STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Thirty-Seventh  Annual   Meeting—President Hobbs' Address and Other
Interesting  Papers   and
Discussions.
The thirty-seventh annual meeting  of the
Indiana   Horticultural   Society  was   held in
Agricultural Hall, State house last  week,
beginning on Tuesday.   There was   a fair
attendance at  the beginning  which   increased in succeeding sessions.
President C. M. Hobbs, of Bridgeport,
delivered his annual address, from which
we quote: "In the 37 years of this society's
existence it may be said that small fruit
culture, as adapted to the various soils and
climates of this vast country, has de-
• v-eloped. When this society had its be-
binning, there were probably not a half-
dozen varieties of each of the small fruits
worthy of cultivation; now we havo hundreds of varieties, hardier in plant, more
productive, larger, better in quality and
in ripening, covering a much longer period. In place of small fruits being rare
and the food only of the wealthy, they are
now everywhere, and so cheap in price
that all can enjoy them—except the grower
who would enjoy them better if the price
were higher. Among the tree fruits we
have made many valuable additions. But
a few years since apple-growing in the
great Northwest was considered impracticable. In recent years varieties of such
constitutional vigor and hardiness have
been produced that there seems to be almost no limit to the northern -zone of apple growing, if we accept Alaska.
"We have added many names to the
list of pears, so that we have them earlier
and later than formerly. Amoung the native varieties, Tyson, Lawrence, Vermont
Beauty, Arnold and others, we have gained
hardiness of tree without loss of quality,
and have thus extended the northern limit
of pear-growing. The cherry for this latitude, the Morello type, has not advanced
much beyond the old early May, or Richmond. We have some valuable additions
however, to the varieties we can grow here.
In plums we have added some good ones
form Europe, and recently a distinct elass
from Japan. The pure Japans have
proved too tender for the climate of central and northern Indiana, but the crosses
between the native and Japans give much
encouragement of grear benefits to be
reaped. Our native varieties have attracted a gread deal of deserved attention;
often succeeding where European and
Japan varieties fail.
"In the field of horticulture, as well as
that of promology, there has been marvelous development. Plants and fruits
formerly grew as they would; now they
grow as wo will. We have added almost
numberless varities to our cultivated fruits,
leangthening the fruiting season and increasing the hardiness and adaptation of
trees; in the case of the tipple to the detriment of the quality of the fruit.
"For richness and delicacy of flavor none
of the newer varieties can be compared with
the old American Golden Russet, and tliere
are many who insist that the old Yellow Bell-
flower has no equal in quality among modern
varieties. There has been almost no well-directed scientific effort at improvement in our
native fruits. Our native persimmon, pawpaw, chestnut, hickory nut, and walnut have
had little done for them either by careful selection or by cross-breeding. The time has
fully come when we should have a higher appreciation of these rapidly passing native
fruits, and do something for their improvement and perpetuation.
"With ouradvancing civilization and ready
communication with all parts of tho world,
we have added many desirable varieties of
trees, plants, fruits and flowers, and with them
many new and destructive insects and fungus
diseases. The most dangerous pest with
which we have to contend is the San Jose
scale, introduced in the San Jose vplley in
1870, and 17 years later into Xew Jersey nurseries on infested plum trees. It has spread
to the majority of of the States and Territories,
bringing consternation to the fruit growers
and death to the orchards and shade trees. In
this State the scale is found in six counties,
and next year will be in many more. We must
fight it to a finish—although it is yet an un-
conqured   foe.     The  people   must acquaint
dress, and suggested that a committee be appointed by tlie society to memorialize the
Legislature for relief. This was done at a
later session.
Mr. Howland wanted a committee appointed
to prepare a list of the best shade trees. The
sugar maple was his first choice. Mrs. Stevens
assured the society the Villago Improvement
Association, of which she is an officer, would
J. G. Holland.
Christmas Carol.
Robt. C. SIabquis.
Efe__qj____y.|_3_^^
tr       -%-: -si-    *     *     •     I       *. i i __,!__ r   _..
-tr—},-^*—X-
1. There's a song   in
2. In     the light of
rA r*--
the
the
air; There's a
star   Lie the
was feared.   Several orchards have been destroyed by its ravages.
Mr. Barnett, commission dealer at Chicago,
gave the members some of his experiences to
illustrate tho difficulties in the way of giving
satisfaction to their customers, in times when
the markets are over-stocked, or fruit is inferior.   He said that not one apple-grower in 20
realized $1 a barrel for his crop last year.   A
year ago 1,(XX),000 barrels were in store in
Chicago.   There was too much fruit stored
for the depressed condition of times, and
it went very low necessarily.
Our J. G. Kingsbury read an account of
P__________±_j___
___2£_4_*-_-__t:
-***-
**
t=t-
___L____j-__
~fc
***
t*
=fc
V
~___E_^__3_3 S1
-ml-.—mi 1—I mai
mr w \ n
-*aiZ
And     a
Has swept
 —* IT-*
ba   - by's    low     cry;   There's   a       tu
o   -   ver     the   world;   We      re - joice
8=8-?=^
won
ech
■ der - ful birtb; For;   the   vir - gin's swe:! boy  Is the Lord  of     the earth.
- o     the song, That comes down thro' the night From the heav-en
fcfc
-+-
!____
3*=
-ST=A-a
m>— _»—- a—m-
And the
ly throng. Ev - 'ry
 —Sas-^-sM-
,*__-______: t____t=
-tt>-
i
-\v
-g-T-S
-=S=d=_
star   sheds its beams While the bean - ti
hearth  is     a - flame, And   the beau - ti
^ajtjEE!____r=f^F£^
-9-—       i_i—KS—i i_»—_£—Yr*
ful
~:$r*
 Jt
$==*4'
themselves as quickly as possible as to what
the insect is—they must know it at sight.
This association should demand state legislation, authorizing competent inspection, treatment and, if necessary, destruction of infested
stock. There must be national legislation,
too, and concerted action throughout the
country if the pest is stamped out. Governor
Mount has taken in the situation and appointed our secretary to act as State entomologist.
The place is of sufficient importance to warrant the next Legislature in creating such an
office."
In discussing the address Mr. Ragan spoke
ofthe importance of beautifying the parks
and streets of our towns and cities. In Minneapolis a superintendent of tree-planting is
appointed, and without his permission no
shado trees are allowed to be planted upon the
streets. The result is that only the most desirable varieties are to be seen there.
Mr. Stevens thought the San Jose scale the
most important subject referred to in the ad-
_. _ ..hat he saw and learned on the horticul-
_,      ,   **      I       , a*, '     tural conditions of Mexico, during his trip
star   in   the sky; There's a moth-er'sdeeppray'r, tu„_, ,..,» .,„„„, _    a,.^   , .*
, . •*,' ,   ,   j .,   . „ - •   /   ' thero last summer.   Part of the paper ap-
he     a -   ges    unpearled, And that song from  a -   far ...    . ,
\At-. J_i -m- I w       it   j     pears on our editorial page.
i   ~\\= (- [——W—_»=_>—P^=i>-i—1—|    1    Mi\ Burris, of Putnam county, who has
made four trips intoJlexico during as many
winters, added some  interesting remarks
 from his observations there.   By the way,
| fr fc~' | ~~fr fc~folr* Burris intends to spend the present
_^______-i33S3w'inter in Mexico, and will start within a
| ^ week or two.
mult of joy O'er the Mr. Burton, of Orange county read a pain the light, Aud we per on the "Causes of the failure of theap-
— .     —       _ _ .      _      l'-c croI> t,le I'ilst season."    He said a full
crop was usually followed by a poor one.
■—--*■?==-Leaf blight was a chief cause of poor fruit
and small yield in his locality. He showed
specimens of blighted leaves from trees of
several varieties. Mr. Ragan referred to
the cedar gall insect as causing the apple
leaf blight. Without tho cedar tree as a
host, this lrest does not propagate.
Mr. Tilson, of Johnson county, showed
some fine apples, and said his orchard had
borno an immense crop. One white pippin yielded some 20 bushels. This in his
favorite apple.
The evening session was devoted to the
two following papers: "Woman's place in
horticulture," Jlrs. W. W. Stevens, Salem;
Tho ministry of nature," Mrs. Emma
Mont McRae, Lafayette. Both wero of
rare merit, and elicited the closest attention of all present. We much regret not
having space to give them to our readers
in full.
Mrs. Stevens said that woman was a gardener from tho beginning.   She spoke of
the value  of village  improvement clubs,
and their good influence on the surroundings of the laboring classes.   Trees, shrubbery and flowers indicate good influences,
they   humanize, elevate and refine.   She
praised the country woman's superior opportunities for beautifying her home and
its surroundings.   She may have every tree
that is beautiful to look upon, or good for
food.   Sho  should   plan to beautify her
house and lawn and thus improve the op-
ortunitics so lavishly afforded her.   At
ie closo she made a plea  for village  improvement societies, urging their formation in all sections of the State.   Mrs. McRae, in beautiful words, with many illustrations, showed how much nature does for
!~~11our hal»I'ine'3S*   T1*c tendency of her lesson
-►"Hi"8 to lift tlle t*10uS*'ts through nature up'
*——-"to nature's God.
Mr. Tilson told of a lady who was so
charmed at sight of a garden of rare flowers
that she exclaimed, "Is it more beautiful in
heaven?"
Jlr. Van Deman remarked that nature is our
best teacher.
Prof. JIcAvoy, Jlr. Newton, Mr. Barnett and
others, emphasized the sentiments of the
speakers. All present felt that they had enjoyed a rare treat. -
The first paper at the morning session was
that by Snead Thomas, of Grant county, on
"The reasons for the low prices of small fruits
the past season." Next came that of J. C.
Grossman, of Wolcottville, on the "Difficulties in the way of profitable marketing of
small fruits."
Jlr. Grossman said he had sold strawberries
as low as four cents per quart the past season.
Yet first-class berries always brought good
prices. Growers should reduce their acreage
to such space as they can cultivate in the best
possible  manner and market the crop.   He
***      v*
Copyri_ht. 1.91. by Robt. C. Marquis.
be interested in the work of such a committee.
Jlr. Ragan spoke in favor of the white elm, as
a shade tree, whose beauty increased with age.
At this point Prof. Troop read a brief account
of the old elm standing near the old State
house at Corydon, a largo photo of which was
exhibited at the meeting. The account states
that in June, 1810, the constitutional convention of the State held its sessions under its
spreading branches, which at this time cover a
space of 13-1 feet.
The secretary's report showed as the total receipts of tho year, $2,2-11.15; total expenditures,
$.7(5.87; leaving a balance in the hands of the
treasurer of $1,404.28.
The treasurer's report corresponded with
these figures, but showed the assets to consist
mainly of secured notes, $1,435.45, and cash
$28.83.
The report of Jlrs. W. *W. Stevens, of the
southern district showed that much damage
had already been done in that section of the
State by the San Jose scale, and much more
(*oil-iniic«! on I'nff? 0.