EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 33 



ally satisfactory so long as the local demand equaled the supply. Since the 

 early era of commercial fruit growing, when the St. Joseph region afforded 

 an inadequate supply to the growing city of Chicago, the fruit growing area 

 has been vastly extended. California, the gulf states, and many inland points, 

 are now sending a large part of their surplus fruits to Chicago. Commencing 

 with high rates on perishable fruits, transportation companies have reduced 

 rates and bettered facilities from distant points, until cost of water transpor- 

 tation from the east shore of lake Michigan nearly equal thousands of miles 

 of rail carriage. It is evident that great fruit growing centers do not consider 

 the fact that their fruits must be sold in Chicago in direct competition with 

 large quantities of fruit which are received daily from all parts of the world 

 which can reach Chicago. The iuevitable sequence of such large and "unex- 

 pected" accumulations of perishable fruits, is a glut in the market and 

 nnremunerative prices. 



A few such lessons are not without effect. Only the best is shipped, large 

 quantities go to waste, new points of distribution are sought, and many re- 

 sign the business in favor of other localities or other growers who are intel- 

 ligent in their modes of growing and marketing fruits. 



In view of the inevitable competition and occasional gluts in the markets, 

 «he advisability of planting fruits for future markets may be questioned. I 

 would say, continue to plant those varieties which have been found best 

 adapted to our climate, soil and markets, but only in such localities as have 

 been proved to be favorable to fruit production. 



WHAT FRUITS TO PLANT. 



Of the different fruits the apple is of greatest importance. It has proved 

 prolific and certain in a large part of the Michigan peninsula, while it has 

 signally failed over a vast extent of country in the northwestern and middle 

 states. Notwithstanding the present backward season and immature crop, 

 the past twenty years have proved the peach adapted to the high lanas near 

 the lake, northward to and including Oceana county. Plant and replant the 

 peach. Pears have also proved a paying crop. Plums are of first importance 

 in the northern lake shore country, while choice varieties of the cherry are 

 better adapted to the southern counties, which is also true of the grape. 

 Various conditions have obtained during the past few years which will cause 

 the extensive planting of small fruits for distant markets to be of doubtful 

 utility. The extreme south brings the first strawberries to all of our mar- 

 kets, which are followed b> large shipments from further north which "lap 

 on" to Berrien county berries, thus extending the season until raspberries are 

 in the market. The small towns are being supplied with home grown berries, 

 and many places which formerly bought Berrien county berries are now ship- 

 ping a surplus to Chicago. 



LACK OF APPRECIATION OF GOOD FRUITS. 



We can not educate the large markets. Size, beauty, and long-keeping 

 qualities will continue to be preferred in the markets when fruits are received 

 from distant points and change hands several times before reaching the con- 

 sumer. Comparatively few in the large cities are educated to discriminate 

 in purchasing by the names of fruits. New, showy varieties sometimes com- 



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