WESTERN MICHIGAN LAKE-SHORE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

The progress of fruit culture along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan is probably more rapid, and is at this time attracting more attention than is given to that business in any portion of the West. The public eagerly seizes on all facts touching this important and growing interest, and in view of furnishing, as far as practicable, information that can be relied on, the following statistics and other matter brought out by the Association known by the above title, is given. Jacob Ganzhorn, of Spring Lake, Ottawa County, Secretary of the Association, forwarded the statistics of fruit culture, the list of tested fruits, and the report of the doings of the Convention of Fruit-Growers. In the course of his correspondence, Mr. Ganzhorn gives some items of interest not included in the regular papers. He mentions that an Isabella grapevine, four years old, growing in the village of Spring Lake, bore in 1868, 100 lbs. of fruit. A Concord vine of the same age, though in another garden, bore 42 lbs., and a Clinton, along side of it, 100 lbs. A four-year-old Catawba vine, in the same garden, trained to a building, and covering a space of about 16 feet high, and 24 feet wide, bore 100 lbs.

STATISTICS OF THE FRUIT CROP OF SPRING LAKE AND VICINITY-NOT EXCEEDING FOUR MILES FROM ANY POINT OF THE VILLAGE-FOR THE YEAR 1868.

Fruit culture in this section is yet in its infancy, though many orchards, vineyards, and small fruit plantations are established, many of which are quite extensive. To give some idea of what is already planted, I will state, that not over five per cent. of what is planted bore this season, and the products amounted to $37,105 80.

All kinds of fruits mentioned in these statistics (as far as tested) succeed exceedingly well in this section, and all bore full crops this season, except the apple, which is estimated at one-third of an average crop.

The varieties of Apples now most in bearing are the Baldwin, R. I. Greening, Gale's Russet, Kirtland Pippin, Rambo, and Red Astrachan, though all leading and promising varieties are planted. Of the Pear, the Louise bon de Jersey, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Vicar of Winkfield, and Bartlett. The varieties of Peaches are quite numerous, though the most extensive for market are: Early Crawford, next, Early Barnard, Hale's Early, Late Crawford, and Smock (free). Grapes, the Concord, Delaware, Isabella, Catawba, Hartford Prolific, and Clinton. All varieties of late introduction which are of promise are planted, though their merits and adaptation to this soil are yet to be tested. The Concord and Delaware are the most extensively planted. The Concord decidedly takes the lead of all varieties yet tested as the most profitable, on account of its hardiness and productiveness. The varieties above mentioned have always ripened well since coming into bearing, except the Catawba, which has not generally ripened well the last two seasons; though in some favorable situations it ripened thoroughly. It has, however, ripened some years in succession before. The grape receives much attention, and from all evidence will be the leading branch next to the peach, which stands at the head at present, of fruit culture along the Lake shore. Mildew and rot among grapes are not known here.

Of small fruits the Kittatiny and Wilson's Early Blackberry are most planted, but have not borne yet. Raspberries-Doolittle's Black-cap and Philadelphia. Strawberries-the Wilson's Albany and Agriculturist. Currants-Red Dutch, Cherry,

White Grape, and Black Naples.

The quantity of different fruits raised, and the average proceeds of the same, are as follows:

APPLES.-Summer: Red Astrachan, Early Harvest, Keswick Codling, Primate, Porter. Fall: Maiden's Blush, Rambo, Fall Pippin, Autumn Strawberry. Winter: Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening, Wagener, Esopus Spitzenburg, Golden Russet, Famuse, Yellow Bellflower, Canada Red, Monmouth Pippin, Lady Apple, Talman Sweeting, Roxbury Russet. As promising well, but not sufficiently tested: King, Wine-sap, Cooper's Market, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Dominie, Swaar, Green Sweet.

PEARS.-Standard: Bartlett, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Louise bon de Jersey. Dwarf: Duchesse d'Angouleme, Louise bon de Jersey, White Doyenne, Glout Morceau, Vicar of Winkfield, Seckel, Buffum, Urbaniste.

CHERRIES Heart Cherries: Black Tartarian, Knight's Early Black, Bigarreau, Gen. Wood, Yellow Spanish. Dukes and Morellos: Early Richmond, May Duke, Belle Magnifique.

PEACHES.-Early Crawford, Early Barnard, Hale's Early, Smock (free), Late Crawford, Morris White, Jacques' Rareripe. QUINCES.-Orange.

CRAB APPLES.-Red and Yellow Siberian, Hyslop.
GRAPES.-Concord, Delaware.

CURRANTS.-Red Dutch. As promising, but not yet tested:

Cherry, Versaillaise, White Grape.

BLACK CURRANTS.-Black Naples.

GOOSEBERRIES.-Houghton's Seedling.

RASPBERRIES.-Doolittle's Black-cap, Philadelphia. STRAWBERRIES.-Wilson's Albany (best for market), Agricul

turist, French's Seedling.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION, HELD IN SPRING LAKE, OTTAWA COUNTY, MICHIGAN, FEBRUARY 3D, 1869.

In the early part of January, the Western Michigan Lake Shore Horticultural Association, located at this place, issued a call for a General Convention of all the fruit-growers along the shore of Lake Michigan, hoping that thereby a permanent organization might be formed. In response to the call, the Convention met at the appointed time, and was called to order by the President of the Association.

On motion of J. Ganzhorn, J. H. Newcomb was nominated and elected Chairman, and W. G. Sinclair, Secretary.

ASPECT FOR PEACH ORCHARDS.

Mr. Peck, of Muskegon, being called upon, introduced for discussion, "The aspect for peaches."

D. B. Thorp, of Crockery, said he had been in the nursery business about twenty-five years; had lived in New Jersey, Illinois, and for several years past in this vicinity; thought it a business that required a great deal of study. In regard to soil and aspect, he thought any soil that was dry enough would do, and that the land in this vicinity, and, in fact, almost anywhere along the lake shore of western Michigan, was adapted to the raising of all kinds of fruits; that no fruit tree could live any length of time in wet, cold lands, unless it was the plum. He asked all who had trees planted in wet, cold lands, to examine their roots, and they would find them all black. This he thought evidence enough that all trees required a dry

soil. Sand, or sandy loam is best adapted to peaches, but they would do well in any soil that was dry. The aspect, or locality, is not of so much importance as dry soil. He thought at one time that one aspect was right, then again that another was best; at one time that one locality was the best, and at another, the opposite.

Mr. Husted, of Lowell, thought that at Lowell the peach tree succeeded best in rather a heavy soil.

Mr. Lovell, of Spring Lake, extensively engaged in peachculture, thought the highest lands produced the best trees, as well as the most fruit; also, that all trees in this vicinity that are not protected by any wind-breaks, or belts of timber, have always done the best, and produced the most fruit. As regards aspect, he thought that land nearly level was as good as any. His land is nearly level, or as near as may be, with a low place on one side, and the peach trees and buds always suffer most there, when in the other parts of the orchard they would not be hurt at all.

Mr. Ganzhorn also recommended high land as best adapted to successful peach-raising, and according to his observations, trees on elevated land are the thriftiest; those in low places, (basin-shaped) unhealthy, and often killed.

Geo. Seagrove thought that high land was far preferable, and would advise all to plant their peach trees on their highest land; was well satisfied that they would be pleased with the result, after seeing a few failures on low lands.

J. W. Curtis, recently from Wisconsin, said he did not know much about the fruits of this place, but would concur with the gentleman who preceded him.

T. D. Denison was decidedly in favor of a northern or eastern slope, and had trees on the poorest land, with an eastern slope, and his best peaches always grew there.

The chairman said he had observed that trees that were on the highest ground seemed to escape frost, when those planted where water could stand around their roots, were almost always badly injured.