Our Fruit Growers

OUR FRUIT GROWERS

Have Been Holding Their Annual Meeting Here.

SOME VERY ABLE PAPERS

Have Been Read by Prominent Horticulturists

The Three Days' Successful Meeting Ended Last Evening. -- The Attendance Was Small but the Discussions Were Interesting.

Owing to the few delegates present Tuesday morning the State Horticultural Society was not called to order until 1:30 in the afternoon. At that hour a goodly number of the leading horticulturists of the state had put in an appearance, among whom were R. Morrill, of Benton Harbor, president; Edwy C. Reid, of the Allegan Gazette, secretary; Profs. W. B. Burrows, C. D. Smith and Thos. Gunson, of the Agricultural College. Chas. W. Garfield, Grand Rapids Ex-senator C. J. Monroe, of South Haven, Judge F. J. Russell, of Hart; R. M. Kellogg, of Three Rivers; S. B. Smith, of Grand Rapids; A. W. Slayton, Grand Rapids; Chas. D. Lawton, Lawton; C. F. Hale, Shelby; E. W. Hunt, Saranac, and Peter Collier, of Adrian. Owing to the fact that Dr. Angell was unable to be present the first two numbers on the published program were omitted and President Morrill opened the session with a short address in which he said: Horticulture is in the dumps, many new people have entered into its pursuit and Michigan is now one vast orchard. The society should teach caution, moderation and the most thorough methods of cultivation. The small fruit business is overdone in this state. Those who follow it must use careful business methods or fail. Horticulture is an art. The report of Secretary Edwy C. Reid dealt largely with the conditions of horticulture in the state as well as the condition of the society.

The report of Treasurer Slayton showed the assets of the society to be as follows: Mortgages, $2,567.36, unpaid interest, $36.22, cash in bank $182.65, total $2,786.23. This report was referred to a finance committee consisting of Chas. W. Garfield, Evart H. Scott and S. B. Smith.

Col. Dean was down upon the program for an address on the relation of the U. of M. to horticulture. The colonel said he admired the industry of the secretary who had spread "Dean" all over the program to which the secretary quickly retorted that the process of spreading had not made the gallant colonel perceptibly thinner. Col. Dean said he had looked up the definition of horticulture in the dictionary and he found that the university was doing a great deal for horticulture in teaching botany and allied sciences. He had in looking this matter up, found that he was a horticulturist himself. He had three pie plant plants in his back yard which supplied all the pies needed for three families. Had he had the good fortune to have been educated at the U. of M. he might be able to make those plants supply six families instead of three. The colonel had his mind set upon another topic, however, and preferred to save his heavy artillery for that.

He was followed by Regent Charles D. Lawton with a paper on the "Value of Education to the State," in which the speaker took the ground that education was essential for the safety of the government.

The afternoon session of the horticulturists closed Tuesday with the address of welcome by President Angell and response by Hon. Chas. W. Garfield, of Grand Rapids. This was followed by Prof. W. B. Barrows, of the M. A. C., who read an instructive paper on "Plant-Lice and Scale Insects." The address was illustrated by stereopticon views. He was followed by Prof. A. B. Prescott, dean of the department of pharmacy, who discussed "Fruit Acids" in an interesting paper and by means of experiments conducted by an assistant.

EVENING SESSION.

The evening session of the fruit growers was a most interesting one and especially for those interested in landscape gardening. Mr. R. J. Coryell, superintendent of parks, in Detroit, was the first speaker and he handled his subject of "Object Lessons in City Parks," in an entertaining manner giving many pointers not only upon the principles which obtain in the laying out and beautifying of Detroit's parks, but upon the constructing of drives and walks as well.

He was followed by Prof. Gunson, of the Agricultural College, with a lecture upon lawn decorations illustrated by stereopticon views. Many of these illustrations were selected to show the development of taste in the surroundings of rural houses.

In the general discussion which followed Mr. S. B. Smith, of Grand Rapids, asked Prof. Gunson how to ornament a lawn which has a broad, sloping stretch from house to road. Prof. Gunson said: "Plant two or three deciduous trees, don't plant them so as to cut off view from the road, don't get them between yourself and your neighbor. Plant a few flowing shrubs of staying qualities, but keep the lawn clear. The idea which ran through Prof. Gunson's discourse was that lawn, are spoiled by too much shrubbery.

Mr. Rice, of Port Huron, agreed with the speakers in deprecating the cutting off of the tops of trees. Thought it cost not only the beauty, but the vitality of the trees. He thought a Lombardy poplar a nice tree if it grows two or three miles away on your neighbor's grounds. He said it was a lazy man who wants a clear lawn so that he don't have to run a lawn mower about the shrubs.

The discussion upon lawn decorations developed the fact that after all it is very much a matter of personal taste and preference.

Prof. F. C. Newcombe, of the U. of M., followed with a most interesting and instructive lecture upon the development of fruits from the flower, illustrating each stage of the development with appropriate diagrams.

MORNING SESSION.

At Wednesday morning's session, the society elected officers for the ensuing year as follows: President, Hon. C. J. Monroe, of Benton Harbor; secretary, Edwy C. Reid, of Allegan; treasurer, Asa W. Slayton, of Grand Rapids; trustees, R. J. Coryell, Detroit; Prof. Gunson, M. A. C.; R. M. Kellogg, Three Rivers. After the election Dr. Angell talked to the gathering for an hour upon his impressions of Turkey.

This afternoon the delegates are visiting the various departments of the university.

The meeting this evening will be held in the School of Music. Prof. Stanley will give a musical program. Everyone is invited.

Wednesday evening's session of the society was held in the School of Music. The regular program was varied somewhat in a most delightful manner by several selections by Miss Alice Bailey, soprano, and Prof. Stanley, organist, of the School of Music. The subject of the meeting was landscape gardening, and it was opened by M. P. Hurlbut, of Detroit, who read a paper on "Object Lessons of City Parks." He was followed by O. C. Simonds, superintendent, of the Chicago Parks, who spoke on "Some Unappreciated but Attractive Things Found in the Country." Prof. W. W. Tracy addressed the society on the influence of fine landscape effects upon the development of child life and an informal discussion followed. The evening's program was finished by Prof. Frederick G. Novy, of the university, who read a paper on "Preserving Fruits."

Yesterday's session was opened by Hon. C. J. Monroe, of South Haven, with an address on "What Legislation should we have this Winter." The speaker thought the yellows and spraying laws are all right as they are, but a more rigid enforcement should be exacted. He would prohibit the sale and shipment of diseased fruit and wormy, scabby and defective fruit. He would enforce frequent destructions of fallen fruit throughout the season. All packages should be disinfected before being used a second time. All packages should be marked with the name and residence of the shipper. The grower and seller should be liable to the purchaser for twice the price of the fruit. An inspector should be provided charged with the enforcement of the law.

Senator Graham followed with an address on the "Outlook of the Peach Business." Senator Graham is himself an extensive peach grower and his remarks dealt entirely with the practical side of the situation which confronts the peach growers of Michigan. Earlier fruit would prove most profitable. The greatest competitor for Michigan peaches is the southern peach which comes on the market early when prices are high.

Roland Morrell talked on the "Future of the Apple in Michigan." His conclusion was that the soil of Michigan is very generally adapted to the raising of apples and that the apple business is going to pick up. Those who plant apple orchards now will reap a rich reward.

The afternoon was devoted to a discussion of the "Michigan Forestry Movement," in which Regent Dean, Hon. Chas. W. Garfield, Prof. E. O. Strong, of the Normal, Hon. S. B. Duball and others participated.

The program last evening included the "Chemistry of Ripening Fruits,' by Prof. Schlotterbeck and the "Sugar Beet and Beet Sugar," by Dr. Freer.