The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-03-19
Horticultural Society.

have taken a strong hold upon every class
of fruit growers, and the interest manifested
is very general. A considerable number o.
: Ladies were in attendance at the meeting, and
it is hoped the number will be increased al
the meetings hereafter.
The President having called the meeting
to order, remarked that as there were many
new members present, as well a number Of
Ladies, who had not attended the previous
meetings, he weuld take the oppertuni-
ty to state the motives which had led to the
formation of the Society. One of them and
the principal one, was to combine the Horti-
lcultural talent which it was well known ex-
listed SO largely in this City, as to produce re-
suits which could not be obtained be indvid-
ual effort. lie had long been convinced that
there was more taste and zeal displayed in
this branch of art, in this City, than in any
other place Of its size, in the whole north
west. On recent visit to Chicago, he called
on the Vice President of the Chicago Horti-
cultural Society, who assured him, that our
Society was already far in advance of theirs,
and he did not doubt that we should make a
far more creditable display at our exhibitions,
than they could in Chicago, not that we
could show more Greenhouse Plants, for there
is quite large number in and around Chi
cago-but there was more taste displayed in
the ornamentation of our private gardens
than in any ether place he had seen in the
west-and he felt sure that we could eclipse
them in our annual exhibitions This was
valuable testimony from high source. 1t
| was to stimulate and encourage this pursuit,
as well as to derive benefit from the relation
Of our mutual experience, that this Society
was formed. Another reason was that we
might have the benefit of the distribution Of
seeds and plants provided for by the Govern
ment, through tue agency of the Agricultural
Bureau at Washington. Already two large
packages of valuable seeds had been received
from the Commissioner, Col. Capron, and
more might be expected.
The President further stated that he had
recently visited the President of the State
Horticultural Society at Madison, and lea rned
from him that the PRESIDENT and Secretary of
each of the local societies in the State are eX-
officio members Of the State Society--entitled
to participate in all its meetings, and also in
as copies of the proceedings of the State So
ciety. In addition to this, provision had been
made for the entertainment of all the dele
gates from the local Societies, at their annual
meetings, without expense to the said dele
gates-that the parent Society was now in
very fourishing condition and received all
needed encouragement from the State Legis-
q mr. ha ha
tion of this Society, was to be found in the
mutual protection afforded to its members,
from the depredations of boys and others, who
had heretofore made the raising of Choice
fruits and flowers almost an impossbility.
1t was made the duty of the Executive Com
mittee to prosecute all offenders, and the du
ty would be faithfully performed.
Under these considerations, it was deemed
a favorable time to start our organization, and
the result has shown that we were right. AL.
ready we number more than sixty active
members, many of them experienced practi-
cal g ardeners, and already spirit Of emula-
ton had been reused, which promised the
best results. Ee was gratitied in seeing so
many ladies present. 1t was well known that
many of them were enthusiastic CultiVators,
and displayed g. degree of taste in arrange
ment, and excellence in treatment, which we
OF the sterner sex could hardly hope to equal
To US their aid will be invaluable and we re-
joice in such an acquisition TO our numbers.
He then proceeded to read the Constitution
and By Laws, and stated that copies would be
distributed to the members, in day or two
by the Secretary.
The regular order of business was then pro-
eeeded with.
Mr.. Gait presented the following on
STRAWBERRY CULTURE-THE SOIL.
In bringing the subject of strawberry cul-
ture before this society, shall endeavor to be
as brief as possible will simply point out
few leading acts, and endeavor to impress
those facts upon the members. Because I be-
| lieye that the practical recognition of those
facts lie at the base of successful strawberry
culture.
! In looking at a well grown strawberry
plant in the month of June. the intelligent
observer must be impressed with the fact,
that the evaporation from plant of such
breadth of foliage, must be very great; and
as the roots of the strawberry under ordinary
conditions seldom exceed six To eight inches
in length, it becomes evident that to supply
the necessary amount of moisture to keep it
in growing condition, it must be planted in
moist soil.
Believing this to be of the greatest impor-
lance in the cultivation of that fruit, L will
lay it down as an unalterable fact, that the
strawberry cannot be successfully cultivated,
but on soil where the plants will not suffer
for lack of moisture in the dryest season.
Every one who has cultivated Strawberries
for a few years, will have observed that during
dry spell, the strawberry bed was first to
suffer, and that if once the plants began to
wilt, all growth of foliage and of fruit is en-
tirely stopped, and nothing but q timely
shower will save the crop from being a total
| failure.
| If there is not moisture enough in the soil
to keep the plants in good growing condi-
ton, the crop will be very defective. This is
in accordance with all my experience for in-
variably, the more rain during the ripening
season, the larger has been the fruit, and the
more abundant the crop.
| But, lest some one should think that 1
have too much faith in the value of water in
strawberry culture, | would here present the
| testimony OF two men who have had long eX-
perience in the cultivation of that fruit. An
drew T. Fnller, the author of the Strawberry
Culturist' says, "as class, the strawberry
requires deep, moist soil-one that is open
and porous-net having clay predominant
The strawberry requires an abundance of
moisture, and whatever the other conditions
are, let the supply be regular, and there will
be but little difficulty in obtaining bounti-
full crop" This is strong testimony, but not
any stronger than facts will bear. The soil
may be poor, your bed may be foul with grass
and weeds; but if You have plenty of moist
lure, it matters little what the other conditions
are.