Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-26
Fruits and Flowers.

THE COMING HORTICULTURAL FAIR-FIG RAISING.
The District OF Columbia HoI tcultural Society
net last night, the president (Mr. John Sau) 10
the chair and Mr.. w. Gillingham. secretary.
There was full meeting of the members, in
cluGing many ladies. and much interest was
taken in the business OF the evening, principally
relating 10 the coming fair OF the society, which
takes place from the 2lSt 70 the 18th OF S3ptam-
Der next. 4 large basket of tea roses, embracing
over twenty kinds, were placed on the table by
Mrs. Harriet y. Mute, which she described,
giving tie names ~ each kind. 4 flDe collection
OF fruit, embracing grapes OF several kinds and
figs raised by Mr.. Geo. Il. Needham on his farm
in Maj gland, was also on exhibition. A fig leaf
pluCked from tree In England 6GD years Old,
winch was planted By Thomas Beckett
archbishop OF Canterbury, and which has
borne IiUiJ every yC1r. attracted much attention
The chair announced that schedules for the
coming fdlr would be furnished 10 applicants
by calling at his store on ,th street, or at the
Office II Mr.. J. T. c. Clark. on 18th street. Mr..
Glars, from The committee on 1alr arrange
mentS. reported progress and said the prospects
for q successful exhibition were never more
flattging. The members Of the society, OF both
sexes, were requested 10 attend at the fair-rOom
and assist In the preparations OF the stands
for flowers and fruits and In the dec0ra-
ton of the room. MeSSrS. William Cam
mack. ii. '. Cotton and Thomas F. Har-
GtInan were elected members OF the society.
MIR. Geo. F. Needhem then made interesting re-
marks on the cultivation OF the fig and fig rails
ing. He spoke OF the healthfulnesS and plea
sure 10 be derived from the occupation OF frLit
OF fruit as an article or Diet. He stated that he
had given this subject of fig raising much at
teItion. Too much laJ0r aud attention is
given 10 the cultivation OF the cereals and too
little TO Iruit raising. One OF the test fruits TO
cultivate was the NJ. which can be done easily
and ia almost any soil. This climate Is particu-
larry well adapted to fig raising. In this climate
they are grown more bOuntifully and with less
care and trouble than any part OF this country.
They are less liable TO failure as a crop and are
free from the injurious effects OF insects, such
as cause blight tu other fruits. He described
tie manner OF cultivating this Iruit In England,
and read letter he had just received from
gentleman in that cOGntry-a celebrated fig
groWer-on the subject or this fruit. He stated
the advantages OF the climate here over that or
England. and SAID If this plant could withstand
the cold moist weather OF England, how mucn
better is the sunny climate here for ~ raising
Here this ifuit is raised in almost every state. In
Ohio, where it is much colder than Maryland
large crops are raised with great profit. He
described how they are easily protected from
the killing froSts or winter, by laying the young
trees over and covering with earth. In Maly-
land this fruit IS becoming better known and
It's advantages appreciated. The great secret
was In protecting them from the weather
especially the early froStS of autumn. This
subject was further discussed by MeSsrs. Saul
COL curtis and Mrs. Smith. and vote Of thanks
was passed TO Mr.. Needham for his Interesting
remarks on this subject.