RECORD OF A JOINT MEETING. 17 



Friday Mornincfs Session 



was under the chairmanship of the late Hon. H. C. Sherwood of Watervliet. 

 First in order was a paper by Secretary Geo. H. LaFleur of the Western 

 Michigan society, on 



PREACHING AND PRACTICE. 



Men have been engaged for many years in fruit growing and have talked 

 and written a great amount, and it would seem that they should be well 

 posted in that line of business ; and yet the masses are hardly out of the 

 rudiments. This is not because thoy have lacked the opportunity to learn, 

 but in most cases it is a want of application of the knowledge they have 

 gained. 



Many men seem interested in the teachings and the statements made by 

 intelligent and practical fruit growers. But they forget to put into practice 

 what they learn and cling to the old ways of their fathers and continue to 

 travel in the old ruts. 



Most of the first orchards which were planted in Michigan contained too 

 many summer and fall apples and the few winter sorts were not altogether the 

 best sorts for market. A few fruit growers hit the right thing and only planted 

 a few of the best winter varieties. But it took many years to bring into 

 practice by the masses what they know. Even now some men have not 

 learned what varieties constitute a good orchard. 



Since the organization of so many horticultural and pomological societies, 

 fruitgrowers have given, much more serious thought to the questions con- 

 nected with fruit growing. The educational effect upon the people is in the 

 direction of progress. Some of the most successful fruit growers have been 

 willing to give others the benefit of their knowledge, and yet the majority 

 of farmers do not appreciate, or do not fully comprehend or understand, 

 many of the facts so often demonstrated to them; or they do not put into 

 practice what they really know. 



The man who attends public meetings and talks what he does not practice 

 can have but little influence over others, as we look upon such men as mere 

 theorists, and most fruit men have learned to place but little faith in theory 

 until it has been practically demonstrated. While on the other hand the 

 man who comes with practical ideas gathered from experience in the orchard, 

 garden, or vineyard, and can give ocular demonstration of his teaching, how 

 eagerly we listen and learn of him! 



THEY HEAK BUT DO NOT EEMEMBER. 



All observing fruit growers have learned that climate, soil, and elevation 

 have much to do with success in fruitgrowing. High ground, with good nat- 

 ural water and air drainage, is much better adapted to the peach than low, 

 level ground. After all that has been written and said upon all these points, 

 it would seem that most men should be well posted upon these things; and 

 yet we frequently find men planting the very kind of fruit which will be sure 

 to fail, when, if they had heeded what had been told them, they could have 

 made a success instead of failure by planting the right kind of fruit. These 



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