The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-01
STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Its Summer Meeting Was Held i'm a
Fruit-GrOwin Region.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The summer meeting of the State Horti-
cultural Society just closed was one
worthy Of note. 1t was held at New AM
sterdam, in Harrison county. The town is
some forty miles below New Albany on
the Ohio river in the knob region, and in
the heart of the great apple producing sec
ton of Indiana. Washington township
claims more fruit trees than any one in
the State. Not only apples in great
orchards curtain the hills, but peaches,
pears and plums are there by the thou
sand. The society was represented from
various parts of the State, and the mem
bers were Hospitality entertained by the
good people of the town. The fruit growers
seem to have devoted their entire energies
and labors to their special business. In
every direction, as You pass through the
country, can be seen these great orchards,
many of them with tops on. or very near
to the ground. Many apple trees seem
never to have been trimmed but stand
like hay stacks in rows. The peach trees
are largely trimmed by, cutting square.y
ground and forcing the limbs TO spread
like great umbrellas. The object seems 10
be TO have the fruit easily accessible and
to prevent the breaking of the trees. The
most of the orchards are plowed and the
wonder is that the hills wash down SO
little. "A SOL ell " Dc very lc1dClOuS.
The general planting of the orchards and
vineyards is of a comparatively recent
date, perhaps within the last ten years.
The fruit crop. SO far as apples, peaches,
pears and plums are concerned, this year,
has been a failure on account of frosts and
cold weather in the spring. Grapes have
been produced in great abundance and are
being sold.
The exhibition displayed apples, such as
Maiden Blush. Romantics, Jennets, Ram
Dos, Queens and Lansingbergs and quite a
variety of apples brought by Prof. Troup
from the propagating orchard at Purdue.
The display OF grapes was excellent, such
as the Worden, Moore's Early, POckliag-
ton. Agawam, Concord Ives Perkins,
There is a fine crop of grapes and there
are many large and productive vineyards
in the township. Many new ones have
been planted recently. The pear crop Is
a failure. but a larger number of fine pear
trees are Panted, also recently. and here
after there must be a heavy and valuable
and climate makes this region for
productive of valuable fruits of many kinds.
1t is almost mountainous in appearance:
the lofty bluffs along the river are pic
turesaue. Transportation from this region
is by steamboat. The market is mainly in
Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago. This
year a large quantity OF grapes and mel
indianapolis. A railroad is badly needed
traversing the valleys Of this broken coun-
try. The wonder is that one has not been
constructed. a suggestion was made at the
meeting that the fruit growers might pro-
cure tug boats and two scows to Louisville
or New Albany, thus avoiding the delays
attendant upon the sluggish and uncertain
dry-weather steamboats,. The meeting was
addressed by a number OF gentlemen upon
several topics Of interest. j. H. Blair spoke
on american Forests" Ernest Walker on
Horticulture" and W. H. Raglan on .'Whai
Is the Matter with Our Apple Orchardsg'
These addresses were carefully and thought
fully prepared. and ought TO be published.
The ride from Louisville to New Amster-
dam by night on steamboat was a fine one
The little boat stopped wherever a lantern
appeared on the shore and at divers queer
landings, with the darkness OF night and
the shadows OF the trees and knobs for q
background. Here and there at prominent
points ahead could be seen the government
light stations TO guide the pilct On his way
IN the deep gloom AT New Amsterdam
were pointed cut high-water marks. show
ing a rise OF over eighty feet OF the Ohio
river, indicative OF the vast food that pours
along toward the Mississippi.