The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-05
Potomac Fruit Growers-MOnth1y
Meetihg of the Observation-Disclosures
ton of the Observation-Disclosures of
the PersimmOn and Native Fruits
Miscellaneous business.

the PersimmOn and Native Fruits
Miscellaneous Business.
The Potomac Fruit Growers held a
monthly meeting February 8, at the board
of trade rooms, Washington, ID. u, the
vice-president, S. Z. Chamberlain, in the
chair, and John Saul acting secretary.
The Oh ir laid before the meeting the re-
signation of Paris II. Folsom as secretary
of the association, and the association de-
clined to receive it.
Major j. II. King presented the follow
ing paper on the importance OF lmprov-
ing our Native Fruits" which was fled
Mr. President and Members Of the Potomac
Fruit Gr0pers Association
We have already on several occasion
before this association alluded to the value
of our native fruits and the importance of
producing new varieties by careful selec-
ton and cultivation.
We have fine foreign fruits already in
cultivation it is true; but are they OF a
constitution as hardy and beautiful as our
native trees? "See them loom up majes-
tic in proportions and rich in verdure,"
while, alas! too many of the former, if
not decidedly weaker, have not that hale,
robust vitality to Withstand the trying ele-
ments of our changeabla climate, 'like the
aborigines, who, with scarcely any protec-
ton to their swarthy limbs, defied the bit
ter cold which came near disheartening
our emigrant forefathers and decimated
their sturdy band.''
From our native fruits are we to look for
this vigor and beauty, although it may not
be possible to improve their qualities by
cultivation merely. Yet the skill and per-
severance of man may assist nature to pro-
duce new and improved varieties. Reason,
enlightened by experience, tells us that it
can be done, and if it can be done by any
aid, furnished by man to nature, it should
be done, and that at once. The persim-
mon, the paw-paw, the wild cherry, the
sloe, the mountain plum, the mulberry,
the chestnut, and the walnut are trees
whose stems are never hurt by our win
tiers, nor the blossoms by the frosts of the
spring.
The persmmon is fruit capable of be-
ing made by cultivation most luscious
one. Look at it as produced in Japan, and
alluded to by Mr.. Thomas Hogg (see Ho-
rey's Magazine, vol. 29). ''The peculiar
and characteristic fruit of the country is
euC pcloiuiiiOu. ~ iS d SuUStdutldA loohihS
fruit, yellow when ripe, as large as me.
dium-sized orange, with delicious sub
acid pulp, eaten with spoon. The tree is
very ornamental when laden with its fruit,
and is as far different from our persimmon
as Bartlett pear is different from choke
pear" The paw-paw is highly worthy of
attention by experiments, and is of the
same family as the "custard APPLE" one
of the most esteemed fruits in the tropics !;
as native it is quite ornamental and
hardy, found growing from Michigan south
ward, very abundant in Tennessee and
other southwestern states. This fall we
found it abundant at the foot of the
mountains in Cumberland Valley, Penn
sylvania, and offered freely for sale in the
markets at Carlisle and other places.
The wild cherry, by selection and Gull
ture, could be enlarged in its fruit, aud, as
remarked by writer in The Farmer and
Gardener as far back as 1885, by manur-
ing and lybridizing its fruit might possibly
be made to bear as large and palatable pro-
duct as an Isabella grapevine. We find
the luscious plum as descendant of the
sloe, while the chestnut, walnut, and
hickories are especially worthy of culture
UOlH III I'LL uUliltttildu duu UTudLlel'lul pOiut
Of view.
1t is true one lifetime might not &C.
complish the desired object, but if once
set about in earnest cooperation with hor.
ticultural and similar associations through.
out the country favorable results would be
obtained sooner or later, and in country
where fruit growing is matter of so much
importance, it must be source of graft
fication to the successful experimentalist
to be conscious that even by his amuse
ment he may have contributed to some
extent to the welfare of his country ant
fellow-men.
Resolutions expressive of the regret o
the association at the death of their lat'
member, Judge Underwood, were unani
m 'usly adopted after which discussion
OF the merits of the several varieties o.
fruits was had, and the meeting adjourned
I