must object to some points made by some of the 

 speakers. Had no doubt about the contagious nature of the disease known as 

 yellows; evidence of its contagious character was only too abundant, as many 

 growers well know to their sorrow. The doctrine that yellows was not con- 

 tagious was a dangerous one to teach, and if believed and acted upon would 

 goon result in the destruction of all the fine peach orchards in the county. 

 While we cannot explain the cause of yellows, or fully understand the nature 

 of the disease any more than we can the disease known as small-pox or the 



