Pomological Society

Keeping up and Increasing the Fertility, of the Soil, Creamery, Codling Moth, Flora. The January meeting was well attended. Prof. B. E. Nichols' final report on transportation was well received and accepted. After the discharge of the old, a new committee on transportation was appointed, consisting of Prof. B. E. Nichols, J. D. Baldwin, J. J. Parshall, J. H. Clough. The President Mr. Baldwin remarked that it was gratifying that transportation got along with so little friction and such good results to shippers of fruit. The committee will begin its work early with the shipments of strawberries. J. Ganzhorn opened the topic: Keeping up and increasing the fertility of "the soil" with an able paper, which treated of the small value of stable manure drawn from town, often filling the land with noxious weeds. Rotten stable manure drawn into the grapery, caused grape rot. His experiments with clover in alternate rows in the orchard as well as in the vineyard proved a perfect success. The rows, not seeded down, he kept stirring with the cultivator. The result was large and well developed peaches, perfect foliage which did not suffer from the drouth and the largest crop of grapes he ever had. Prof. Nichols spoke of the practice of sowing corn or rye in the orchard n rows, so that the cultivator could be kept going. The crops, when up a foot or more, should be plowed under. W. F. Bird: How can I subdue my hard pan clay soil ? I have used ashes but have not overcome it yet. J. Allmand: To get my ground mellow and clean, I sow buckwheat, which is plowed under when large enough. J. H. Clough : Had two loads of manure hauled from town last winter which did not cost me hardly anything, am doing the same this winter. It is all in one heap yet. J. Ganzhorn and Allmand considered it nearly worthless as the ammonia had escaped. If it had been composited with alternate layers of muck or sod the ammonia would have been retained. Mr. Clough was in favor of rotting manure to destroy the noxious seeds. The majority believed in drawing fresh manure to the land at once. Charles Treadwell met with good success in corn by drawing coarse manure in the spring and plowing it under, and after the corn was up by top dressing with finer manure from the bottom of the manure heap. The writer asked J. Austin Scott, who sat near him, what he thought on this topic. His answer was: "manure should be housed like grain." Now, there is in this remark not only a bushel but a ton of truth. J. D. Baldwin spoke of the great value unleached ashes and the benefits derived from lecures, especially on this manure question, "when Michigan University forty years ago had a Professor of Agriculture." E. Baur believes in heavy muck around fruit trees. He drew during the dog season of last summer muck around the trees and after that for three weeks water with two horses. His pears began to drop prematurely and the leaves turned from the heat of the sun. Muck and water however made such a change in foliage and fruit that the crop was saved. this question of Improving the fertility of the soil brought so many on their feet that its importance is evident.
CREAMERY AND CHEESE FACTORY. The writer gave his opinion that the preceding question could be solved best by the erection of a creamery in Ann Arbor, which would induce us to keep more stock and make our own manure. Many families on a small piece of land could make a living by keeping cows. This would create quite an interest in stock raising and produces as well as consumes, in fact this whole town would be benefited by this new economic industry. W. C. Olcutt of Ypsilanti, representing D. H. Roe & Co. of Chicago, manufacturers of butter and cheese apparatus, thought Ann Arbor a very good point for butter and cheese factory. The way to get at this was to raise a stock company. His company is also erecting cold storage, and in connection with the creamery, a cold storage room could be fitted up, where fruit could be kept until the usual glut in the market is passed. John H. Sperry : "I think Ann Arbor could afford a creamery. I shall go in for it." All the ladies present favored a creamery. Judge Kinne was consulted. After satisfying himself that it would benefit the fraternity his decision was : let us have it by all means !" The society passed a resolution favoring a creamery and cheese factory at Ann Arbor and encouraging the creation of a stock company for said purpose. It is for the farmers and capitalists to say whether this factory shall be a reality. Charles Treadwell deserves praise for his enterprise in destroying the codling moth: As the noxious insect question will be discussed more fully this winter, we will give his and other modes at a future time. It would pay the state of Michigan well, if a popular circular, without much latin, were prepared on noxious insects and modes of prevention and destruction. Such a pamphlet should be placed into the hands of every family that owns a piece of land however small. All have to engage in this warfare, individual efforts will not rid us of the worm in all our fruit. It is a disgrace to every grower and consumer. We all should pray and fight for its destruction. J. Toms the florist ameliorated our hot discussions by an array of his Flora.
EMIL BAUR, Cor. Sec.