A Visit To The Michigan Fruit Region

From the Interior. A very pleasant reunión of the fruitgrowers, priiscipiilly írom Southern Illinois and the eastern shoro oí' I.mke Miobigan, WU held at Benton Harbor, on tho IStb, imh and 3(th of September. Thero was nothirtg eitner during the trip to and from this placo to mar tho cnjoyment in the slightest degree, and tho Fruit Growors' Association of Bonton Harbor and 8t. Joscph left no means únacoómplíshed to reader the visit prolitable ftitd pleasant irr tbe fcïg-hest degrce to thc invited guests. Throo years ago, through tho liberality and courUjsy of tl; Central lUúlroad Conipany, the principal pomologists of the Michigan Lako shore región, mado a'visifc totfbo wrHHis-íruit-gro'wing'localttitoa in this State, lying along the Illinois Central to Cairo. This )'ear, through the kindness oi' this Compitny and the Michigan Central and the Michigan Lake fchoro CompanieSj who tendered special ears for the accommodation of the largo party oí ladies and gentlemen coinposing it, they were enabled to stop or t nivel at ■will, and visit many localities that otherwisa would havo beon diflicult of access. The party were inet in Chicago by the reprosentative of tho Benton Harbor HurtiniilUwal S.ciety, awl it Ihrv Buffítlo by a farther dologation from this Society and tho St. Joseph Horticuhur.il Society, who wolcomod them to tho great fruit región of thu .Northwest After dinser tlo largo party, oomprising now over oné hundred ladies and gentlemen, were taken in carriagos to visit tho variou.s fruit farms on tho north sido of tho Paw Paw Eivor, and tö enjoy tho extensivo viow of Lako Michigan from tho Bluff Bank, hero more thaa two hundred feet high. In tho evoning a reception was held at tho Methodist church, the lecturo room of which was filled with tablos containing an admirable display of choice ñuits and brilliant flowers. ün Tueeday the party visited all tho .rincipal fiuit farnis on the south sido tho P:nv Paw, and in tho vioinity of St. Joaeph. Li tho vcning anothor reunión was held, and on Wednésday at G o'clock, A. M., the party, after tho pleasant si)ccch-making and adious iiwidont to loavo-tuking, returned to Chicago, and thenco to their respective homes, carrying; with them tho memory of tho pleasant assciations connected with the visit, and the uscful lessons that horticultiirists are evr learning through lifo. Ou tho way to Chicago a meeting was held and rcsolutions passed, tondoring the appreciation of tho party to tho oflioersoithc lüinois Central, the Michigan Central and tho Michigan Lake Shore Bailroad Conipanie.s, for the very liberal and cordial maitncr in which thoy furnislietl'transportation for the horticulturists of tho party. Thcro is no class of men who do moro gratuitous work for thc olevation of the profession and the 0108868 who are engaged in horticultural pursuits. ïhe wise liberality of theso railroads is duly approciated by tho fraternity. It is net the fh'st time by any means that this liberality has beon onjoyed, and it will not in tho end go unrewarded. Among tho best features of the fine orchards and vineyards of Bonton Harbor and St JoBeph, woro the admirable cultiva tion given, and the attention that was paid to the practical details of tho art. It is one of the means of their eminent success in r ait cnltnre, and if we had sons to edúcate therein, wc should much profer to apprentice thom to these piactical men rather than w;isti theii tiiue in listening to prosy thcorotical school loctures, made up from dednetions foundod upon half tïicd experimente. Tho present is a utilitarian age. We un; looking to practical values, and what they aro worth. Tho intelligence of hor"Wculturists is espeoially directed tliis way, honc( theü success in this branch of agriculture. Thoy road everything that pertams to their art, and are quick to grasp that which is useful to them. Tïio press now-a-ila ys is utilitarian. It is tbo groat educator of the people, and it is hc who readfl most oarefully, and digosts most thoroughly who meets with the greatcst success, and the application saay he made in other direotions than in horticahuiv.