Washtenaw Pomology

At the monthly meeting all were glad to see J. Austin Scott, the founder of our Society, hale and hearty, taking as lively an interest in the topics of discussion as ever befor'e. Mr Ganzhorn read a very interesting paper on the apple. The spple is king among the fruits of our country. The apple is not subject to blight like the pear tree; it is the mi st profitable fruit. It paid the larmers of Washtenaw couniy last saason at least $180,000.00 cash, while it fllled their cellars with plenty of this luscious fruit. Michigan apples sell at Boston, Snowa for $3, Kinga for $ö per bbl. The evaporators and fruit faetones carne to tbe relief of the orchaidist. Allmeudinger & Schneider bought 20,000 bushels of apples. Mr. Granger from western New York put up a very large drying establishment in the Volz brewery. Three dryers were in operation at Chelsea. All over the county jelly and eider factories are in operation. The American consuls abroad had their attention directed by the Secretary of State to the extraction of juice from the apple. The procesa of defusion, employed in extracting the juices from the sugar-beef in Europe, was reported most favorably upon by the consuls. This procesa is. employed now oñ a large scale in the old world in extracting .fruit juices, 85to95 per cent of the apple juices are extracted; the eider by tbis proces is said not to ferment unless sugar or yeast be added. Arrangements are made to introduce this new procesa in this country. A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Ganzhorn for this excellent paper. Mr. Tucker, formerly of western New York, now a resident of Ann Arbor, addressed the society. He had visited every school district in this and other counties where apples are grown. No county is superior to Washtenaw for fruit growing in general. Oakland county produces more apples than any other in the state. Mr. Tucker Í9 one of the principal agents, and partner ia the Hydraul;c Press Co. He encourages plants by the eider and vinegar manufactures all over the state. At a meeting held three weeks ago at Chicago, Mr.Tucker recommended Ann Arbor for the establishmeBt of a plant. Horticultural societies should support them in the legislativo enactments by wliich they ai e protected against tbe manutacture of vinegar from corn which is branded eider vinegar and against adulterated jellies. Ever state and especially Michigan, ehould appoint a fruit commissioner to prevent these adulterations, which are injuriDg the public health. Mr. Wm. Mc' reery presen ted a very interesting paper on the proceedings cf the 15th annual meeting of the New Jersey State HorticuHural Society. The discussion of the subject of disposing of producía through the commission merchant resulted iu hia favor, although there are abuses connected with me system. A method is needed which will secure to the grower a fair and equitable return for his con8ignment. Il the present way of making out net proceeds cancot be altere d perhaps aome plan may be devised whereby the commiseion merchant may feel diaposed to offer some greater inducement for consignments than he doea at present. The business ability ol the commiasion merchants was defended. They have an acquaintance with a large class of buyers and possess a familiarity with the kind and quality of fruit each ueually buys. Familiarity with the way the market is affected, either by glut or scarcity, is only acquired by constant attention, and the knowledge of how best to dispose of a lot of perishable produce in times of emergeacy is not acquired in a day. The society resolved " to condemn the practice of commission men of supplying empty packattes to customera, because it encourages dishonest packing; to ins:st that the practice shall become universal of making weekly payments and statements; to demand honest quotations from any shipping point where perishable articles are handled ; to oondemn the taking oL fruit from open packages by customers or employees of the cammission men and to condemn the practice of aelling the produce of different consignera in lump lots, insisting that each man's goods shall be sold on their own merits. The speedy return of berry ciates and bushei baskets is insisted upon. Mr. J. J. Parshall, who made microscopio observations of the fruit buds, apprehenda no danger. Hon. J. Auatiu Seott exhibited very fine specimens of the Belmont, .Tonathan, bury Russet, Lady's Sweelina; (one of the Utest and best keepers), Taiman Sweet Swaar, Bellflower, Greemng,. Charles Treadwell: English Redstreak, Genettin?, Jonathan, the önest specimens on exhibit. E Buur: Jonathan, Greenintr, English Huss-t, Bellilower; peare, D'Aremberg and Lawrence. J. Ganzhorn: dried apples frotn Ben Davis apple, a variety which otherwife is neglected but which seems to be superior as a dried product. At the February meeting Prore5sor Spalding will have a paper on Tungus