gg STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



In fact, if T ask at the present time, what does the Pomology of 

 Micliig-au comprise in its practice, what would be the answer? I 

 would say, that it comprised simply : 



1. The orchard culture of the apple; and that with regard to 

 this fruit we are as yet dependent for the varieties we grow on 

 kinds originated in other States ; tluit we have settled upon a few 

 varieties as being peculiarly adapted to our soils and our climate 

 as most useful and profitable. That experience has taught us that 

 there are a number of varieties which cannot be grown to the per- 

 fection they attain iu other States. That we are as yet unsettled 

 in regard to the best methods ot' the treatment of our orchards. 

 That no successful eifort has yet been made to originate any new 

 variety of apple from seedlings or by hybridization, that would 

 supersede any of the kinds now regarded as the best for profitable 

 culture. 



2. The orchard culture of the pear is very limited, and we do 

 not grew this fruit to any great extent. 



3 The orchard culture of the peach has been found successful 

 over a district along the shores of Lake Michigan, and as far in- 

 land as the influence of this large body of water on the atmosphere 

 is found to extend. But the peach is not reliable for a crop in all 

 parts of the State, owing to the extreme cold of the winters. 



4. The plum and the cherry are grown to some extent in gar-, 

 dens, but not largely as orchard fruits. The difficulty with the 

 plum is the insect known as the curculio, while the cherry has 

 received but little attention. 



5. The small fruits, such as the currant, strawberry, raspberry, 

 and the blackberry, have been lately grown largely for market 

 purposes, and all the varieties grown are sorts introduced from 

 other States, with nothing in their culture to remark as peculiar. 



6. Several varieties of the American grape have been success- 

 fully grown for some years for market as table fruit, and also for 

 the /liaking of wine. The vineyards for wine making have been 

 principally in Monroe county, a portion of the banks along lake 

 Erie, and some of the land in the vicinity of Monroe, which rests 

 on a limestone subsoil having be^Mi found well adapted to grow the 

 grape to great perfection for wine making. 



7. The cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) , and the whortle- 

 berry (Vacvinium corymbosum), are both indigenous, and are 

 gathered and marketed to a large extent annually, but as j'ct no 

 attempt to improve either by culture or otherwise has been made. 



8. With the exception of the extensive grape houses of E. B. 

 Ward, p]sq., in Detroit, no orchard houses or fruit growing under 

 glass has been attempted, or put in execution." 



This is a fair summary of the present condition of the pomology 

 of Michigan ; and in most respects it is also equally descriptive of 

 the pomology of Maine. 



Practical lessons in apple orchard culture, selected from a series 

 of articles by A. 0. Pratt of Green, Chenango county. New 

 York. 



