THE SUMMER MEETING. 57 



spoke of the flowers and trees about the school-house that were cared for 

 during vacation as at any other time in the year. A committee was selected 

 by vote of the scliool who should have the honor of caring for the school 

 grounds and a position upon that committee was a place sought after and lob- 

 bied for. There was no sense, he said, to the objections made to bringing 

 flowers upon the school ground if only the proper method of caring for them 

 was adopted. 



The next topic was 



VEGETABLES FOR CANNING PURPOSES. 



Mr. Nowlend gave a little account of the growth of the canning business at 

 Benton Harbor, and said now about 200 acres of tomatoes were grown for 

 factory use which perhaps yielded 5,000 pounds per acre. 



Mr. Thresher described some of the difSculties that beset the tomato grower. 

 The cut-worm they circumvented by getting the waste from the basket fac- 

 tories and putting a circle about each plant. It was necessary to get up early 

 in the morning to catch the natural enemy of the plant — the tomato worm — 

 and when the larvas get of some size a basketful may be gathered quickly. 

 At §8 per ton tomatoes pay a very fair profit. He further called attention to 

 the growing of small cucumbers for pickles, and said it was a uew and devel- 

 oping business with them. He took 8408 worth from about two and one-half 

 acres in one season. Nowhere outside of Maine can sweet corn be grown of so 

 good quality as on our sliore. An establishment for canning it was once started 

 here but failed from lack of experience. At Elgin, Hlinois, there is a factory 

 and they announce that our corn is the sweetest they get. He expressed sur- 

 prise that canning corn was not taken up at St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, South 

 Haven, and other points on our shore. 



Mr. Tracy inquired how the growers obtained tomato plants. 



Mr. Nowlend : Usually the plants used are greenhouse plants about six inches 

 high. Some growers raise thern, others get them by purchase. Sometimes 10 

 per cent are lost in transplanting, but not often more than five per cent. 



Mr. Nickerson on being asked as to price of plants said hot-bed plants could 

 be bought at $1.35 per thousand and if transplanted into cold frames about $4 

 per thousand. In planting out he said the plants should not be more than 

 four inches above the ground. A quick way of planting is to furrow the laud 

 both ways and plant at the crossings. He said further, tliat a careful grower 

 of his acquaintance took pains to water his plants as they were put out and 

 made it pay. 



Mr. Nowlend : What variety do you like best? 



Mr. Nickerson : Canada Victor is the best variety we grow, but we have 

 some seedlings that we like better than that. 



Mr. Tracy: How about soil and fertility? 



Mr. Nickerson : We do not manure much for tomatoes. New land is best. 

 Soil that will pack in the road is desirable for tomato growing. This vegetable 

 can be grown year after year upon the same land successfully. Ten dollars a 

 ton is a good fair price for the fruit. 



Mr. Tracy : Have you lost any from rot? 



Mr. Nickerson : Yes, some years the rot troubles us badly. 



Mr. Nowlend : As to the quality of our canned goods ; is it enough to say 

 that the government buys about all we have to sell? 



]\tr. Tracy: I have never raised tomatoes for canning, but as an amateur 



