The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-01-06
FRUITS AND FLOWERS.
The Stark County Horticultural
Society
Meet at the Residence Of lanes A. Sax
ton and Have Profitable and
Pleasant Time.

Sd, 1888, at the beautiful and cOmmOdi-
Gus residence of James A. Saxton in the
city of Canton. Theweather being very
fine and the rOadsin excellent condition,
the meeting was largely attended. Al
IL o'clock a. M, President Levi Stump
called the meeting to order and the
minutes of the previous meeting were
read and corrected as follows: "The
name of Lewis Essig, Treasurer, was in
serted, and the names of Mrs. Jacob HOll
and Mrs. j. G. Trump were Inserted on
the Committee on Stone Fruit" and ap-
proved.
The President then read the following
annual address, as required by the Con-
stitutiOn of the Society:
FELLOW MEMBERS: Let us acknOWl-
edge that we have cause for great thank
fulness in that we have been spared to
enjoy another year, and that we are now
permitted again to assemble as society
at our winter meeting. A kind PrOVi-
dence has spared our lives to labor in
this, our faVOrite field of usefulness.
We have indeed been blessed in many
ways during the past year, and may we
rest assured that even the disasters of
the past season will prove to be blessings
in disguise.
The past winter was one of unusual
mildness, and was not marked by any
great depression Of temperature; hence
we did not sustain the usual losses by
severity of the cold; notwithstanding
the fruit buds of most varieties were
more or less damaged, OccasiOned by the
not severe cold, upon the succulent
growth made by all varieties of fruit
during the moist and fine growing wea-
ther of the fall of 1881.
Though part of the winter was so very
mild that the crOakers predicted pre-
mature advance Of vegetation, the chills
more appropriate TO the season cOntin-
ued to check the Vegetative process long
after the Vernal equinox, and winter
ling gered almost to the lap Of May; the
weather continued cool and wet, and the
result was a rather backward season.
Fruit-buds opening during the chilly
nights and cold rains were all more or
less damaged; the result was not only a
backward season but short crops of most
varieties of fruit. or apples the prom.
ise was fair; the trees blOOmed prOfuse-
~ Ty, but through too much rain the pollen
appears to be literally washed out from
many of the flowers, the blooming sea-
son being so cold that the bees could not
venture out, therefore but little Cross
fertilization. In few weeks the un-
fertilized germs literally covered the
ground, and all seemed to have fallen;
but thanks to the abundant provision of
blossoms, enough had been set, during
the brief half hours OF sunshine, to yield
partial crop of fruiG on many varieties
of apples. Peaches Jared even worse
than apples, with the exception OF seed.
lings, and they were very inferior.
Pears proved to be almost Q medium
crop; some varieties, such as Bartlett,
Duchess, Howell and Benue Clairgean,
were full, while others, as Tyson, Law
renee and Sheldon, produced very little
fruit. Strawberries and ra6pberrtes, on
good soil and we'll cultivated, produced
an average crop; while blackberries
we're most abundant, the best crop for
years, but unfortunately the blackberry
plantations had been too much neglect
ed of late years in consequence OF win
ter killing of the canes. We would,
therefore, advise to plant only such
bIackberries as have proved to be iron
clad. Ounces we're very abundant
wherever there were trees, their late
blooming happening after the severe
weather had passed. The supply was
short, owing to the fact that the past
severe winters had killed most OF aged
trees. Plums Jared about the Same as
peaches, the curculiO not having the
opportunity to put in much Of their
work. Cherries a failure excepting a
few of the mOrellO varieties. Cnrrants
and gOOseberries, where protected from
the currant worm, were an abundant
crop. Grapes almost failure through
mildew and rot. Some isolated vine
yards, and vines around buildings, and
certain arbOrs, proved success.
The season appeared unpr0pit1OuS Tor
vegetables, but such husbandmen as ap-
piled the proper energy and watehful-
ness succeeded admirably in growing
eabbages, potatoes, celery, turnips, rad
ishes, lettuce, &c. Our vegetable gar
deneTs who were upon the lookout have
no reason to be discouraged from the
past seasons experience.
HORTICULTURE.
In various ways the pursuit of tEls
branch of our subject has been much
advanced, even in out Of the way places
One Ofthe methods Of encouraging flower
growing has resulted from our Society
migrating from place to place. All
must have noticed the nice flower beds
in gardens and lawns wherever OuI
meetings are held, also the window and
house plants form conspicuous part Oi
the exhibition at our meetings. 1t is 8
laudable ambition that stimulates OuI
sisters to excel in the production Of rare
and choice flowers.
am pleased to see before me to-day
such large proportion of the few who
four years since, met together In Dame
miIler's Hall for the purpose of organ
member how few attended the call, how
we all felt discouraged. However
enough were in attendance to give lifI
TO this Society, which has since growI
to manhood. | feel proud of the fact, fol
we have already Outlived the time usu
ally given to such societies. We haYl
not only lived, but lived well, as mos
g you will attest. We are, therefore
now entering into our fifth year, full o.
vitality, ready to work intellige9tly anC
zealously for the continued interest o
this, our Society. This Society nov
numbers over two hundred and fift,
members; our meetings are all we'll at
tended; days of continued rain from
morning till night have not preventet
from having good attendance. We ar
a progressive society. Our minutes be
ing published monthly, and neatly boun,
at the close Of the year for distribution
all the members are entitled to them
and no doubt appreciate them.
We would advise that whenever Their
are sufficient funds in the treasury, tina
the Society purchase a tent for the Us
Of their sittings during the summe