The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-12
POTOMAC FRUIT GROWERS.
Interesting sfOottna.

kHt9TSSaAuE 1hoD1naS
This society held its December meeting
on the Sd instant, Chalkey Gillngham
president, in the chair, and P. III. Fulsotn
secretary. A goodly number OF members
present, and a lively discussion was en-
joyed, bringing out some important points
in their profession.
J, T, B,amhsll placed on the table a
flne lot OF apples, well kept, embracing
near dozen varieties.
Stacy Snowden exhibited fine specimens
of the I" Vicar of Wakefield " pear, and
several fine apples. all of which were well
enjoyed by those present--generally, well
known sorts.
FRUIT ABSORBING DOORS.
People keeping fruit should be careful
not to place it IN contact with anything i'm.
parting bad odors, for fruits are very SEN
sitve in absorbing foreign odors. Mr. Bram-
hall placed some apples ON the table which
had been carried in basket with paper
saturated with carbolic acid, which inpart-
ed strong taste of that acid to the apples,
injiriDg them.
EARLY AND LATE PEACHES.
The subject OF peaches was widely and
instructiyely discussed Mr.. John Saul
spoke of :. Powders Early" and thought
it identical with +" Ilale's Early" He also
spoke of English early psacnes-such as
the Rivers Early" Louisa" and the
Beatrice )" the latter rpened at Little
ton, N. c., the middle Of June, and is
good shipping peach. The Rivers"
ripened in England by the 10th of June,
and two weeks in advance of the Early
York !" is large and rich-havored.
Colonel D. S. Curtiss called attention to
a beautiful, large and very late leach, ex-
h,bited by Mr.. Levy, at last meeting; and
described its form and charaeter--a yellow
cllng-stone, from two to three inches in
diameter, and some even larger, JUICY and
fine flavor, and hanging on the tree till last
Of October. Members were requested TO
procure buds and grow it in different expo
sures. If it proved as good as in Mr. Levy's
garden it must be very valuable acquisi.
ton.
The chairman spoke of q very desirable
late seeding peach in his groands-a large
cling stone, Of handsome form and good
flavor.
MIR. Bramhall mentioned the fact that
MIR. Leyy's peach tree grew in a cool, shady
place, which might cause its lateneBs. 1t
should be tried IN different localities and
soils. The president concurred in these
views, and said circumstances change
fruits often. Mr.. Branhall also alluded to
the 'Salwayn and "CrawtoId's' as being
desirable late peaches.
Major j. Ii. KING thought the society
ought to notice and encourage two particu-
lar peaches lone early and one late. The
early one. from Carolina, was in our mar
kets as early Us the middle Of June, very
tine and valuable for many qualities. The
other, very late, and never rots, therefore
valuable. The society ought to encourage
the growth Of both oi t ese---early and late.
Mr.. Saul showed that the first named IL
the ''Beatrce,p of which he has 30, 900
young trees in his grounds.
PLUMs-cURcULIo -APRIcoTs
Mr.. Bramhall stated that a man in
Stanton, Va, succeeded well with plums,
aud made go1d speculation in sending
early ones to New York, and selling them
for good prices. Different members spoke
about the injury by curculio, and otja'rmS
trees to get rid of them to some degree.
Mr.. Geor Needham said his peaches,
on Missouri avenue, had been attacked by
curcui,, and he fought them by Earring Il Q
trees and killing them when they fell.
The Wild Goose" plums were
spoken of as being less liable to these
pests than the tame varieties are.
Messrs. Saul, King, the president and
others, spoke of the APRICOT tree as being
attacked in some places, ard succeeding in
others, but with proper care il will succeed.
OVERLAPPING AND ExHAusTINa
TnEES.
Colonel Curtiss suggested that In many
cases fruit trees become exhausted and un-
fruitful by being allowed to bear fruit every
year. and for want Of thinning out,n
they are forced to bear SO heavily, and too
frequently, so that their powers and cons
Stitiltinus become weakened and subject to
disease; and which is finally the ruin OF
many trees and orchards - otherwise
healthy.
Messrs. Saul, Brainhall, GIlingham
and Maj. King, oil concurred in this theory,
ard cited facts to prove the truth OF these
ideas. Maj. King thought the suggestion
of Col. Curtss very important one aud
should be noted by the members and fruit
growers generally.
PRUNING TREES.
Messrs. Saul, King, Curtiss, and others
favored low pruning, that the branches of
OECLATOS u1But ciiduo taS elouitA tsiio
trunks Of trees, and the fruit be more
easily gathered, and with less bruising.
MIR. Snowden was in favor OF high prun-
ing. so that teams could plow close up to
the trees.
After some general conversation the So
Getty proceeded to examine and discuss the
fine fruits on the table with pleasant zcss,
and many of them were of richest flavor
aud we'll kept.
Some conversation was had in regard to
nominations for the various officers toServe
the coming year, the election OF which will
take place at the next meetlng--frst Tues.
day in January--when full meeting is re-
auested, and new members invited.
On motion, adjourned.
This society is growing in interest and
usefulness to this sectien Of country, and
many of its members are among the most
intelligent fruit growers in our country or
nation and always ready to iinpa to
others any useful facts or knowledge de-
rived from their own experience or by
reading and observation of the operations
of others in this or the old countries.
We wish them the highest and richest
prosperity in their good work. q.
=-=-=x----- It
Ia