ALLEGAN COUNTY POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 365 



W. Phillips: Ashes are not equaled by any other manure. They make 

 sound wood and perfect fruit. 



M. T. Smith : I had thought there was such a thing as overproduction ; 

 but upon going to market and seeing the quality of what causes glut, I fully 

 understood the truth of the saying, "Good fruit always sells well." There 

 is more mouev in grapes at 2^ cents per pound than in wheat at $2 per budhel. 

 [Here! here!] People are learning to eat more grapes than formerly, so 

 there is a larger demand each year. 



Discussion of pears was taken up, and "W. B. Audruss, who had twenty 

 varieties on exhibition, was called for and talked familiarly of their merits. 



Clapp's Favorite is just right to pick now. Put the fruit on a floor, cover 

 with blankets, and iu a few days it will color and 'ripen better than if on the 

 tree. Aujou is one of the best — keeps till February. Bartlett is well enough 

 for a late pear, but there is more money in Clapp's Favorite. The best three 

 for profit are Bartlett, Clapp's Favorite, and Bosc — on clay loam. 



Mr. Phillips: On sand I would include Flemish Beauty. 



Mr. Andruss: It will crack in dry weather. 



Mr. LaFleur: These are all good sorts, though Clapp's Favorite is not; a 

 good keeper. The conviction is growing that the later we can have good fruit 

 the more money we can make from it. Anjou and Lawrence are for this 

 reason desirable sorts. 



Mr. Andruss: I meant summer pears. For later I would include Anjou. 



Mr. LaFJeur: In their order, I consider these the best pears for general 

 planting: Clapji's, Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Anjou, Nelis, and Lawrence. 



Mr. Phillips: What about Sheldon? 



Mr. LaFleur : An excellent pear. On sand the Sheldon, Clapp's Favorite, 

 Anjou, and Flemish Beauty are good. 



Mr. Andruss: Vicar of Wakefield on gravelly loam, makes an excellent 

 winter pear. 



Mr. Warner was called out on strawberries and said : From a patch of 

 Crescent, three rods by sixteen, I sold S15 w )rth of berries this season and a 

 large supply for family use. Such small plats of berries, well cared for, 

 yield handsome profits, while for family supply they are invaluable. So with 

 raspberries and other small fruits. They take some labor but the result 

 justifies it. 



Mr. Phillips: For profit I prefer Wilson in hills and Crescent in the 

 matted row. Of black-cap raspberries. Mammoth Cluster and Oregg are 

 best ; and of reds, the Cuthbert. Tyler and Souhegan are good black-caps 

 for early crops. 



Mr. Andruss: I like Marlboro (red) for light soil but Cuthbert Is pre- 

 ferable for heavy land. I grow of blackberies the two Wilsons, Lawton, 

 Kittatinny, and Missouri Mammoth, but like the Lawton best. It is not 

 ripe when first it turns black, and usually is picked too soon. 



Mr. LaFleur: Practical men will differ according to their preferences 

 and results on their several soils, but their advice is of more value than that 

 of all peddlers and non-residents. Be careful not to make mistakes, as it 

 takes years to correct them. Better wait a season or two, ask, observe, 

 learn; read intelligently and investigate always. Here at Hamilton you who 

 contemplate beginning in pomology should form a society and meet for dis- 

 cussion, or join the Allegan society, get the State society's annual report, 

 and subscribe for and take the best horticultural papers. 



