REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 289 



SAUGATUCK AND GANGES TOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



PREPAKED BY RETIRING SECRETARY MARKHAM. 



OFFICERS. 



President — James F. Taylor. 



Vice Presidoits — A. Hamilton, Levi Loomis, J. H. Bandle, Wm. Corner, P. 

 Purdy, N. \V. Lewis. 



Secretary — H. Bird, Jr. 



Treasurer — J. S. Owen. 



Directors — J. P. Leland, T. R. Lewis, A. Hamilton, H. L. House. 



But few meetings have been held during the year, and at these but few dis- 

 cussions were had except of a local character. Judging by these discussions 

 the fruit men have not lost faith in the business, and judging by the amount 

 of transplanting done and preparing to be done, great results must be expected. 

 The fruit crop was very small the past season, but brought excellent prices, 

 and the few lucky ones were enabled to reap a rich reward. Small fruits were 

 a fair crop, and prices better than for years. Peaches averaged $2 (net) per 

 bushel. Apples, half a crop netted an average of about 80c. per busiiel. 



The prospects thus far are excellent for a large crop the coming season. 

 The fall has been neither cold nor warm, and buds have not swelled or other- 

 wise been injured, and the setting is large. The prosperity of every class of 

 industry is indicative of remuneration to the pomologist. 



That dreaded scourge to the peach grower, the yellows, is still under 

 comparative control, and taken all in all our prospects for another year are 

 decidedly encouraging. 



The work of our society has not been carried on witii its usual vigor. The 

 members have not been as punctual in their attendance, or as earnest in their 

 work when they did attend. Financially the society is in constant straits to 

 meet its obligations, and it was thought advisable to curtail its expenses. For 

 the ensuing year no reports except of business transactions will be made. The 

 secretary and other officers are to serve Avithout compensation, and the 

 usual postal card notice to members of the time of meeting is to be discontin- 

 ued. It is hoped in this way to be able to meet all obligations, and if the 

 society shall prove to be small, the expenses will not be large. 



The wildest prophesies about the extent of the fruit business of this region 

 bid fair to be more than realized. From reliable data I have ascertained that 

 in the three towns of Laketown, Saugatuck, and Ganges, more than 200,000 

 peach trees will be set the coming spring, and there seems to be just as much 

 eagerness to extend the area of orchards as ever. I am of the opinion that the 

 business is already overdone, and that in the near future it will be ruined by a 

 product greatly exceeding the demand, and that it behooves the prudent and 

 careful to be on their guard. 



37 



