164 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ite fruit, in many instances, not being able more than to pay expenses. And 

 this fact gives rise to a question which this society ought to consider ami 

 determine, yiz : Is it not better, instead of making peaches an entire specialty, 

 to plant more pears, apples and grapes, and so, as the farmer says, have 

 mixed husbandry? 



And now it becomes my painful duty to note the fact that death in the 

 past year has entered our ranks and taken one of our honored and leading 

 members to his reward and rest. I refer to the death' of the Hon. Harvey 

 Campbell Sherwood, of Watervliet; he was, at the time of his death, first 

 vice-president of this society, and has held that position since its first organ- 

 ization. Mr. Sherwood was a true gentleman in tlM full meaning of the 

 word ; was a man of high social and inttllectual qualities, and one of sterling 

 integrity of character. In 1870 he left his friends and a pleasant home in 

 central New York, and with his wife and son came to Watervleit, Berrien 

 county, and took an unimproved tract of 400 acres within two miles of 

 Watervliet station and made what is now known as Lakeview farm, one of 

 the finest fruit and grain farms in western Michi^^an. His presence will be 

 much missed in our councils and his conservative advice in matters of 

 importance to this society will never again be given. But let us ever strive 

 to emulate his example and cherish his memory. 



I am pleased to note the fact that our worthy secretary has gathered and 

 compiled for publication, and forwarded to the pr'^per officials, to be pub- 

 lished in the coming state reports, all of the main proceedings of our society 

 since its first organization. This has involved an immense amount of labor 

 on his part, and I would recommend that this society devise some means 

 whereby the secretary may be compensated for his labor. In conclusion let 

 me say, let us work on united. Let harmony prevail in all our councils; let 

 us have no divisions or dissensions; let us all work for the best good of ih& 

 society, having forbearance and charity one for the other, and God will bless- 

 our labors and reward them bountifully. 



Following this, reports as to the results of the past season were called for, 

 the chair designating reporters for the several localities. 



THE RECORD OF A VERY POOR SEASON. 



R. Morrill, Benton Harbor: Strawberries were injured by frost, May 2'i, 

 and the vines had been harmed by two preceding dry seasons. There was ar 

 light crop of good berries which sold at a higher average price than in any 

 season for fifteen years. There were about 50,000 cases as against three or 

 four times as many in preceding seasons. There was an average crop of rasp- 

 berries ; a good crop of blackberries, of fine quality and satisfactory price. 

 There was nearly a failure of the apple crop. The bloom was sufficient, but 

 injury was done by succeeding cold weather. Pears were very good. We have 

 no peaches of any account, as yet, but 300,000 trees have been set the past 

 three years. No yellows has yet appeared and we had a few good peaches this 

 season. Melons are a crop peculiar to us. Shipments aggregated 70,000 

 cases and prices were low because of overproduction. The first bloom of the 

 grapes was killed by frost and the secondary buds made a crop of. inferior 

 quality. 



W. A. Smith, Benton Harbor- Mr. Morrill has fully covered the ground. 

 We had no good grapes after the Delaware, because of cold weather. Such 



