The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-05
Potomac Fruit-Growers December Meet

Potomac FruitGrowers' December Meeting.
The December session of this association
met in Washington city, Tuesday, Chalkley
Gillingham in the chair.
Among those present were Judge j. II.
Gray, of Falls Church; John Saul, ESQ.,,
Colonel d. S. Curtiss, Major j. H. King,
Stacey Snowden, Esq, j. T. Bramhall,
Esq.,, G. f. Needham, j. II. Hickman,
Major II. G. Williams, and others.
Early and late peaches were very freely
discussed, and great importance was placed
upon early peaches as they come into
market as it is getting hot, and when the
appetite Graves fruit.
Mr.. John Saul read extracts from some
English papers, showing that the ''Early
Beatrice" was taking q decided lead in
peaches.
Mr.. Belieu, of Eittleton, N. G., had q
quantity of these peaches fully ripe on the
10th of June-they arc two weeks ahead
of Hale's Early, good color, good bearer,
and carry well. Some were shipped and
arrived in good order in the New York city
market.
Mr.. Saul had made study of this peach,
and is thoroughly conversant with its his
tory. The society so far as an opinion
was expressed, were unanimous in the
opinion that the Plowden peach was
a "sport" of Hale's Early, and the best
authorities, including the Gardeners
Monthly, say that the Hale's Early is very
irregular in ripening.
For late peaches Mr.. Levy's seeding
stood we'll; although it has not had the tests
of exposed positions and orchard life. This
is cling-stone. The Solway, grown in
England from an Italian stone, was very
highly spoken of; very late and fine, does
well here.
Plums were brought into discussion, and
the question came upon that eternal pest,
the curculio. Two weeks work in jarring
the trees and killing the insect was the
most satisfactory plan proposed. Ques-
tons were raised upon the amount of fruit
fruit tree should be allowed to bear, and
it was set forth that at least one-half of
the blossoms should not fruit. Bunches
and clusters should not be allowed to re
pen; the fruit left would be superior.
An interesting topic was found in the
best manner Of pruning, and experiments
were infinitely described where high prun-
ing and sudden changes of temperature,
exposing the bark to freezing and direct
Va tlC ouhs tAthN AVouitCu III tOtdi
destruction Of a peach orchard. 1t was
not the cold, freezing weather itself, but
tho rapid effects of the heat from the sun.
Stacy Snowden, Esq, exhibited fine
collection of apples and huge specimens Of
the Vicar of Wakefield pear. His display
is always good. Mr.. j. T. Bramhall had
about dozen varieties of apples that he
had carefully collected in the western coun-
ties of Virginia. They were not generally
up to the standard. More care is required
in the selections of fruits, and more atten-
ton should be paid by fruit-growers on a
large OF small scale to the local advantages
for getting the best fruit trees and best va
rieties. Our nurseries in the Potomac
region give the best facilities for stocking the
orchards of the surrounding States, and the
cautious will take advantage of the oppor.
tunity. One great advantage not generally
understood is, that for a small sum Of
money and short trip, any person car
como in direct contact with the nursery.
man-see him face to face-see his stock
and manner of caring for it, as well as the
general knowledge he may possess in the
line of his business.
Adjourned to meet the first Tuesday II
January, when an election of officers vii
DO held.