The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
SIX ZENITH ANNUAL MEETING
AT SOUTHERN PINES.
The Session Lasted Two Days and Was
Well Attended and a Pronounced
Success.
CLEMENT MANLY,
Chairman State Dem. Elk. Com.


Well Attended and Pronounced
Success.
To the Editor: On Thursday and
Friday, August Goth and 21st, the 10th
Annual convention of the State Horti-
cultural Society was held at Southern
Pines, the thriving health resort and
| fruit town in the sand hills of Moore
county. This town has within ten
years risen from lumber and turpen-
tine camp to be the centre of the fruit
growing industry of the State 1t con
| tains now more refined and beautiful
~ embowered house than any place OF
| pts age and population in the South.
Peach growing is the great industry,
or, as one might say, the bonanza OF
| the neighboI'hood, with choice table
| grapes as a good second. The enter
prising Yankees" who have so trans
formed the face of the country there
abouts understand the value of reputa-
ton, and by skillful growing, grading
| and packing have created for the
fruit of their locality a name that sells
it at the top of the market From re-
ports read at the recent meeting, il
appears that the fruit and truck crops
OF most other portions of the State
have proved Improbable this year eN-
cept as to the early Strawberries and
blackberlGes yet the Southern Pines
shippers report the season nearly as
profitable as usual. Curtailed con-
sumption is the general complaint.
The great mass of people who former
~ consumed our horticultural pro-
duets are unable to buy them, even at
the bare price of producing them, plus
the cost of nsportation.
On account of the Improbable sea
son many we'll known fruit growers
from many parts of the State were
unable to attend this meeting. Among
those present were T. l.. Brown, of the
Biltmore estate; d. Van LindIev, Of
Pomona; I'll. K. Van Deman, ex-United
States PomolOgist; b. Won Herff, OF
New York: s. 4. Peacock, of Balti-
more; Fl. b. Battle, w. Il. Massey and
II. T.. Hege, and others, from Raleigh.
The convention was called 10 order
by President Van Lindley, in the
large parlor of the Ozone Hotel. 4
most happily worded address was then
delivered by Mayor l.. T. Smith, of
Southern Pines, and the convention
sertled down to business. The first
paper was "TheSociety's Experimental
Work at Southern Pines" by DIR. III. b.
Battle. Mr.. e. c. Hodgin, superintcnd-
ent OF the 500-acre Van LindIcy or
ehard, then gave an address, practical
Peach and Plum Growing on the Sand
Hills
Mr. c. d. Tarbell, of Southern Pines,
followed, with paper on Grape
Growing for Market"
All these papers were ably discussed
by Prof. Van Deman, DIR. Won Herff,
DR. BATTLE and others
After dinner, on invitation of the
citizens of Southern Pines, the So
ciety took an excursion, by Mr. Tufts
electric road to Pinehurst, stopping
of at the horticultural farms of the
Van Lindley orchard. About fifty per
sons enjoyed a cool and most delight
full ride. At the horticultural farms,
DR.. II. b. Battle, who is chairman of
the committee in charge Of these ex-
peIttments, conducted the party
through both the farms, explaining
tire meaning of the different plats and
their growth. The newly erected SUI
perintendent's cottage elected consid-
cradle praise, while much astonish-
ment was expressed at the magnitude
and thoroughness of the undertaking.
The work being carried ON at these
farms rs OF more than national import
ance-must have an influence upon the
future of horticulture not alone in
North Carolina, but wherever fruit and
vegetables are grown by intelligent
men.
At Pinehurst. Mr. Tufts superin-
tendent, Il. Nd. Couch, did the honors
OF the place, and all were invited to
inspect the beautiful Holly Inn, whose
lise is nowhere else to be found
Returning to Southern Pines, an
evening session of the convention was
held, and addresses were delivered by
Prof. Van Deman on apple Growing,
and by Gerald Mccarthy on Methods
of Preventing Insect and Fungus De-
rredations."
Several excellent vocal selections,
with organ and cornet accompaniment,
were then rendered by a choir of
dozen young ladies whose efforts
brought out enthusiastic applause.
The second days meeting included
able and interesting papers and ad-
dresses: BY T. l.. Brown, OF Biltmore,
Fundamental Methods in Horticul-
ture": o. w. Blacknall, "The Best
House Grapes; DIR. G. H. Sodelson,
Ornamental Gardening; F. f. Hege,
Poultry MS an Adjunct to Fruit Grow
ing" and several others.
The afternoon was devoted under
the guidance OF Messrs. Stebbins and
Sweet, to inspecting the vineyards
east and north OF Southern Pines
Among others, the splendid Niagara
vineyard. containing over 100 acres in
bearing grapes, was visited and the
methods there employed in growing
packing and shipping were duly noted.
This company has it's private railroad
switch, and ships chiefly by refrigera-
tor car. DIR. Won Herff has fine young
vineyard near by, and the largest nur-
serY of nr-naInanfAl fsaes in the coun-