VOL. XXVIII.
INDIANAPOLIS. IND.  NOV. 18, 1893.
NO. 46.
^axticxxXtuxc.
STATE   HOBTICULTttBAI,    SOCIETY—33D
ANNUAL     MEETING-VALUABLE
PAPERS AND INTEBESTING
DISCUSSIONS.
The Indiana State Horticultural society
held its annual meeting a month "earlier
than usual this year in order to take advantage of the reduced railroad rates given
to the society of Indiana Florists, at their
annual Chrysanthemum show.
The attendance v. as fairly good, considering the fact that the fruit crop has generally been an almost complete failure
throughout the State.
At the opening of the first session Gov.
Matthews was introduced and made appropriate address in which he gave credit
to Moses the Hebrew law giver, as the
great benefactor of his race in giving dignity and honor to horticulture. He paid
a high tribute to agriculture and horticulture as arts tbat can tax to the utmost
human ingenuity and skill, and alluded to
the comforts and luxuries of the country
home that reward the best efforts of the
farmer aided by intelligence. He hoped
the time would soon come when local societies in the interest of horticulture
would be common throughout the State.
The farmer, he said, should be proud of
his calling. He expected to seethe day
, when hlgher_ culture would be. common
among the tillers ofthe soil, and they
shall possess their fnll share of the higher
enjoyments of life.
President Hobbs, in his address, remarked npon the exceedingly small
amount of fruit produced in the State,
saying that he had never known so great a
failure. The failure was due to late spring
frosts and the continuous rainy weather
during the blooming period. He feared
for the crop next year on account of the
increase of fungous growths, and urged
the use of insecticides and fungicides, and
the planting of the hardiest varieties. It
is only by the strictest vigilance that we
can hope to eat of the fruit of our planting.
But man is superior to nature, and within
certain limits is able to control it. With
suitable soil and favorable locations he can
make fruit growing profitable.
He recommended the society to fit and
furnish their room in the State House appropriately and appoint a custodian to
look after it. He urged farmers to plant
more fruit, and advised the planting of
both fruit and shade trees along the highways, as is done in many parts of Europe.
A committee waa appointed to consider
and report upon the suggestions of the address.
Air. Smith said he planted a number of
the best varieties of fruit trees along the
road side a number of years ago and it had
been a very satisfactory investment, and
he recommended the adoption of the plan
generaUy by other fruit growers.
Mr. Ragan endorsed what was said regarding the room of the society. He
recommended the adornment of the room
by engravings, etc.
Mr. Sedgwick was glad to hear the president advocate the planting of fruit trees
along the roads. He cited Randolph
county in proof of the great improvement
in road ways by planting trees which is
there done to a large extent. He spoke of
a large pear tree that had stood in the middle of a certain load in his vicinity for 80
years or more and borne large crops of
pears, without being injured in any respect by the traveling public.
■A resolution was read by Mr. Teas that
a committee be appointed to take into
consideration the condition of the room of
the society.
Messrs. Teas, Troop, Reed, Smith and
Johnson were appointed.
Mr. Troop suggested that a collection of
DjurioiM Jnse<jts ijnfl fungi be placed in
the room and that a custodian of the room
be appointed.
The question whether pecan, chestnut
and other nut-bearing trees would be desirable for road side planting started an
interesting discussion. It was generally
admitted that the chestnut would not succeed in most places, and the walnut was
preferable. The persimmon was always
recommended as a hardy and easily grown
tree and a very fruitful bearer. The pecan
was recommended by somo members but
the majority discouraged planting them
north of central Indiana.
On motion it was the sense of the meeting that it is advisable to plant fruit and
nut bearing trees along the highways. The
vote stood 17 to 8.
The report of Secretary W. H. Ragan
showed very little interest in the horticultural field during the past year. He concurred with the president regarding the
importance of making better use of the
society's room in the State House.
His financial statement showed as follows:
Postage- _ _„ t 35 "0
Printing      4 50
Stationery. „   u 9->
Telegrams- „ „.       75
Expressage-     6 50
Traveling expenses-   32 65
Membership fees ..«.. „  ill 00
Clerical help. „..    8 60
-   Total-
..f_l 05
DEBITS.
Books sold „ t  5 00
Membership fees ni 00
Due secretary   9. 05
Total „ „ _ $211 05
Treasurer  W.   A.   Workman's   report
showed:
Balance ln treasury- „ „  ..f 485 48
Becelved from State Treasury- ._. 1,00. 90
Membership fees- ™ „    m 00
Total receipts..
..*l,5-5 48
Paid orders-..
...» 491 15
Balance in treasury  1104 ;
Total „ {1,593 48
Mr. Johnson thought ;that a better show
of fruit might have been made at the
World's Fair from Indiana than was
shown there if as much effort had been
made here as was made in Illinois, whero
the fruit crop was a failure as well as here.
Mr. Ragan complained that all of the
fund appropriated by Indiana was used in
erecting a bare building, and none to show
her horticultural or other products. Illinois appropriated ?25,000 for her fruit exhibit and that explains how that State so
far excelled our own in that department.
A paper on Orcharding in Southern Indiana, by J. B. Elliott, of New Harmony,
was read by the sectretary. The essay related to the seven counties of southwestern
Indiana, popularly known as "The
Pocket." The soil and climate were described as well adapted to fruit growing,
and yet thousands of acres of good hill
land in that section are for sale at low
prices, that would give handsome returns
if planted in fruit. He advised the renewal of orchards after the trees have
passed their prime and would plant new
orchards every five or six years, so as to
have some of them in good bearing all
the time.
Mr. Miller spoke of the great value of
fine, large, perfect fruit, over a poor or
jommon article. He had sold peaches at
f3 to 54 per bushel, while other growers
were glad to get f 1 for theirs. The quality
made the difference.
Mr. Sedgwick said that good culture of
fruit in Indiana would give as good results as it does in California and elsewhere. He spoke from .actual cspcr* ••>&.
for he knows orchards that are properly
cultivated in WScounty, that fairly com
pete with those of any State.
Mr. Howland wou'd not advise planting
oreharda'unlesMJ the planter intended to
care for them properly. The indiscriminate planting of fruit trees is a mistake. Many orchards ought to be cut
down, because they are merely propagating places for noxious insects and fungus
diseases.
Mr. Johnson learned while at the
World's fair that the way to have good
fruit and abundantly is to fertilize and
cultivate the orchards, as our gardens and
fields.
It was resolved on motion not to hold an
evening session, but attend the chrysanthemum show instead.
SECOND DAY.
The morning session opened with a paper by Mr. J. B. Burris, of Putnam
county, entitled ''Observations on a Recent Trip to the Pacific Coast." It was a
very interesting paper. One surprise was
that he gave Oregon the preference over
California as a fruit growing State, and
predicted that it will not be long till that
State becomes noted throughout the
country for fine quality of its apples,
prunes, etc.
Mr. Ragan introduced the discussion
and eulogized the prunes of Oregon especially.
Mr. Johnson said he had come to regard
Oregon as pre-eminently the fruit State o'
the Union. He spoke of the superiority
of the grapes shown from that State.
The subject of competition with California and other Western fruit growing
States was discussed at considerable
length. It was suggested that we have the
advantage in proximity to the markets,
also that our fruits, especially apples, are
of better quality. In evaporated fruits it
was admitted we cannot successfully compete with California. One speaker stated
his belief that several kinds of fruit can
be grown here at less than the freight
charged on fruit from California. He
contended that grapes can be grown here
at two cents a pound at a profit—a small
one, bnt yet a profit. Mr. Street stated
that he had found that he could grow
prunes successfully in his section of the
State, Howard county.
"Plant Trees," by Hon. J. P. Applegate,
of New Albany, was the next paper. The
snbect was divided into three head?: "The
Necessity of Tree Planting," "Blending
the Useful and the Beautiful in Planting"
and 'How Can We Encourage Treo Planting?" It was a well-considered and valuable address and we hope to publish it in a
future number. The discussion following
evinced the fact that the subject was one
of great interest to the members. One
speaker who had traveled in Germany
told of the fruit trees planted everywhere
along the highways. He recommended
planting some varieties in this country,
but not the choicest. Cider apples, for example, would be appropriate for the purpose. Mr. Vajen gave a number of reasons why the average tree-planter made
so poor a success. The hole made
for the roots is too small, and the ground
is cultivated in corn or some other crop
that takes the strength from the soil, and
they are left to the insects and the cattle
and are uncared for.
Mr. Holland said he believed the shade
trees were a benefit rather than an injury
to a public gravel road. It prevents the
wear of the road to some extent by keeping the gravel moist. Mr. Beeler differed
from this statement, saying that a road he
he was familaiar with thut was well
shaded was in need of more repair than
others of the same character that were not
shaded. The elm, hackberry and hardy
catalpa were recommended as roadside
Jrees.
A paper on Landscape Architecture by
Warren H. Manning, of Brookline, Mass.,
was presented by the Secretary, and on
motion was ordered to be published iu the
proceedings.
Gov. Matthews, W. H. Manning, R. H.
Warder and W. W. Farnsworth, were on
motion constituted honorary members of
the society.
Prof. J. Troop next read a paper on
spraying, as a means of protecting fruit.
The essayist showed first the great loss to
the farmers of the State by reason of insect ravag.s. The cause for the greater
destruction by insects of late years he
charged to the destruction of our forests,
which formerly were the abode of the insects, that now make their homes in our
orchards. He alluded to the rapid increase
of insecticides and fungicides in the last
few years, and gave the history of some of
the most efficient of these remedies.
He gave an account of the application of
these at Purdue and other stations, which
showed most satisfactory results.l The
dilute Bordeaux mixture seems to have
proven j most efficient.
Here are some of the experiments made
at the Ohio Agricultural Station. Sprayed
fruit, of 1st quality 15 per cent, 2d quality,
74 per cent, 3d quality 11 per cent. Unsprayed, none of 1st quality, 40 per cent of
21 quality, and GO per cent 3d quality.      ,
Of the Benoni sprayed, 85 per cent 1st
quality, 8 per cent 2d quality and 7 per
cent 3d quality. Not sprayed, 4 per cent
1st quality, 58 per cent 2d quality and 38
per cent 3d quality. Of Rome Beauty
sprayed 93 per cent 1st quality, 7 per cent
second, and none of 3d quality. Not
sprayed, lper cent 1st quality, 80 per cent
2d quality, and 19 per cent of 3d quality.
At Purdue experiments were made in
1892 with grapes, for protection against the
black rot. Out of 36 varieties scarcely one
was exempt from the signs of rot. The application of Bordeaux mixture gave from
50 to 75 per cent of perfect fruit. The unsprayed vines were comparatively worthless. The experiments were very satisfactory.
Mr. Farnsworth, of Ohio, said his exper-
ence was that spraying and jarring the
trees should go together; that Bpraying
alone is not sufficient. He sprays with
Bordeaux mixture and London purple
quite early, and repeats the process every
two or three weeks.
At the opening of the afternoon session
the question drawer was opened and the
first query was, what apple will take the
place of Ben Davis? One member said the
Stark would yield as many bushels on the
average and is a much better applo. Another recommended Rome Beauty. Winter Rambo, or Dominic was also suggested.
Mr. Teas said New York pippin, which is
the same applo with another name. The
York Imperial was another.
Is canvas a safe covering for plants in
the spring?
Mr. Teas said, excepting in severe
weather, he preferrred cloth to glass for
starting plants in the spring. Others differed from this opinion, and thought glass
batter and cheaper in the end.
What are the best plums and cherries in
the State?
Mr. Applegate recommended Burbank's
seedling among plums. Lombard and
Washington were also named. Early
Richmond and Montmorency were recommended among cherries.
What do we know of the Mohler raspberry? Mr. Farnsworth said it was the
same as Eureka. It is as large as Gregg
and as early as the Souhegan. Mr. Troop
concurred in the statement.
The Fruit Lands of Southeastern Indiana, vt as the title of a paper read by A. W.
Butler, of Brookville.
From careful investigation by geologists he showed that southwestern Indiana belonged to a wide belt of white clay
land that extended across Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, that is noted for excellent
fruit.   He named  several varieties of ap-
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