Pomology

The 'September meeting of the county jomological society was held in thecourtiiouse last Saturday, President Dorr pre siding. It was one of the best attesded meetings the society has ever held, and ODe of unusual interest to the commercial fruit grower. There was a large display of the fruits in season, ana also a Ine display ofllowers, and the usual guod music ty Mr. Kathau White was cnjoyed. Dr. M. A. Conklin, of Manchester, dis played Germán pruue plumes, Hogers' No. 39 aud Adirondac grapas, and a seedling peach of much promise, rescmbling the Late Crawford ; Mrs. Mary Fisher, Lombard pluma; J. ü. BaldWin, Old Mixon peaches, Agawam, Hogers' No. 15 and Concord grapes; J. Austin Scott, a secdling peach of Ilill's Chili, to which it is a close reproduclion ; N. B. Covert, Hartford Proliüc grapes; Hugh O'Kaue, a seedliug peach; Chas. H. Woodruff, hls new white seedling grape, called White Aun Arbor; Jacob Ganzhorn, trom liis nursery. Hill'B Chili, Late Crawford, and Jaques Rare Hipe peaches, Flemish Beauty pear, Wyoming and Coucord grapee; Mrs. N. H. Pierce, acolluction of appies. Jas. Toms aud iMiss Sarah Fletcher m;ule a fine exhibit of flowers. The society thus lar has been in tin. halul l iliscussing me iruns mai npeneu about the time of the meetings and lonk up the peach as the subject fordiscüMfon, it beiug the most prominent fruit at this tiuie in the county. J. D. Baldwin.- A good loeation and reliable trees are important to success. We have experienced a peculiar seasou in t.his for the peach niany varieties ripen ahead of their usual time and tho truit is uuusually prone to rot. Varieties that usually ripën apart froin one another, this season have ripeued together, the weather being wet and at intervals very warm, rotted the peaches badly. Aud not only did alarge portion of the erop rot on the trees, but a great deal spoiled iu transit We were not ready for these contingencies, aud we have for the future to provide for them. I have a Granger fruitdryer, which is good in its way, but has nol sufficient capacity to dry all my soft peaches. We d'on't want the expensive fruit evaporators, but want sometbing that is cheap aud of sufftcicut capacity to take care of our fruit. 1 ain iuformed that the principie under lying the drying of fruit, is, in introducing the heat to the fruit froni underncath, lelting it paSi ai - wards through frames holding the fruit. Their constructiou should bc sueh as to allow the heat to pass through freely, and passing through all the frames. I was assured that the expense in fitting an evaporator that will dry uil my peaches, need not exceed $20. Besicles an evaporator, totake care of our soft peuches, we should provide ourselves with a fruithousc - a house made cool by ice, so that we may keep fruit in it over Sunday or during a time whtii there is a glut in the market. We thus avoid necessary losses. We also need a more efficiënt way of shiping then the express. The express is not able to carry all the peaches we now have to transport. We must have regular freight cars fitted up aud run regularly to uur large cities. Iu these various ways we must provide ourselves in the future for tak ing care of our peach crops. Furthermore we have planted too many Eiirly Crawfords. I would plant more later varieties then we have heretofore done. The Smock is safe to plant and I would plant something that ripens ten days later. There is no danger of injuries by frosts on our high elevations. The Froth Early does well with me on a sandy soil, but o heavy, clay it does not grow as large, and 1 intend to replace them with other varieties wherc found on such soil. 1 am conftdent we can make the peach reasonably proütable if properly maüagcd. Jfres. uorr iicre asKcu mr. uaiuwin what soil and locatiou he would choost for early peaches. Mr. Baldwin- I woulc select asouthern slope and clay soil. jpor the Crawfords and late peaches I piefoi a stiffclay soil. I would not plant late peaches on a southeru Blopö. Prof. E. Baur. - I tlnnk the peach bnsi ness will be overdone. I bellere it is alreadv overdone. We should be cautious in advisingyoungmentogointo the cul ture of the peach and believe that it is not a good investment for farmers to go into. I consider wheat growing more profitable, as that product eau be kcpi over till a suitable market. J. Anstin Scott.- I was both gratified and ainuscd In listening tothe preceeding speakers. ;lf properly managed, fruit culture on an Average is profitable. 1 believc if a strict count were kept by the peach men of this vicinity, a fair proflt remains. 1 considera high clay spot, most favorable for ripening early peaches. TIn kinds of peaches and also the markets should be sludied. I do not believe in planting too ínany of oue variety. By hiiving earlier and later varicties wc may often ciitch soinething by liaving somc of our dishes right side up when the rain fulls. Wheat and other products are somctimes overdone, but for all that, we should notbe discouraged. The country was ncver more prospurous than to-day. I thiuk, like friend Baldwin, that there are ways open out of the apparent troubles. Judgc P. L. Page. - I think it not bccoming in us to complain because high prices were not paid for the peaches the present season. In sume of the eastern totes where the peach is largely grown, the pench men experienced similar difriculties until they learnedhowto preserve fruits in various ways as now put up for the trade, and then the business beeaine permancntly and lirmly established, and on a paying basis. I am of the hope that bere will be some practical way to take care of our soft fruit and be profitably saved. Dr. M. A. Conklin. - As to varieties, the Early Crawford is plantcd too largely. I have but 50 trees of tbat kind. I plantod largely of the earliest varieties. I would urge the importanceto plant var-, ieties of early and late and so spread over as large a space of time as possible. In regard to soit I find that on a sandy soil and a southern slope, peaches ripen the earliest. It is so with all fruits. I would set late varieties on a nsrthern slope. Prof. Baur. - I would make it empbatic again that the peach business can be overdone. ■ J. D. Baldwin.- I think Prof. Baur ought to be chcercd up. We have now passed through the worst of the present season. We want to plant more of the earlier and later kinds and thus more fully balance the business. I cleared last year, out of a small part of my orchard, $3,000 and $400 for field crops which I grew between my voung trees not in bearing. Out of tlus I paid for growing and mar keting the erop, $1,900 leaving me $1,500 profit. , Prof. Baur. - I still think wo ought to bc cautious m the future, how we advise pcople going into the fruit business. But by united efforts and actiou, we may do something by which we are enabled to dispose of our peaches more satisfactorily to us. And I now move that a committcc of five be appointed to report at our next meeting the best ways to dispose of and utilize our peach crops. The niotion prevailcd and the following gentlemen were appointed as the committee: Prof. Baur, chairman; J. D. Baldwin, Dr. W. W. Kichols, Everet H. Bcott, Dr. II. A. Conklin. A recess wa then taken for a social chat and to afford an opportunity to taste and examine the display of fruits, etc. After calling the meeting to order, the president spoke substantially as follows: lf we choose the varieties froin early to late and manage properly, we will makc the cultivation of the peach profitable. Wc ought not to go in the business headlong, but sbould be prepared for contingences, ete. We should go in at flrst on a small scale, and increase as our experiencc warrants. Some fail at the business for want of proper knowledge and experience. The president then invited all in the meeting to speak and upon any subject they pleascd. Miss Sarah Fletcher was callcd upon and she gave her experience in the raising of some new varieties of potatoes and flowers. She Keeps a watchful eye on all she cultiyates and usually meets with gratifying success. Messrs. Toms, O'Kane anü Qeo. Harsden Jiscussed inseets injunous to gardening. N. B. Covert. - I Lave marketed considerable fruit the present scason and I have lost but little. Prices with me have been satisfactory and I am satisfied with results. Mrs. N. H. Pierce read an interesting paper, giving her expenence with gardening. J. Ganzhokn Secretary. {Goncluded form IHrd Page.) o a o SC Arithmetic S05 236 MI Writlng 271 192 463 Cieography „ 178 117 296 Oral Laiiguage _ _. 105 53 158 Drarting 280 213 498 MuslC 262 223 485 Primary Uotanf 71 50 121 Reuding and 8iclling 309 228 537 Buok-keeping 43 32 75 English Grammar 199 186 385 United States History 67 69 136 Science of Government. 30 24 54 Elementary Chemistry $3 30 63 Eleinentary Physics 26 23 49 The tcndency of present thought and practico in tliH matter is to simpHI'y and intonsü'r - fewer branches and more drill on each. Balancing all the intereats involved, I am disposed to extend and craphasize the work of practical languago to the expense of gome of the ndvanced branches. CLASSIFICATION AKD PROMOTION. Graded schools are of necessity eiacting - somo think thcm procrustean - but really these very exactions whilo they sometimes causo friction, are what give the schools vitality and valué. If the ron be dull there must be more strength and patience. Dull and unfortunate pupils must occasionally drop back to lower grades. It is their only educational salvation. But somo parents are unablo to accept this doctrine. Their children must be pushed ahead regardless of condition or cousequence. Probably it must be expeeted that no inconsiderablo portiou of society will forever mistake, in education, belween quantity ot book work and actual acquiremeuts, between getting over a course of study and mental growth. Now, teachers are not likely to hinder or unduly restrain pupila in their progros3 over the course. It would not add to their reputation, and parents should be slow to urge the promotion of their children against thc caroful judgmcnt of teachers. UNCLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT. There is a class of pupils who, for various roasons, attend school only about half the year, including the winter term. Tliey do not f'all into lino and rcadily adjust themselvcs to tho ordinary courso of instruction. They need rayiid reriews, much practical work, and tho omission of nearly everything but the three K's. If such pupils were collected into an unclassified school, instruction could be bettor adapted to their needs and the other scnoois wouiu De enaoiea to pursuo thoir regular work more auccessfully, from being untrammoled. PARÏNTS AND TIIB SCBOOLS. Parenta ought to know more about their childrcn's work in school, especially whetlier they aro doing wcll or ill in their studies. It is impossible for pupila to receivo the full benefits of school without this. First, becauae children always do botter at anything when iin intercsted eye is upon them; secoud, failure in school work can ofton be prevented by parental dircction of home atudy. Children in the primary gradea sliould not ordinarily be allowed to atudy school-books at homo, but in the Grammar grades - 5 to 8 inclusive - somo home atudy ia usually necessary to a good 3Ut standing. Perhaps a majority of cliildien tvill be carried along by the tide of school-inliuencea, needing no special incitomonts or rostraints, growing from year to year, in nature's way, in intellectual ambition and self-mastcry. But many are not so fortúnate. Success comes to thom only by the most constant personal stimulus, counsel, and training. Without parental co-operation, the bast organizcd schools and the best teachers will oflon fail to meet just expectations. MONTHLY REPORTS. Growing out of this line of thought, a scheme has been adopted, under sanction of tlic Board, of reporting to parents monthly the standing of pupila in the four Grammar grades. A üttle caroful attention to tho contenta of these report cards will quickly sugf?c3t to parents their own proper attitude and II..., i y I . . ■ ■ WV 4 1 . i 1 d _ ■ . .-n rill. h Í _. 1IUU Ut 'UILV iil nu: jrn iiiiM:fl, X UV it'JHiriH have alrcady brought about many consultations of párente with teachers and t s hopcd that tho number will greatly multiply. HIGH SCHOOL. The High School, in the work accomplished by t annually, ia something to bo proud of - more to bo taluod - not only for ta roputation abroad, but for ts utrinsic worth to those in attendance, to the families among ua who dcsire an academie education of high grado for their children, and last, but not least, to the lower grades of our School system, upon tOiich its stimulus and HlXing power are unremitting. The number enrolled, non-resident patronage, tuiüon received, etc, are soraowhat abore iiose of the precoding yoar. Tho following table of branches taught and ;lie number of pupils 11 each branch, l'ully indicatca tlie scope and amount o! work nctually done: Branchïs. { Á O H I-atin lhO 83 233 Greek 48 11 2 French 37 38 75 Germán _ 2S 30 68 Rhetoric 9 18 27 English Analysis 12 12 24 Composition 32 29 ;i Granimar 30 28 58 English I.iterature tí 21 S6 Etymology 7 15 22 Readiug 17 23 40 (Jeometry 71 38 109 Algebra 136 114 280 Book-keepiDK 78 33 106 U. 8. Hlstory „ 26 87 62 General History 22 27 49 Roman History 27 20 47 Greck Htstory 20 17 37 Enijlish History 3 10 13 Astronomy 4 11 18 Ohemistry 27 17 44 Natural Phllosophy 34 30 64 Zoülogy 19 35 54 I'hyslology 14 13 27 Botany 33 84 67 Geology 4 12 16 Arithmetic 51 54 105 Civil Government _. .. 12 12 24 Füysical Geography 38 36 74 Geography 23 32 54 Commercial Law 21 ... 21 PoHtlcal Economy 18 10 28 The high grado of the Department, and the exacting nature of its work, although among ts chief excellencies are occasional sources of embarrassment, discouraging some from pursuing a regular course, and sending othera to sock more expeditious, auperücial, cramming routes to tho University. It ia our constant study and aim so to shapc tlie instniction and gauge tho requirement3 for graduation, as to meet in tho most suc cessful way the demands mado upon the High School. ORADUATINO CLASS. The graduating class was larger than tho class of last year. Diplomas wore issued in the several courses as follows : Classical Course 20 I.utin Course 20 Knglish Course 5 Scientiflc Courss 21 Commercial Course 6 Of these 71 diplomas, 21 woro of Rank A - highost grade - a fair indieation of tho high acholarship of the class. As usual, sovoral members of tho Sonior Class who did not gradúate, have continucd their studies during the vacation and will present themselvcs for final examination and graduation at the opening of the Fall Term. Moreover, 11 pupils, whom we did uot gradúate, appliod to tho University for admission by examination. The graduating exorcises wero held in tho PresbyteriaH Churcli, on Friday, Juno 25. The house was crowded to lts utmost capacity by an appreciative audienco, which in its numbors and character, justiñed tho Board in providing so commodious a room for the exerciies. I may properly mentiou that tho annual meoting of tho Alumni of the High School was held in the evoning of the samo day in High School Hall. The large attendance and spirit of the meeting indicated an ncreasmg interest in the Association. MUBMUMé Tho Museum and Laboratory have rcceived somo valuable additiona durnig the year, among which is a fino collcction of specimens in Natural History from South America, made by Mr. Kmil Tonny, under the supervisión of Prof. Steore. Also a four-incli ftstronomical telescope has boen orderod of Clark & Sons and will soon be recoived. LIBRARY. For some views regarding the needs of the School Library, allow me to rofer you to my report of last year. As to tho proper sourco of funds for the support of the Library, it sliould not be overlookcd that the constitution expressly declares that "All unes assossod and collected in the several counties and townships for any brcach of the penal laws shall bc excluaively appliod to tho support of such libraries." Now the fact is that a largo portion of such fines is constantly diverted to other purjioses. Is it not the duty of the school authoritios to Beo that the rights of the Library, the wants of the reading public, and ospecially the needs of our children are securod ? APPLICA.NTS FOR POSITIONS. Concerning applicatious for positions as teachers in grades below the High School, a public declaration is clearly demanded. The applicanis are numerous lor cach vacancy, and a majority of them ask for positions without having mado any effort to IH themselvos for tho special work to bc undertaken. They expect to learn tho art of teaching at the expense of the schools ; so it must be to some extent. But, with a chair u,f Pedagogy in the University, with a Normal School only ten miles away.and with our own schools casil y available, at least, for obscrvation, I submit that to ask an appointment without some special preparation, is attaching too fceble an estímate to the responsibilities of the teaching office. In tliis connection I suggest the appointment of two resident, promising applicants, aa substitute teachers, to üll temporary vacancies, their compensation, unless otherwiso specified to be at half of regular rates, and the same to be deducted from tho salaries of toachers causing the vacancias. TEACHERS AND POSITIONS FOR THE COMING YEAR. W. S. Perry, Superintendent. IIIGH SCHOOL. J. G. Pattengill, Principal Greek and Latín H. N. Chute, Higher Mathematica and Physica Lucjr A. Chlttendcn, Germán and Higher English Emraa E. Chapín Frenen Cynthla A. Sager Natural Science LeviD. Wines Algebra Allen B. Pond Latín Adeline B. Ladd, Arlthmctic, Hintory and Knglish B. E. NicholK Commercial Department Imogene O. Royce, Ass't. Cummerclal Department GRAMMAR DEPARTMENT. Clara L.Conover, Principal EIghth Grado Abbie A. Pond Eighth and Seventh Grades Fl9ra I. Huil Seventh Grade Eliza Ladd, Assistant Reading and Spelling FIRST WARD SCHOOL. Ruthette E. Kerr, Principal Seventh Grade Alice Douglas i Sixth Grude Alice Porter Fifth Grado Ernüy J. Eldridge Fourth Grade EstellaG. Mozart Third and Second Grades Maggie McDevitt First Grade SECOND WARD SCHOOL. Mary Mulholland, Principal, Sixth and Fifth Grades Frank R. Lamed Fourth Grade EllaS. Wright Third Grade 8u8ie Spoor Second Grade Emily Gundert Second Grado Amelia F. Lutz First Grade THIRD WARD SCHOOL. M&rian Brown, Principal. ...Sixth and FifUi Grades Josephine Armstrong Fourth and Third Grades Nettle B. Amen Second and First Grades FOURTH WARD SCHOOL. Eliza Botsford. Principal, Sixth and Fifth Grades Cornelia E. Corselius Fourth and Third Grades Lulu Goodrich Third and Second Grades I.izzie G. Cooper First Grade FIFTH WARD SCHOOL. Emma E. Banfleld Principal Sixlh, Fiflh and Fourtli tirades. Lid Canwell Third, Second and First Grades SPECIAL TEACHERS. Benj. K. Nicholi _ Penmanship Lily Chase Drawing In closing this report I cannot but express to tho Board my sincere recognition of your friendly counsels and encouragoment to myself and colaborers in all our various responBibilitios to tho schdols. Respectfully submitted, W. S. Perry, Sup't. Ann Arbor, August 28, 1880. Evcning News: Flora T.Hcpshire, of Grand Rapids, suicided a few days ago, and her body was sent to the Ann Arbor meat carvers.