March Meeting Of The Pomological Society

The rooms of the society wero filled wlth ladies and gentlemen. J. D. Baldwln presided. The corresponding secretary read a letter from Prof. V. M Spuulding, In whlch the professor says tliat heis engaged with Mr. Erwin Sinith in the investigation of the fungus causing the grape rot, and they will have somethlng practical to report at au early date J. Ganzhorn gave the society the French remedy, translated by Mr. Campbell o Ohio: 17 los. blue vitrol dissolved In 22 gallons of water in which 33 lbs. of lime are slacked. This mixture Is sprinkled on at the rate of 11 gallons per 1,000 vines just after the formation of the fruit Several applications may be necessary whenever a sign of the rot appears. Prof. Baur reported that the very abl and useful papers by Prof. Spauldlng oi the potato rot, and by Mr. Ervvin F Sinith on the económica of that subject, rood before the society at the Februar meeting, will appear in full la the Michi gan Farmer, published in Detroit, also li the annual report of 1880 of the Stat Horticultural Society. These papers ar the result of a thorough investigation o the fungus that has destroyed millions o dollars worth of our most valuable vege table erop, and it is hoped that legisla tures and boards of agricultura will nmply support such investiffations, which re quire a most careful and costly scientifi equipment, and which concerns the wel] being of the whole community. A letter was read addressed to Prof Baur by the Western Piaster Agency, of Grand Rapids, stating prices of lam piaster per ton, in bulk, in bags and bar reis. Stephen Mills gave his experienc in using land piaster profitably in stable and outhouses, and ia the field as a fértil izer. He never had any benefit from i onwetlands. Experiments at the Mich igan Agrlcultural College show "that single bushei of piaster added a full toi of hay to the y ield of an acre of ground ii the five, most of it in tke four mowing that followed - two crops being taken o: the ground each oí the two yearssucceed ing." Piaster draws the moisture to th plant or embryo fruit, and also concen trates the ammonia and jases from th passing vapora, so as to feed, protect and strengthen theyoung fruits, and to tid them over some of the vicissitndes of thei early stages, such as frosts, nottoo severe and our cold, drying winds. The manne of application is by sowing it repeatedly over leaves and blossoms, tlirougli th season of blooming and fruit setting while damp with morning dew or rain. Messrs. J. T. Fuller and J. Allmum r'ported on fruit packages. The latte offers berry baskets for $8 per 1,000, am bushei crates for 75c. each. The conimlt tee was requested to report at the nex meeting on peach and grape baskets. Wm. McCreery bas examined 2,000 peach trees and found them all right. He expects an immense erop and wants a re port on bushei baskets. Messrs. Ganz horn and Baldwin expect a fair erop o peaches. Mr. Ferdon feit not ready ye to report on such prospect. Prof. J. B. Steere reported on the or gauization of the committee on iusects and insecticides, mentioning only one section of this large field of lnvestigution hamely our friends in this warfare, one could see at once that this branch alone would require the work and whole time of a specialist. The professor thinks a great deal ol birds as ingect destroyers and gays that tlieir friends are sorry to see so many o, tliom killed under the pretence of scientific purposes, and for fasliionable purposes. Some one suggested in his mind that this fashion tyrant should look at the beautiful brown and gray plumage ol the sparrow and there would be no objection if every ladie's hat or bonnet would be adorned by a dozen of these handsome English birds. The professor is willing to spend his spare time, if he has any, In the investigation of this important subject, and will be asslsted by some of hls students. It is evident that an experimental station with a well equipped corps of scientirlc expeiimenters, is what every state In the Union, especially Michigan, needs, hcre are really the orcliards of the northern States. In the fruit exhibit, J. II. Dtincan showed the Rhode Island Greening, the Baldwin and some very line looking seedingapples; J. O. Baldwin the Chili flower and Talman Sweet. J. Toms, the florist, had the sweetest tea roses and other cut flowers on the tables of the society. The interest in these meetings s evidently on the increase. If Senator Blalr's educational bill becomes a luw, Michigan will reecive $143,503 witii wliich to edúcate lier illiterate citizcns. Tliere were not very many illlcenite people in Michigan until the legisature esUblished a bureau of cniigration and enticed u a great crowd wbo expectd to flnd weulth laylng ftround on the ground ai leare In a foreit.