The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-02-04

elcctJ jun n rctloIoJ tOOh INV
Chair. and called the meeting 10
order.
The minutes of the preceding
meeting were read and approved.
The President then delivered
the following Inaugural Address,
which on motion, was ordered TO
be published with tho proceedings
Inaugural Address.
Gentlemen Of tho n. Y. II. Society:
In selecting me as President OF your
Society, OF course you did not expect that |
could bring TO the Cnair that dignity aud abl'
ity which so eminently characterized my pred
ecessOrs; but II your selection has been made
because ofthe zeal have manifested, no effort
on my part shall be wRntngto Justify your
easonht Ie expectations. Our society though
yohng NJ years, has not JAILED to make lts IN
delIbfo mark upon the horticultural and agh.
cultural Interests Of the county, and not only
so, but we have been hiyOrably recognized and
npprccInted by kindred Societies of this and
OF herStates es as valuable AIDS IN improving and
preserving 10 US and Uurchlldren that glorious
list offrtiIts. the gut Of God to man, without
which to gladden. aud brighten the hnrd, toll
some and plugged rUad oil the farmer, life would
fail to have its pleasure. -
The last wear, gentlemen, has been trying
one to fruit growers, not only IN this but all the
States; 10y enuscs over which we have had very
little control, and therefore need not deS Spnr,
for they seldom occur over 80 vide IN extent
Of country. The strawberry, the peach, md
the apple, it will be remembered, when IN full
ll 4. GnNR ala n
preventing perfect Itnprepation-and heGcc
III cir almost entire failure. .H .ay.
Aswe comp lam of iniidew and rot, and that
long llst OF insects that prey npon the vine, sc
should remember that they are no new cne'
mics, but have followed grape culture from IT'S
eurllest introduction. ID. ig ...t. .a.L .l
1 Under q wise dispensaA of Providence wc
are not to enjoy the fruits of the earth without
Undressing care aud, yntrhfulness; and as irnit
Is the Halural food OF mnn, how important TO u
the fact, that from its earliest history down to
tho present, n small Int devoted band of b. 9th
ers, IN every generations 1ins been found Ia
whose care md watchiu0Sss we ulOne nre in
debted for Il list OF fruit almost cqthAl TO the
Original. '' 'l
Then let us remember also, that Ito us has
been Transmitted the inroriant trust OF hand
Ilny down to our successors. q list as Ill and as
perfect ms that whcn VIC have reason to bless
our predecessors for. lsI... I,.stlJ ...,
| How admirable our organization for this pur.
posel' We number scyentyor eighty members
4 library oi 100 volumes among which can be
found leading authors on Horticultural AMI Ag
nculturiI science; embracing as II does fund
OF Information Invaluable; Our monthly meet.
ingl, Mt which we compare notes, discuss lead
ing Que9tio pertaining to oar calling, exhibit
frui y IN their season, carefully noting theiI
quality; and annual exhibitions, at which prizes
are awarded to those that excel. How can wC
fail? We must, we viii, We have succeeded
Does any one doubt il? Come to our etings
attend our exhibitions; and you viii see straw
berries, peaches, apples, pears, grapes, and
vegetables; and taste wine, that will convince
| the most skeptical. And yet our labor Is moi
ended TO sit down and enjoy what we have
wouI1 be to rob posterlty OF thatw bich we are
bound to hand.down to them. g. - o. y
|, Original ly all grated fruits were seedlings
In the large list we have, how lew there are
that have stood the test Of time, retaining all
their good qualities. The almost annrnl fail.
ure of so large number on our fIut list, IL
owing to natures iOrtutOus crosses, u fact IN
| the animal and vegetable kingdom well cstab.
| liShed. Careful breeders, IN this and other
countries have demonstrated the form n; ROg-
ers, III rtand and Campbell the latter If M.
ture's chance feri lzaticn by aid OF the wind
and the Zee, have gwen to us such perfect speci'
! mems, as the Rambo in the apple, Crawford in
| the poach, Seekel in the pcur, and Wilson in
! the strawberry, IS II unreasonable to expect
higher achievements, when the quality Of Oul
seedlings ~ no longer LETT 10 chance! But i;
Will be objected that by this theory we produce
| hybrids, a mongrel breed OF plants, without
| character, ana like natures, liable TO disease
! and ultimate death; and hence accomplish
nothing. So far ms the hyirds are conGerned
| this may possibly lie true; yet cannot help bni
think that they will be superior as to quality
and durability. longer time will he necessa
ry TO determine this fact; but that we will pro-
! duce more distinct varieties 10y this practice
| there IL in my, mind no doubt A series o
prict ical crosses, IN strong, vIgornns varietic'
that are noted for their good qualities and hard
mess, must end as in The animal, III producing
Il new and superior plant.
= In this there is u mystery in natures laws
| All we can do is to speculate. Perhaps in th'
| fight for mastery in two strong vigorous yarle
ties, the tuSse ends in cOmprOm ise; a new
plant; for it's well known fact, that seedng
require series of irniting years before the,
are perfected or established.
| In view Of these tncts, prudence dictates tn
N planting Ot vineyards and orchards, only will
choice, proved varieties Our fault general.
hes in growing too many varieties, wIthou
much regard to quality. 100 much time an,
money have been lost IN the purchase of ne'
high priced seedlings before they hayo bee
sufficiently tested. The time has not yet com
\ TO abandon the Catawba, Concord, AMI DelN
"N,s No better wine and table grapes hay
wine and table grape stands without peel
/
INTO consideration. Failures viii come, for tia
4 l. the history ofai grapes, and in fact Of ever
thing else we cultivate.
The quality Of our Catawba wine no longe
rests upon doubtful basis. Your statements
gentlemen, nj former meeting. Of large sale
of wine to foreign ports, and your reception
upoh its arrival there, Cfletters cOngratulatin
you upon us purity, ITS high standard OF exec
lcncs compared with that produced III celebra
ed wine districts, arc, to say the least very en-
cuuraging
Grapes grow in our sandstone region, so
ahounding IN disintegrncd rocks, brown gray
clOr peroxide Of iron, secrcte, sacharnc ma
ter IN such quantities, that awine of body an
excellence must he the result .t.
With these lattcring prospects ofsuccess y
ing in full view, gentlemen, permit me to n
turn thanks for the honor you have been plca'
. ed'o CONFER .a5UpaI H...I NtI
A resolution was adopted, tha
the Corresponding Sec'y send t
each member in arrears, state
ment of the amount of his indebl
edncss, together with a citation c
Article XIII of tho Constitution
bearing upon the subject.
The subject for discussion
"Mulching Of Vineyards, was the
debated at considerable length, bu
a report is omitted for want @
room.
) 1t was resolved that at tho mex
meeting the society take up an
review the fruit list heretofor
adopted, after which the Societ
adjourned till Saturday, Fcbruar
18th. N. .s..
J. A. FETTERs, Pres.
S.A. GRIswoLD, Sec. mn