The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-02-27
horticultural Society.

The Annual meeting of the Portage Co.
horticultural Society was held at the Uni
verSaliSt Church. The attendance was large.
The annual report, an interesting pamphlet
OF SO pages, containing fall report of each
meeting of the past year was distributed to
the members.
The election of officers resulted in the Sc
lection of Smith Sanford, President Frank
Ford, Vice President Andrew Wilson, Sec
retary Nv. A. Hammond, Treas; T. B. Dick.
iAson, A. J. Jennings and Lafayette Smith,
Executive Committee.
There was large exhibit of fruit and
flowers. One person had twenty varieties of
apples on the table, while there were num-
Der of bouquets of cut flowers from the Elms.
lie greenhouse.
Mr.. Reed reported that all the peach buds
are apparently dead, both on budded and
natural fruit trees. Mr.. Ford believes that
there are some live buds on his Crosby peach
trees, although the tips of the new growth
are badly injured.
A. D. Olin, in reporting on small fruits
said that he was much surprised to learn.
while on recent visit to Michigan, that the
strawberry growers of Kalamazoo Co. depend
almost entirely upon the Jessie for their
market berries. They have tried the Bubach
and Haverland, which are so successful here
but have discarded both. They also grow
the Kittatinny blackberry for main crop.
He could not report the present condition of
the small fruits here because the strawberry
plants and raspberry tips are covered with
snow. He thinks. however, that they must
be in good condition.
Mr.. Ford remarked that this report shows
how little we can depend upon any variety
of berry for our use by its reputation in
other localities. {. I would. not plant for
profit here even three hills of Jessie straw
berry or Kittatinny blackberry. The latter
is an excellent berry, but rusts so badly as
to make it Improbable. The Wilson, once
standard variety of strawberry hereabouts,
is the leading market berry today in the vi
cinity of Rochester, N. Y. On my own
grounds 1 can scarcely grow plants of this
variety The conclusion then is that we can
not depend upon the reports from Expert
ment Stations or other sources, however nu-
merous or favorable they may be, unless
we have tried the variety upon our own
grounds
Isaac Tozer read valuable paper entitled
Birds, in which he eulogized the beauty and
usefulness of a number of our feathered
neighbors. Of only two, we believe, did he
remark disparagingly. He said: "The
blackbird is thieving fellow. The very
name raises our ire. The crow has tried me
more than any other bird. The only way I
have to get rid of them is to shoot one and
hang him up in the cornfeld. This sacri-
fees but one, and sends the rest to the neigh
bors.'
Mr. Bartlett took exceptions to this latter,
as he believes the blackbird and crow are
among the farmers best friends. The for
mer devours many worms and insects, while
the crows destroy moles and mice, and are
great scavengers. Mr.. Wing believes that il
was Mr.. Bartlett's crows that carried off his
chickens. A. J. Jennings said they pulled
his young corn and ate it, at caring time.
Mr.. Stewart had nearly three acres, fully
$50 bushels of corn, practically destroyed by
| them last fall. Altogether the crow had q
hard time of it.
Mr.. Hinman spoke Of the quail and wren
two birds now nearly extent. He character
lied them as beautiful, harmless and useful
birds. He believed they should be protected
by law the year round. This opinion gaves
chance for lengthy discussion upon game
laws and the legal protection of game, espec
tally the rabbit. which was heartily entered
into by quite number. During this dis
cussion Mr.. Ford said that all the game laws
of recent years say, in substance, to the
farmer. you raise the game, don't touch i
during the entire year until November, ane
then we will let the city sportsmen come ou
and kill it and carry it off.
A lady, after succeeding in getting tht
floor toward the end of the discussion, said
with considerable earnestness, "When tn
/, women get the reins of government in thei
hands all these things will be adjusted pro
, perly and SATISFACTORILY
The Secretary referred briefly to the histo
ry of the Society, organized 16 years agt
with IA members. He was not acquaintet
with any Society which had made SO good
growth and had passed through the year
= with SO little friction. The quality of tn
q fruit grown in the county has kept pace wit
. the growth of the society, fact which frui
q dealers fully appreciate.
In this line Mr.. Wing stated that straw
berries grown by members of this Society
I and shipped by him to a dist ant market, las
J.. season, retalled at Is cents quart beSid
home grown berries at and 10 cents.
;. The March meeting will be held at tn
y Congregational Church in Ravenna pape
by o. G. Colgrove.