J'line Meeting of the Michigan State l^omolofflcal Society. 231 



June Meeting of the Michigan State Pomological Society. 



To THE Editor OP the Horticulturist: — The June meeting of the Michi- 

 gan State Pomological Society was held at Kalamazoo, on the 25th, 26th and 

 27th. Notwithstanding the extreme severity of the past winter, which seriously 

 injured the trees of the more tender varieties, oftentimes even in sheltered localities, 

 and also the severe drought recently prevailing in this State, the display of cherries 

 and strawberries was exceedingly fine. The attendance was large, and especially so 

 from the Lake Shore region. 



Valuable papers were contributed by Prof. Beal, of the Michigan State Agricul- 

 tural College, on the Agency of Insects in the Fertilization of Plants ; by Prof. 

 Cook, of the same institution, on Insects Injurious to the Strawberry; and by Prof. 

 Kcdzie, on the Importance of Timber Protection. Also others, on the Production 

 of Seedling Fruits ; the Elevating Influence of Horticulture ; the Strawberries rec- 

 ommended by the Society, with modes of culture, etc., etc. 



Reports were received from many sections of the State respecting the injuries of 

 the past winter and the present prospect for a fruit crop. These reports were, in the 

 main, more favorable than many persons had been led to anticipate. 



Apples were reported as varying from a third to half a crop — in some cases more. 

 Trees of Baldwin, Roxbury Russet, Swaar, and some other of the more tender varie- 

 ties, were represented as badly injured, and in some cases killed outright ; although 

 the hardier varieties were generally represented to be sound. 



Pears were reported as badly injured, especially those on dwarf stocks. Very 

 little was stated respecting the comparative immunity of varieties. Sound trees are 

 said to be carrying more than an average crop. 



Sweet cherries were also said to be badly decimated, and it had been supposed 

 that the fruit buds had been totally ruined ; but the sound wood has produced a 

 partial crop of fruit, though generally of smaller size than usual, from the effect of 

 drought. 



Duke cherry trees are more or less winter killed, and are showing a thin crop of 

 fruit. 



Morellos are generally uninjured, and are carrying a good crop of fruit. 



Peaches were reported as badly injured or totally ruined throughout the older and 

 unsheltered portions of the State. In timbered or protected regions, as along the 

 lake shore, many trees are killed or seriously injured, yet in many localities they are 

 so thickly set with fruit that it is found necessary to reduce the crop by thinning. 



Grapes, when left upon the trellis, are reported as sadly injured, although in favor- 

 able situations, and in all cases when covered, they have escaped, and the sound 

 vines are represented to be showing an unusually fine crop of fruit. 



Of the smaller fruits, strawberries seem not to have suffered from the winter, 

 although sadly pinched by the drought. The great mass of the market berries are 

 Wilson's, although a few Triomphe de Gands are offered, and occasionally others. 



Black Caps are represented as entirely uninjured ; and the same may also be said 

 of the Philadelphia. 



