58 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



have grown them as a sort of specialty. The secret in the growth of all plants 

 that we have imported from a more tropical climate is to maintain a continu- 

 ous growth with no check from the start. This is true of all cucurbitaceous 

 plants like cucumbers, melons, squashes, etc., and the same is true with the 

 tomato. My plan has always been to get small, stocky plants for transplant- 

 ing. Experiments at the Agricultural College taught me that everything 

 depends upon having no shock at the time of transplanting. The crop is 

 doubled on plants that have no check in their growth. This is often illustrated 

 by the enormous crop on self sown tomatoes. I start plants later than most 

 market gardeners, and when they have first true leaves I plant out in shallow 

 boxes about three inches apart and set in cold frames, exposing them to a good 

 deal of air, thus getting stocky plants. Then at transplanting time the boxes 

 are taken to the field, the earth cut into little squares so that each plant has a 

 little ball to go with it. I have grown at the rate of 1,200 bushels to the 

 acre and marketed them. 



Mr. Kuisely : What variety do you now prefer? 



Mr. Tracy : Hundred-day and Essex Hybrid for general use and Trophy for 

 great yield. 



Mr. S. H. Comings made an appeal for the benefit of the Berrien County 

 Horticultural Society, after which the Society listened to 



REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 



Mr. Gulley, from Committee on Fruits, reported as follows: 



The committee have examined the fruit on the table and find six plates of 

 apples of the following varieties: A very fine plate of Jonathan, all perfect 

 speciriiens ; also King, Newtown Pippin, Dominie, Baldwin and Esopus Spitz- 

 enburgh. All are fair specimens for the season. These are all from the 

 orchard of W. K. Emmons, of Byron Center, Kent county. 



K. 0. Tate, of St. Joseph, the President of Berrien County Horticultural 

 Society, presents three varieties of strawberries — Wilson's Albany, Monarch of 

 the West and Cumberland Triumph. They are fine specimens, and clearly 

 show the difference in quality of strawberries, but just as clearly show the 

 reason for the Wilson standing so high as a shipping fruit from its color and 

 firmness. 



G. 11. Odin, of Benton Harbor, exhibits a fine dish of Wilson's, also limbs 

 of peaches of two varieties which show a good prospect for a crop of fruit. 

 There are also on the table two dishes of strawberries that have no name from 

 0. K. Bishop, and the committee are unable to identify them. 



On the whole the display, although not large, is very creditable to the 

 growers. Mr. Emmons is especially fortunate in being able to show such 

 a display of apples in such perfect order at this season of the year. 



All of which is submitted. 



A. G. GULLEY, Chairman. 



The following is the report of the committee on plants and flowers: 

 Your committee would report that they find a collection of plants which is 

 of practical interest from the fact that they evidently came from the homes of 

 their owners, and gave evidence of loving and skillful care. Among them we 

 would especially notice a fine plant of AgaiJantlnis umhellatus with two beau- 

 tiful heads of bloom. We would strongly recommend this plant. In general 

 culture it is of the easiest management, and its delicately beautiful flowers are 



