The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-05
OUR FRUIT-GROWERs.
MEETING OF TIkE e HORTICULTURAL
AND POMOLGGICAL SOCIETY.
Interesting Letters Relating to This
Interest.

i
eiety:
Whereas no opportunity should be, lost IN
pfocing before the world the natural adean.
tages of Virginia and where's fruits consti.
tute an important element ir her products
and whereas pecuIFary aid is nacded to place
her fyHits upon the tables of the American
Pomological Society at its next biennial ses-
sion, to be held at Chicago irs September
next therefore be it
Reso;ued, That the Legislature Of Virginia
be asked to appropriate the sum Ct FIVE hun.
dred dollars to desray the expenses Of same.
Resojued, That the Virginia Horticultural
and Physiological Society Of Richmond be
requested to join In the above petition.
lie also read the following letter and re.
ply:
NORFOLK, VA, January 23, 1875.
Franklin Dauis, Esq, OF The american Po-
mol0gcal Socfetys Fruet Comm,ttes-:
Ny Dear Sir,-As the next biennial session
of the American Pomolcgical Society will
meet at Chicago in. September it is time We
should look around and ascertain what the
chances are for the Virginia Horticultural
and Pathological Society to procure the gold
medal.
You will recollect that at the session of the
Society hello at Philadelphia in 1869 Kansas,
by an appropriation of her Legislature, placed
such beautiful display of fruits upon her
tables as to be awarded tbs Society's gold
medal. Sbalt Virginia try for it! Some may
call 1t trflipg matter, but one of the Kansas
delegates has since remarked TO me that tAe
best-informed people Of his State regarded
that award Of the medal as.es more value 70
the State than the payment Of its taxes one
year.
At the next session of the Society, held in
Richmond in 1871, Nebraska took the first
honors. Now, sir, you and l have seen on
the tables at the Virginia State Fair better
specimens Of apples than were on our tables
from Nebraska. Yet that infant State sent
her delegates into the heart OF Firgi With
something beyond words to demonstrate
what she could do, and departed triumph
antly.
Some may ask what this American Pomo-
logical Society is. l answer that it is the
only organization known 10 me that is un-
tainted with sectional, political, or pecunieRy
interest. 1t Is regarded throughout the
world as perfectly impartial tribunal in
lis decisions of adaptabiIity Of each State to
the culture of the various kinds Of fruits.
Embracing as it does the most brilliant po-
mological lights of the country, many of
which are frightened by q halt-century's ex-
Derience, and extending not only through
the entire territory of the United States, but
ioined by kindred spirits from the Canadas,
it becomes the only reliable guide for the i'm.
migrant seeking Il fruit section.
II is upon the merits Of Virginia as q fruit
growing State that wish this tribunal to
decide. If the season is propitous the tide
water section will take care of the pear inter-
est. If Virginia is pomologically dead, in
the name of God let us remain buried by
our infant sisters, and let them remain he.
ralded to the world as the fruital paradise
from the eastern slope of the Rocky Noun
tains to the Atlantic; but ii she is living lei
her stretch forth her hand and take the prize
to which she is entitled.
Yours, &c, G.F. B. LEIGHTON,
Virginia Vice President American POmolo.
gieal Society.
RICHMOND, Va, February 1, 1875.
G. F. B. Leighton. Esq, Virginia Tice.Presi.
dent American PomologiGGkSSoctety, Nor.
folk, Va. !
Ny Dear Sir,-Abscnce from home for neal
two weeks will explain the delay in answer.
ing yours of the 23d pltimo. ! hardly need
say that fully concur with you in your cx
pressed views as to the course Virginia
should take in preparing for the meeting oi
our Society at Chicago in September next
| greatly desire that the world should know
the capabilities of Virginia for fruit-growing,
and | know of no better medium through
which we can prnmulgate this fact than to
place a collection OF her orchard products Oh
the tables Of the American Pathological So
cictv. This "association already embraces
within its folds fifty States and Territories
with which we are more or less in communi'
cation, bringing together the wisest and best
cultivators in our land, and forming truly
national association, whereby community
of interest is established for the advance
ment of one Of the most rational and beautl'
full arts of life, and the promotion of great
source Of national wealth and human happl'
ness" No State in the Union is so vel
adapted to the production of the finest fruits
as Virginia, nor is there any excuse for us
not letting the VOL Id know this. If not, ther
let US proclaim it in the way aGoye.namcd
thereby putting in operation an immigra
ton scheme that would do the State
more practical good than any scheme ye
conceived. Let it be known abroad that tht
Albemarle pippins, grown in the piedmont
section, have attracted purchasers from New
York who have frequently paid five (S5) dol
lars per barrel for them at the orchards
that the Lady apple, shipped from the Valley
have sold at twenty (S20) per barrel in Phii
adelphia that fifteen (Sl5) dollars per bushe
has been obtained in New York for Bartlett
pears grown in the tidewater section; tina
strawberries in same district have not unfre
quently produced the value of six hundret
| to eight hundred dollars per acre, and tht
Hougbton gooSeberry oyer five hundred
(s50U per acre. Let us place specimens o
apples, pears, peaches, grapes, &c, for eX
hibition on the tables OF the American 20
mological Society at Chicago next Septem
Der, so that they may be compared with. th'
products of other States. You and know
what Virginia can de-, and we are not atrait
to show her products. If she receives The
awardat will speak for her interest in tone
louder than tongue can proclaim, or stronger
than pen can find words TO express. TO ge
up u collection OF fruit commensurate witt
the object sought, and the expense Of pre-
pairing, shipping, and arranging the same
would be more than any one individual
| would like to undertake; therefore it seem:
10 me, us the State would be the great gamer
that her Legislators could not better serve
her than by appropriatlng sum sufficient tc
detray expenses. Kansas and Nebraska, ano
think Iowa also, have heretofore made ibe
rol appropriations for the same purpose, and
in addition to State aid, the railroad company
fitted up car in nice style for carry
ing fruit, and placed it at the disposal
of the Nebraska State Pomol0gical So
ciety, which Car was with it's preciou:
load of fruit conveyed by the railroad
company to Boston, where the exhibition
took place. Then, too, the State Pomolegica
Society sent its representatives, with theil
Governor at the head, 10 look after their in