Telegram-herald., 1891-09-09
local FRUIT GROWERS
They Meet in Monthly Session -
W. X. Munson's Farm.
CULTURE AID PRODUCT or GRAPES
See Peach yssIsws srs Otsssshsssl as1
Diseased Peaches ere tstssss UDes
80 lsssspeetfsE rsbtie -
% Rsa harsasas~"

The September meeting Of the Grsnd
River Valley Horticultural Society was
held yesterday ~ shs fes dence Of wm.
X. Munson. tho we'll known fruit
grower aud nuFseryman east Of the
Plainfield road. TIE aiteDdapce MAS
not large but tho meeting vas full of
Interest. A abort business sess.on MAS
held before the dinner hour with J. A.
Pcarce, vics.prssdsnt Of the society.
presiding. SIR. Pearce tbougbt the
recent organization OF tie Fruit Grow
cfs' Association had accomplished .
great deal ia the way OF opening ave-
nuee Of trade. Lists Of fruit comnis-
sion men have been secured from al
over tile state. The question of q
market place in Grand Rapids ls q scri-
ous one and the problem is growing
deeper every day. II - particularly
perplexing now. when the streets are
torn up. making il harder for the buy
crs as we'll as The sellers. The ci.y
should open large Hat place that thls
enormous trade may be disposed of
quickly. There Is tremendous
amount of fruit, grains, ETC., in this
vicinity and Grand Rapids might make
herself q distributing point by establi sh-
ing a market place where fruit might
be classified. and buyer and seller meet.
The bee question has been a serious one
among some fruit men this summer.
Owing to the extreme drouth ali insect
life has been raycnous for
water and even the lady bugs
went To the peaches for u little
drink not for food. II can he arranged
20 that the honey bee can remain IN
his field OF usefulness among the fruit
trees. Flowers can be provided tor
their use. There has been quite a
spread of peach yellows this year, one
man having to take out l,200 trees.
| This is becoming somewhat alarming.
Every effort should be made 10 stamp
out the disease.
Mr.. Seward Moffett, of Carmon.
stated that the town hoard had ap-
| pointed commissioners to stamp out
| the yellows in that vicinity. Mr.. Moff-
| EFT exhibited some specimens of in
fected peaches. The fruit came from
two trees which grew in the sod. the
remainder of the orchard being cult
waited. The disease being commune
Gated by spoors it was conceded that
great care should be taken to disenfect
the hands after touching infected
fruit.
How Diseased Peaches are Sold.
| Mr.. James Spencer inquired as to the
law in regard TO the prevention OF the
sale of such fruit. He said he had
seen considerable fruit affected with
| the "yeliows" on the Grand Rapids
market and had taken pains TO inquire
as to what 1t was called. Hc found
! that 1t Was called the Red Barnard or
blood peach owing TO the red color of
the inside and the red lines running
through the fruit.
| Rev. John Sailor said there was . Law
prohibiting the sale Of such fruit. But
he was not familiar with the exact
wording of it.
Mr.. Munson stated that the law fully
covered the selling and handling of
peaches afflicted with the "yeliows."
The selling or handling is strictly pro-
hibited. An adjournment Was taken
and luncheon was served from picnic
tables set beneath . broad awning on
the lawn.
After luncheon q stroll was taken
through Mr.. Munson's vineyard which
comprises between nine aud ten acres
Worden, Concord, Brighton and Niagra
grapes. The vines are heavily loaded
| with large and perfect clusters of the
fruit Mr.. Munson has 5000 vines and
he expects to pick ten pounds Of grapes
from each vine. The visitors were in
| vlted to partake of the fruit and each
accepted the invitation gladly. Mr..
Munson makes a speciality Of choice
fruit and fancy prices. HIS commodi-
ties are the best in the market and he
supplies the leading hotels of this city
beside sending 100 pounds daily to the
Alma SanitarIum.
Reassembllng under tho canvas the
association was called to order by Vice
President Pcarce who announced the
topic of the day, "Grapes, Grape Cul.
ture and Grape Products"
In accordance with the custom Mr..
Munson, the host, was invited to give
little talk which he did. He said that
both he and his wife were born on the
hills about Syracuse. n. ", where all
but the hardest died. He received a
training in Maxwell's nursery at Gene
va, but he had no desire to 20 back.
Four years ago he moved on TO this
farm and at that time there wasn't q
vine on the place. Responding 10 ques
tions Mr.. Munson said that grapes will
grow on any coil from light esnd tc
heavy clay. Thorough cultivation il
the secret OF success. He manured the
vines well two years ago and put
leached ashes on them last year. He
cultivates them all the season, using q
two-horse wheel cultivator for the cen,
ter of the row and . one-horse cultiya.
tor next 10 the vine. They can be
trimmed any time after the leaves fail
until the next spring. He doee not
check their growth or trim IN
summer. In planting he sete
the stakes. first puts two inches OF dirt
between the vines and stakes and trains
the vines to the stake. The second sea.
son he trains the cane and ties is tight
10 the wire, The third year he ties 10
old plants. but one year olds are pre-.
/ ferabie to three year olde, because the
| roots of the former are clean white
fibrous rcots. Plants eight inches deep
and prunes 10 two straight canes. lie
never takes them from the trsllis in
winter.
BETTER Than Cold Storage
Mr.. Muneon described HE fruit house
q commodious building with walls filled
| with saw dust. ten inch tile, zoo feel
long, five feet in the ground, opens in
TO the cellar. A pipe above n feet high
admits . powerful draft and csrries
away foul air Fruit keeps better IN
this place than in an ice storage house
Has kept grapes two month";, but Of q
| loss. The Brighton loses by keeping
but the Niagara improves.
Referring TO the matter of peach