ALLEGAN COUNTY POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 359 



The society was organized for the mutual benefit of all the members. The 

 design is that it may become a school in which all may receive instruction in 

 all the branches pertaining to fruit culture. The method adopted to receive 

 and impart instruction is that each member give the result of his experience 

 and observation with the various kinds of fruit grown by himself or his 

 neighbors. To become successful in growing fruit it is as important that we 

 learn some of the fundamental principles upon which success depends, as 

 it is to become versed in any trade or general business. The larger part of 

 fruit growers are already in possession of the land upon which they 

 are now or expect to be engaged in growing fruit. The first thing 

 to consider is what kind of fruit is best adapted to his particular 

 farm or ground to be occupied. This can be learned by the exparieuce 

 of others who have tested these things. Having settled this question, 

 then select that kind of fruit which is most likely to be grown with 

 profit. This understood at the outset will save a vast amount of labor^ 

 time, money and disappointment. Whatever you conclude to plant,^ 

 the next thing to consider is what particular varieties are best to pUnt. 

 Those who have had personal experience or large observation are the safest, 

 counselors. Such persons are usually among the men who attend and help 

 to maintain pomological and horticultural societies, and will gladly give you 

 the benefit of their knowledge. The best methods of cultivation and manage- 

 ment, or in other words such methods as have proved the most successful 

 with experienced cultivators, will be explained and recommended and here- 

 the beginner may learn more in a meeting like this than he can learn by- 

 experiment in many years, and at a great deal less cost. 



When one has become satisfied upon these points, other questions will come 

 up to be settled. First, are your surroundings such as will enable you to 

 place your fruit upon the market without too much risk or expense? Is the 

 quality such that the public will buy it? Hardiness, productiveness, and 

 quality are the three essential points; color, size, and keeping qualities are 

 next to be considered. Another matter of very great importance is the present 

 and probable future demand. There is one thing more that should not 

 be overlooked. Can the fruit under consideration be grown universally 

 throughout a large portion of the country, or is the area limited upon 

 which it can be produced? After having examined and satisfied yourself 

 that your fruit combines all the good points necessary for success, there 

 still remains another question, one which is of as much importance as any 

 or all the others. Are you composed of the right material to become a success- 

 ful fruit grower? Have you the taste, the energy, and gumption to carry 

 you by and tide you over difficulties and disappointments and conquer success 

 if within the possibilities? If so you have a rare combination of conditions 

 that cannot fail of reaching great and good results if you attend and support 

 your nearest horticultural or pomological society and take an active part in 

 its discussions. A citizen of Michigan may well be pardoned if he claims that 

 the Peninsular state combines as many favorable conditions for the growing 

 of as great a variety of fruits as any state in the Union. This will give large 

 latitude for the selection of whatever may suit his individual tastes or his judg- 

 ment of what may be the most profitable to grow. The cry of overproduction 

 dates back to a time prior to my recollection, and may still be heard, and in 

 all probability will continue to be sounded in the ears of enterprising fruit 

 growers for generations to come. The man who has made himself familiar 



