The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-12
JULY. MEETING OF THE POTOMAC
FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCIATION.
AN INTERESTING MEETING.

The Potomac Fruit Growers Association
met at II o'clock on Tuesday, llth July,
at the Board of Trade rooms, Judge Gray
presiding; P. Ii. Folsom, Esq, secretary.
Mrs. Emily L. Briggs, better known as
OLIVIA" was elected an honorary member
of the association.
Upon motion of DIR. Darby, the follow
ing persons were unanimously elected to
membership. Christian Excl and Wright
Curtiss, of Uniontown; George Ely, of
Guilford Station, Loudoun county and
also, on motion of the President, r. A.
Phillips, of Alexandria county, was re-
celved as member.
SUCCESS OF THE APRICOT.
DIR. Darby submitted the following ques-
ton: Scan any member report anything
in favor of the apricot in this District? It
seems to be more nursery for the cur
culio than anything else. / have been look
ing for fruit these last three years, and
found none on trees six years DID,"
Prof. Rowland. lady of Capitol Hill
has several apricot trees in her garden, UNI
der one of which, situated near the house,
she placed stove with the pipe extending
up among the branches. She had fruit
from that tree which sold for twelve dollars
q bushel the rest was killed by the frost.
He stated that Major Hine, of Vienna, Va,
has several trees. About half the fruit
was stung by the curcuho and dropped off,
but enough remained to make a full crop.
Major King.-The apricot has been sue
cessful this year for the first time in num-
Der of seasons, and | attribute it to the ear
illness of the season.
Col. Chamberlain, of Loudoun county,
Va, stated that he had met with success,
while Friend Gillingham, of Mount Vernon,
reported that his fruit had been stung and
was failure.
Major King recommended that some hard
substance, cement or clay, should be placed
under the tree in the form of a pavement
that the curculio would be unable to pene-
trate.
Prof. Howard. That treatment might
protect the tree from the insect that went
into the ground on the previous year, and
also prevent this years curculio from going
into the ground, but would not prevent the
insects from other trees attacking the fruit.
The only remedy is to shake the tree every
morning. The curculio will go OH trees
that have never been stung before.
DR.. Snodgrass.-I have several plum
trees in my garden which last year bore
with one exception, and that one bore this
year, because as | think no curculio went
into the ground from that tree.
Friend Gillingham. have had trees
stung that had not borne before.
Maj. King.-The curculio is winged in
sect, and will travel.
Judge Gray.--Some fruit growers have
put preventatiycs around the body of the
tree believing that the insect will not fly
but prefers to ascend the trunk.
Prof. Howland-I have read that bags of
guano placed near trees have been found to
repel the attacks, owing probably to the
escape of ammonia.
Major Kmg-There is process which is
partially successful, and that is .jaiTing the
trees by sudden motion. 1t is only dur
ing short time after the fruit has grown
to the size of a pea that the insect makes
its attacks.
s4tE EARLY PEACHES.
Messrs: Munson, Gray. Dillingham;, and
j. b. Claggett had brought specimens of
Hales' early peach, and the latter some of
the Plowden early and early York. The
Plowden was specially submitted to the
opinion of members.
Friend Dillingham; think it is only
another name for Hales' early.
Mr.. SAUL have seen the tree in BIOS
som, and think it is the same.
Col. Chamberlain.-l think myself that
it is the same but it has been brought
here as one earlier than all others, and |
think the Club should decide definitely in
regard to it. desire that the committee
on fruits be heard.
The president and some others thought
that fuller information should be obtained
in regard to the appearance of the tree,
time of ripening, &C., before venturing an
opinion. And on motion of the secretary,
the subject was referred to the fruit COM
mittee, with instructions to procure all in
formation possible, and report at the next
meeting.
DIR. Darby offered the following:
Resolved, That the thanks of this association
be- and they are hereby, extended to Hon. Hor-
ace Capfon, late Commissioner of Agriculture,
for his kindness and civties to its members, and
that we wish him success in his tied of Ia
Dor
The resolution was adopted.
Col. Curtiss then delivered an interesting
address upon the efficiency of the associa-
ton.
THE BLACKBERRY AND RASPBERRY.
Mr.. Saul, in the course of remarks, said:
The "Iawton" is the finest variety that
was brought prominently into notice, and
many still prefer it to the '.Kttatinny," or
any others /; but in my experience, prefer
the Kittatinny. think it ripens more uni
formly. 1t requires considerable Judgment
to gather the Lawton, but not So with the
Kittatinny. 1t is a harder kind; at least
so find it at the present time. 1t is ex-
ceedingly fine. The missouri MAMMOTH
is similar to the Kittatinny. Last year it
was failure, but this season it is loaded
with fruit, finer than any of the others.
The "Wilson" is a very excellent fruit, and
is the earliest. The kittatinny and Mis-
souri, Mammoth follow in time of rpen-
ing.
Mr.. Phillips hich of all others is the
most desirable berry for market?
Mr.. Saul.-If were going into the black
berry culture / would not confine myself
to any one, but would raise the Wilson,
Kittatinny, and Missouri Mammoth. There
is none that is superior to all others. My
experience, however, is that here the black
berry is not paying crop. The wild
fruit is so fine and abundant as to prevent
the sale of the cultivated variety at paying
prices. The Wilson is with me two weeks
earlier than the Kittatinny.
Maj. King.-How does the flavor of the
wild compare with the cultivated variety?
Mr.. Saul.-The wild fruit is Just as good.
VI I Al : L