Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-07-01

ings We limit our transactions to discussions /
pertaining to the small fruits, Horticulture,
Landscape gardening, and kindred topics;
and devote the annual sessions to orcharding, |
forestry and allied subjects. If such divi-
sion OF our labors could be satisfactorily |
arranged 1t would unquestionably afford |
more ample time for the discussion of each,
and thereby give better opportunity for
thoroughness in such discussion.
But to secure the most satisfa Glory results |
from our deliberations it is indispenssbly
requisite that we more thoroughly qualify
ourselves for the discussion of the various
subjects connected with horticultural pro-
gress BY close and more genera! study of
the scientific elements necessarily involved.
a man might as we'll undertake to read the
mysteries of the starry heavens, without in
structions in the principles of astronomy, as
to try TO discuss all the questions arising in
Horticultural pursuits, while ignorant of the
elements ofsgricultural chemistry and yege-
table physiology. True, the man who
is not scientist may learn, and
learn well, the routine opera
tons of practical horticulture, and
achieve satisfactory success thereby; but
when his mind is led to the investigation Of
the reasons of unexpected successes or fail
ures, or of the many interesting phenomena
SO frequently attracting attention in horti-
cultural work, he meets with difficulties
which can only be surmounted by scientific
explanation. For instance, q man of no
scientific knowledge, while blowing in his
young orchard, carelessly WOUNDS with his
whiffletrees portion of the trees. The next
year he observes that the trees thus injured
blossom and bear fruit, while the others
simply continue their wood growth. His
simple inference would be that like treat
ment of all the trees would be attended with
like results: the plan is adopted, and general
fruitfulness the next year veriies his predic-
tions. But sooner or later he is confronted
with the astounding tact that the wounding
of his trees, and the further debilitation re-
sulting from their premature production of
crops Of fruit haye destroyed the cons.itu-
tional vigor of his entire orchard, and that
his trees have become WIDELY worthless at
the age at which they would naturally have
been just entering their prime.
This simply illustrates the effect of the too
common barbarism of boring holes or dri-
wing rusty spikes into the bodies of young
trees to hasten premature productiveness.
Vegetable biology clearly explains that
whstever checks exubersnt growth has a
tendency to promote qualification. But the
experiment is carried far enough when we
dig trench, in carly summer, around the
tree, of a radius fully equal to the expansion
of its limbs, cutting off all the rootlets e1-
tending SO far out, and thus doing but little
material injury to the vitality of the tree.
Yet even this experiment should be limited
to such varieties as the Northern Spy, Pyor's
Red. and the like, which too provokingly
delay their period Of bearing. All Of the
earlier bearing varieties had better be left
till nature has fully prepared them for the
facilitating strain of crop production. Sci
encc and observation alike teach that iii the
long run this is the better course.
Thus it is that with almost every phase of
horticultural work; science is found to be
the indispensable accom- pkhiment of labor.
And with the astonishing results of modern
enterprise it may we'll be doubted whether
in few years more the practical fruit grow
er can any more dispense with q scientific
education than can our physicians or civil
engineers. Where competition becomes
most active every useful faction must be
fully at command to insure success. There
fore SO important factor as science cannot
much longer be dispensed with, evenly the
common laborers in horticultural employ
ment, much less the managing operators.
Another reason why our society should
foster higher intelligence among the fruit
growers of our state is the protection they
require from the gross impositions now go
skilifully practiced upon them by the silver
tongued i:inerants, who are ceaselessiy
proving for victims among the simple
minded and ignorant. These rascals are no
sOOHcI cAppscu III ouc Cihso VI lEhuuss VI III
any one locality, than with the adroitness of
a mountebAnk they appear in another role,
or in another locality, to fleece new victims
by their sudacity and impudence. Some of
these rascals claim to have insecticides of
miraculous and never failing virtues; some
profess to have seeds of new and unheari of
varieties Of fruits, and garden vegetables;
others again solicit orders for wonderful
and new varieties Of our orchard and garden
fruits, capable of resisting the vicissitudes of
all manner of adverse climatic influences.
All have their bogus illustrations of the I'M
spproachable attractions of their wares;
some in bottles that magnify the enclosed
specimens in two fold proportions, or with
gaudy fruits of absurd size and preposterous
coloring. Ingeniously adapting the pomo-
logical device of the devil in the temptation
of our simple minded mother, Eve, they
first attempt to capture the woman of the
with their deceptive prints and
stories, and thus reinforced turn the assault
on the devoted pater familias with unbound
ed assurance OF big order.
All honor to the honest agents Of well
known. reliable nurserymen who diligently
seek to supply our wants with actual good
things and at fair prices; and all credit to our
fruit growers that readily improve all oppor-
tunities for purchasing and testing those
things that are reliably shown 70 be best
adopted to our actual requirements in Kan
sss. But as to those itinerant frauds we can |
only say, "Oh, for a whip in every honest
hand to lash these scoundrels naked through |
The land"
In conclusion let me call attention to the
fact that our labors in this socie-
" are not only for the Kansas Of today, but
'or the aspiring, vigorous and progressive
Kansas that is rapidly looming IN into
colossal proportions, soon to become the
,reat central star in the galaxy Of our nation
Il union. A state which, in addition to it's
,rest commercial emporium now astonish-
ng the world by the rapidity of its growth
N our eastern border, has also, within but
title more than one decade developed away
lown here ct Wichita. nearly two hundred