Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-03-12
OTERO COUNTY
HORTICULTURE.
Interesting and Important Meeting OF
the Otero County Horticuitur-
MI Society.

Interesting and Important Meeting o'
the Otero County Horticuitur-
i nj Society.
The meeting at Armory Hall Saturday
afternoon, March Z, was the best attend
cd and most enthusiastic held this year
R.O. McClnin read paper on prunes
He said that Us the culture OF prnnes is
comparatively new branch OF fruit grow
ing in this section he could give but lit
tic information from practical experience
Ho set 500 French prunes last spring
which have mado good growth ana
have wintered well. He is very much
encouraged by this and other plantations
OF smaller amounts OF this and other
varieties, and is certain that the prunes
can be grown as successfully and will be
rs successful MS the Green Gage and 9TH
or plums that arc now growing and fruit
ing SO abundantly. Ho said that as we
must take advantage OF the experience OF
other sections in studying the culture OF
any fruit, he would read paper from a
California prune grower that would give
moro points regarding varieties, culture,
ETC., than he could give from his expert.
ence, The paper was one that was read
by A. ID. Bishop before the Iusttn
Meeting California Pathological Society,
and was full OF valuable suggestions to
fruit growers in this section rs well as III
other irrigated districts.
In answer to question by j. @. Kain
Mr.. McClain said that as the three best
varieties OF prunes he would plant the
Prune de Agen French prune), Fallen
burg Qtalian) and the silver, Goes Gold
en- Drop. A discussion OF these varie-
ties followed in which the facts were
brought ont that the silver prune is
largest and grows fastest in this section;
the French bears heaviest, but is rather
email; the italian is the main variety in
Idaho and promises to be the best for
size and quality il grown Us u drying
prune.
J. H. Crowley then expressed his opin-
ion that more profit could be realized by
marketing the large plums of the prune
class in the green state than by making
the dried product. Thought such kinds
rs the Lombard and Hungarian or
Ponds Seeding would be better for the
purpose than the varieties Of the strictly
prune family, EFor." said he, Eve can
not grow too maLy OF the large-sized
plums to supply the market that is with
in easy reach OF us"
The next thing on the program was a
talk on SLOW to Fight Insects by coun-
ty Inspector Kain. He passed the cod
lin moth by saying that it was an insect
that has been SO thoroughly discussed
heretofore that the members are familiar
with the habits and treatment. But he
would impress upon their minds the i'm
portance Of keeping up tho fight against
this enemy that has already obtained a
foothold in the bearing orchards. He
cited one instance where the trees were
sprayed once just after the blossoms
dropped and the effect had been such
saving Of S225 on tho crop Of 1000 BUSH
els had resulted.
The aphis he had found on his own
place, but felt no alarm, as it is easy to
exterminate by spraying with kerosene
emulsion. 1t was most noticeable Just
aftee rain when 1t will appear as n
white mould, frequently in the knots or
holes in the bark or in forks. He gave
the formula for making kerosene emul-
sion rs follows:
Q gal. kerosene; l pound soap; / gallon
water. Put the soap, chopped fine, into
the water. bring to boiling point, take
from the fire and pour in the coal oil;
then mix thoroughly by pumping back
into the vessel until the whole is u creamy,
frothy mass. Then dilute with 81 gal
Ions of water, making 81 gallons OF the
mixture. II 1t does not emulsify when
to boiling point when it will mix readily
by agitating as Just described.
The report OF the secretary, who repre-
sented the society at the state meeting,
was next called for. He said that the
meeting had been one of great profit to
all, that we could learn much from the
successes and failures OF other sections
and spoke OF the great depredations of
the blight in northern and central Colo
rado, warning our people to be on the
lookout to prevent its introduction and
giving some idea Of its nature and other
points gained By inquiry among those
who are fighting it. He read the list OF
varieties selected at that meeting fol
southern Colorado, the same as published
in last weeks Enterprise.
The question OF recommending the
proper men to the County Commissioners
for appointment as Board OF Horticul,
ture and County Inspector was taken up
and several strong speeches made, show.
ing that the society is willing to do all in
its power to assist the board and inspect
or in fulfilling their duties in helping out
all diseases and insect pests and in car.
rying on the fight with those that have
already got among our orchards. The
men selected for the board are J. E.
Gauger, La Junta; G.. A. Jones, Rocky
Ford; r. 0. McCiain, Manzanoia. For
inspector, E. N. Berry, La Junta. The
present board and Inspector will hold
until this one is appointed which will be
the LIST week in April SO that Inspector
j. @. Kain will have to look after most
OF the nursery stock shipped in this
spring. Mr.. Berry seems to meet the
approval of all the fruit growers as the
right man for the place, and his long ex.
perience as foreman of the famous Eel
ton orchard at Canon City, (the most
successful orchard in the state) and his
three years, spent in establishing his own
fruit farm, four miles west of La Junta,
eminently qualities him for the position.
The program for the next meeting,
April 4th will be: "Planting Trees" by
Frank Crowley. "What to Grow in the
Orchard" by j. E. Gauger.
"Mother's Day" in the Public Schools.
Last Friday was Mothers Day" in