WEST MICHIGAN FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY. 135 



and go to work unitedly and harmoniously in securing a reasonable compen- 

 sation for tlu'ir money invested and their toil expended, the sooner will they 

 feel encouraged to go on in their laborious efforts to supply the markets of 

 the world with the delicious fruits of the field, the garden, and the orchard. 



KEEPING UP THE FERTILITY OF THE SOIL. 



Frank Linderinan, considering this topic, said: We at South Haven use rye 

 and like it. Some have experimented with rye and clover together and done 

 well ; also with plaster, salt and ashes, the latter being obtained from Chicago 

 smoke-houses and containing salt, fat, etc. Rye is sown about the first of Aug- 

 ust and plowed in just before fully headed. Ashes are sown broadcast, prob- 

 ably two tons per acre, and cost ^3 per ton unloaded into the wagon. [Other 

 growers had paid 13.50 and $4 per ton.] A long discussion ensued as to the 

 merits of rye as a fertilizer. Some contended that it was of little value, or 

 none whatever, taking as much from the soil as it returned, rotting slowly,, 

 and not comparable to clover as a fertilizer. Others, and these were in great 

 majority, cited actual experience favorable to rye; but many may have cut it 

 at the wrong time and got no benefit. It should be cut just before the grain 

 forms. It is then tender, full of juices, rots quickly, conveys moisture to the 

 soil, and gives it the nitrogen it took from the air while growing. If plowed 

 under later, it is woody, decays slowly, and is of slight value if any. 



It is also of value as a mulch and holds the fallen leaves and the snow for 

 protection of roots in winter. It grows during the damp season and goes 

 under at the dry time. Some commended clover for similar use, care being 

 taken to get it under early enough to prevent it from robbing trees of moisture. 

 Some would grow it only between rows of young trees and not close to them, 

 and never in a bearing orchard. It should never stand till it blooms. J. F. 

 Taylor had practiced sowing buckwheat and had never been troubled with cut- 

 worms. This is in accord with President Phillips' experience with buckwheat 

 in his vineyards. Many commended barnyard manure as the best fertilizer. 



Mr. Wiley would not use it on young trees. Any soil will grow these fast 

 enough unaided. Only one spoke of commercial fertilizers, and he doubted 

 their desirability. 



MICHIGAN SEEDLING PEACHES. 



Mr. Alexander Hamilton, of Ganges, a peach grower and nurseryman of 

 experience, read the following paper upon ''Michigan seedling Peaches:" 



Some of our most valuable peaches are Michigan seedlings and kinds about 

 the origin and true name of which we know nothing. The most desirable of 

 the Michigan seedlings are, I believe, Lewis Seedling, Snow's Orange, Bron- 

 son's Seedling, Corner's Seedling Barnard, Damont, and some of the Chili 

 seedlings. The most desirable of the kinds we are unable to name correctly 

 are known here as Barber or Hinman, Golden Drop. Weed's Late Barnard, 

 Crane's Early Yellow. Overhiser, Hamlin and Burrows peaches. In the town- 

 ships of Saugatuck and Ganges, especially in Ganges where it originated, 

 Lewis Seedling is the most popular of the Michigan seedlings, and, notwith- 

 standing its rather poor quality, is being set very largely, and that too by 

 those who have it in largest numbers in bearing. Its beautiful appearance, 

 the desirable time at whi«h it ripens, and the certainty of its coming each 

 year, make it a very profitable peach to grow. 



