WEST MICHIGAN FRUIT GROWERS SOCIETY. 95 



'have no sympathy with such men. Deal directly with the nurserymen and 

 there will be no trouble. 



A. C. Glidden believed the trouble to be as much with the public as the 

 peddlers. Inexperienced growers demand shapely trees, refusing the genuine 

 ■Greenings because they do not know that a Greening tree can not be grown 

 straight. They demand what can not be honestly furnished, and so Spies or 

 Red Canadas are sent instead of tiie crooked trees of the order. It is safe to 

 say that the nurseryman who attend these meetings will not cheat. 



FRUIT AS AN ARTICLE OF FOOD, 



by Mrs. G. H. LaFleur of Allegan, was a paper here introduced out of order 

 because of the large number of ladies present. Mrs. LaFleur said: I did 

 not wish to write this paper. There were too many "lions in the way." 

 Busy housekeepers will understand their nature and sympathize with me. But 

 your secretary lives in our neighborhood and would listen to no excuses. He 

 was very persistent and a little dictatorial. He not only insisted on my writing, 

 but chose the subject, which is so very material, so entirely "of the earth, 

 earthy," there is no room for flight of fancy or play of the imagination — only 

 a plain, matter-of-faet affair about something to eat. This would seem gross 

 were we Oscar Wildes, but as we require a more substantial diet than sun- 

 flowers, and are so material, for our physical well-being we must give the 

 subject of what we shall eat, and the best method of preparing it, some 

 attention. 



I am aware I run some risks of telling you many things which you already 

 know, yet could I feel assured that if these experiences of mine could 

 impart to any the satisfaction I received in learning, I should feel amply re- 

 paid. I have ever delighted in being a learner — have never aspired to be a 

 teacher — yet by a mutual interchange of thought we help to smooth the path- 

 way of life, and that is why we are here. 



When we observe how prominent a place fruit occupies in the great "econ- 

 omy of nature," and how much attention is given to its cultivation and im- 

 provement, we believe that a wise providence designed that we should use it 

 in every way conducive to our happiness and well-being. These delicious 

 fruits not only delight the eye and gratify the taste, but are a physical neces- 

 sity in a hygienic point of view. Fruits should form a conspicu' us part in 

 our daily food. We should have them twice a day on our tables, and I would 

 not object to the third time. When fruit occupies a more prominent place 

 in our diet, and meats, stimulating condiments, rich pastries, and sweetmeats 

 less, we shall have better health, happier thoughts and better lives; for who 

 can partake of these God-given bounties, prepared by his own munificent 

 hand, and not have his soul rise in thankfulness to Him who causes the earth 

 to yield her increase that we shall not lack? 



Apples stand at the head as the most useful of all fruits. They are excel- 

 lent in many ways and all ways. They are lovely, fresh on our dinner tables 

 for dessert. We can them, pickle, jelly, make into vinegar, and make apple 

 butter. We all know how delightful is a well made apple pie — it is the queen 

 of pies. Good, sweet ones are excellent baked ; tart ones are delicate and 

 delicious halved, the core removed, the cavity filled with white sugar, and 

 baked. Stewed ones are much improved by being spread on tins, sprinkled 

 with sugar and baked. Apples, as well as all fruits, as far as practicable. 



