National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-05
POTo4A0 FIR UT GRO WERs,
THE AUGUST SESSION.

THE AUGUST SESSION.
The August meeting was held in the Board
of Trade rooms, on Tuesday last, 4th instant,
Chalkley Gillingham, president, in the chair,
and d. s. Curtiss, secretary.
A fair number of members were In attend
ance, including several ladies.
Major King, from committee to Prince
Georges County Agricultural Society, made
partial report, which was accepted.
DR.. snodgrass reported in part from the eel
entihc committee, saying fuller report would
be made at another meeting.
N. w. Pierson, of committee to confer with
and receive statement Of the late secretary, re-
ported that the committee had examined the
| books of the seer tary. and found them correct
as far as they could discover, and submitted
satisfactory statement from the secretary.
] Mr. Folsom requested that the member who
had at q previous meeting intimated that there
were irregularities in his financial accounts
should now rise and state the reasons for such
suspicious, or give the author or disclaim them.
No one rising to do so, on motion, the report
of the COMMITTEES was accepted and they dis
charged.
On motion of Judge Gray, the following was
passed:
| are due, and are hereby rendered, to p. H. Fol-
courteous, gentlemanly and correct manner in
which he has served this association for the past
i've years.
MINERAL PoIsoNs on PLANTS.
DR.. ]. Brainard, chairman of the scientific
committee, came in at this time, and though
quite feeble from sickness, read report stat
ing that be had been unable on account of i'll
ness from comforting with other members of
the committee, and therefore would not now
submit q full report, but would at future
meeting, still he would venture to say from
his own experiments that he was positive that
the use Of mineral poisons, as applied 10 plants
to klll insects, was deleterious and dangerous
to the health and life Of the consumers Of
such plants. DR.. Brainard's report was ac-
cepted, and ordered with the minutes.
EARLY PEACHES.
The president stated that the various fruits
on the table were ready for discussion.
Judge Gray lead OF With some very fine
specimens Of Hale's early peaches, which elected
considerable discussion as to the requisite cul-
ture for success, and the causes Of failure.
The Judge applied lime, wood and coal ashes
to his trees and gave them clean culture.
Major King spoke Of the shortness Of the
crop IN Delaware.
NV. Pierson. His Hale's early did well
last year, but are rotting and falling OF this
year. 1t seems 70 be an erratic variety.
Mr.. Clarke suggested more manuring and
The president thought that more depended
on climate; that the Hale's wants poor or light
land, after the tree comes TO bearing, to get
good fruit.
D. o. Munson eoncurred in the views Of the
president, and that the peach wants dry, light
land, and clean culture.
Prof. William Saunders said there was never
any trouble with Hale early about fruiting; 1t
always fruited enough, but did not always per-
feet its fruit. Dry seasons, locations and
climates were favorable and what was needed.
Under such circumstances It is most likely to
succeed; Il never falls In Georgia and that
climate; and the present dry season had
afforded favorable conditions for the success
Of the Hale's.
Thinning out the young crop, that the trees
be not forced to yield too heavily, was recon-
mended.
Mr.. Clarke thought manuring with proper
substances would secure good crops every year.
Prof Saunders said careful thinning out
would tend very much TO secure yearly crops.
The president thought the sub-soil had more
to do with securing good crops Of wheat than
anything else.
Mr.. Saunders, in reply TO an inquiry about
his young pear orchard, near Muirlkirk, stated
that he had not marketed any, though he had
some very 6ne specimens on trees two years
old.
TIE GRAPE CROP.
Inquiry was made about grapes, and the
opinion expressed that the crop would be 6 full
one this year, especially Of DelawAres and Con-
cords.
TEE GENERAL FRUIT PRosrEcT.
Colonel 8. E. Chamberlain said his grape
crop this season is the most promising he had
ever had. His HAle's early peaches were fair
north side Of trees well fruited, but none on
the south side.
Stacy snowden's apples were next discussed,
as follows: Sweet Bough, Red Astrican, Sum-
mer Rose, HagloW, and four other varieties, Of
which he did not know the name-all fine fruit.
D. o. Munson's fruit.camesnext; fine variety
Of good specimens, as follows:
Brsndywine. Grab Apples-the Yellow Leba-
non, the Transcendant, the Currant and the
0blong.
DEATH OF JOSEPH W. cox.
The fruit being disposed Of, Colonel d. s.
Curtiss called the attention Of the society to
the recent death of one Of It's most respected
members-Mr. Joseph ". Cox-and suggested
that committee be appointed to express the
sense Of this meeting In regard 10 this loss,
and, on motion, Colonel Chamberlain, N. W.
Pierson and P. q. Folsom were appointed such
committee.
Bills were passed for payment to Hopkins
for books, &C, and TO the secretary for sta
tIonery, in al GALS.
A suggestion was made that the society in
dulge in picnic, on the new boat Mary Wash
ington, which VIII soon be making her trips on
the Potomac. The picnic Efll take place in
the near future, Of which notice VIII be given.
AfteF come eonversation the society ad-
journed to meet ct the same place, on the first
Tuesday In September next. The public and
all interested IN fruit, flower and garden grow
ing are cordially invited 70 attend.