154 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



apples. Such would better sell to shippers direct. They know then exactly 

 what they receive for them. This would be found best in the long run. 



J. G. Ratnsdell said the farmers that sh ike off their apples, pick them up 

 without sorting, mix several varieties tngether, and draw them over a dusty 

 and rough road in their wagon-boxes, six to eight miles, and then sell them 

 for what they can get, are the men that ruin prices by throwing these cheap 

 apples on the market. This fixes prices and then it is not so easy to raise 

 them. There seems to be no way of reaching these men. They will not at- 

 tend fruit growers' meetings, and many of them read few if any papers pub- 

 lished in the interest of fruit growing. 



N. H. B.ings : I am one of those average farmers. Farmers are not all 

 well posted in growing and handling apples, neither are they so regardless of 

 their own interest as to handle their apples in the manner described. 

 Some of them may not be as particular as they should. We have b.en ad- 

 vised to sell our apples direct to buyers. When buyers learn to pay a fair 

 price for good fruit well handled and delivered in sound condition, perhaps 

 farmers will be quite willing to take more pains and deliver their apples in 

 good condition. The dealer buys your neighbor's apples at low figures be- 

 cause they are in the bad condition mentioned, then tries to force the price 

 down to the same figures for your first-class apples. There is little encourage- 

 ment for farmers to handle with care. 



THE AVERAGE FARMER AS A FRUIT GROWER. 



The secretary read a communication from some member of the farmers' 

 club, asking that the society discuss the question, *' How far should fruit 

 growing enter into the business of common farming?" 



D. S. Woodman : Farmers ought to grow all the garden truck and fruit 

 of all kinds that their families need. This they should do for the comfort 

 and health of it. Then, when the location is right and the farmer is inter- 

 ested in fruit growing, there is no reason why he may not grow fruit for 

 market. He should not attempt too many things or he will fail in all. 



Henry Chatfield said he had grown garden truck and smiU fruit in con- 

 nection with common farming. With proper help to perform the work and a 

 competent person to manage, there is no reason why any man may not make 

 a success in growing fruit and berries. The orchard requires manure. 

 Farmers that keep stock will find that the farm is kept in better condition 

 by them for any crop than those that sell everything off from the farm. 



J. J. Woodman: The remark was made last night that Michigan con- 

 tained within its limits nearly everything necessary for the support of the 

 people. When we consider the timber and minerals, with the varieties of 

 grain and vegetables grown, also the fact that we grow every kind of fruit 

 that is really necessary to supply our wants, and even many of the luxuries, 

 we must admit that her resources are truly wonderful. There is no good 

 reason why the farmers may not grow not only farm crops, but fruit and , 

 vegetables to supply the family. It may not be advisable for farmers to grow 

 small fruits for market in connection with general farming. But wliere the 

 soil and location are favorable, the farmer should grow apples, as no common 

 farm crop pays better, if it does as well, as the apple orchard. Consi lering 

 the amount of fruit grown in Michigan, and the uses to which it may be put, 

 it seems to me that its real value has not been appreciated. The vast amount 



