The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-05
FRUIT GROWERS IN SESSION.
EXTENDED \ HEARTY WELCOME
TO SAVANNAH.


tant Subjects Read by Scientific
HorticuIturists From This and
other Stntes-The san Jose scale
Given special Attcntion-The Con-
vention to spend This Afternoon
at Tybcc.
The Georgia state Horticultural Society
met at the De Soto yesterday morning with
a large attendance and with every promise
OF having one of the most successful
meeting in the history of the society.
Besides a .arge attendance of members
from all over the state. several well known
horticulturists and scientists from adjoin-
ing and other southern states are in at
tendance and are contributing much TO
the proht ana pleasure Of the meeting.
Besides the usual formauties attending
the. opening Of the convention, several in
teresting and instructive papers were read
ana discussed before the society yesterday
the subjects relating to matters Of great
importance to the horuculturists OF the
state.
The society met in the banquet room Of
the De S5to. Or. George II. stone, chair
man. and AIessrs. George J. Baldwin ana
c. 5 Ellis of the park and tree commits
sion. with DIR. J. c. LeHardy Dr.A. Oem-
Ter Mai. g. A. Ryals, and Mr. c. e. G.
Eel. local members of the society. devoted
their efforts to making the visitors feel at
home. Many of the delegates are accom-
panied by their wives and daughters,
number of whom are also members Of the
society. The ladies attended the sessions
and watched the proceedings with evident
interest. Several Savannah ladies were
also in attendance and the number win
doubtless be greater to-day.
After the convention had been called to
order by President Berckmans Rev. w. c.
Schaeffer, D. D., Of the Lutheran Church
of the Ascension, offered an appropriate
prayer, invoking the divine blessing and
direction upon the work Of the conven-
ton.
Mayor p. W. Meldrim was introduced
by the president and delivered the address
of welcome upon the part of the city.
Mayor Meidrim's address was eloquent
and httiRg. He told the members of the
convention that Georgia's children were al
ways welcome in the Forest city. lie
spoke of the pleasure and advantage of
ferent sections of the state and of the
country. Mayor Meldrims address was
brief, but enjoyable, and closed with the
following bit of eloquence:
what a wonderful art is yours Mr..
president; for at your bidding the rose
exhales its perfume and the lily bows its
head. The hOmelieSt cottage smiles in
beauty from the vines YOU Irvine in fes-
TONED grace over door and porch and win
dow seat You Clothe the naked red clay
hills with the green and purple of the
grape. and at your touch the white ROBBED
apple boughs fling kisses from their noun
tain homes TO the fairer peach, that I'm a
SUMMER cline bushes pink at springs first
fond caress. This Forest City should be-
come a garden spot and all around about
1t a goodly land. This we are trying to
make il, and YOU with your skill can great
ly aid US. We, therefore, not only bid
you welcome, but ask you to abide with us
as long as you can, and we promise YOU
we viii try to make your visit a pleasant
one"
DR.. George H. Stone welcomed the con-
Vention in behalf Of the park and tree
commission. Among other things, DR..
Stone said:
The park and tree commission feel
honored that the executive should have
selected them to assist in receiving you
on this your first visit TO our city. our
work is not exactly in a horticultural line
but closely allied to it,
THE commissions work is a labor Of
love, neither political nor mercenary con-
siderations have entered into it. and If our
zeal has outran our means we congratu-
late ourselves that we leave behind that
which viii mark 1897 as progressive
epoch In the history Of the ornamentation
of our city.
The mayor has extended to you that
mythical key that not only unlocks the
gates Of the city, but unlocks the shortest
way to our hearts, and we welcome you
with both hands
The word horticulture recalls many
pleasant recollections of my boyhood days.
Having been raised in the fruit section Of
Western New York, my earliest impress
sions were not fruitless, but filled with
fruit Of all kinds from the red currant to
the golden apple. Speaking Of red cur
rants, ! wonder If there has been any inn
provement in raising and preserving them
The rule for them was. l remember, to
plant in rows Ia the back part of the
garden, stir the ground once IN a while,
and watch carefully for cut worms: when
ripe. pick, dry carefully with sugar of
good quality and pack away In jars (wide
mouth jars Preferred then place IN a
dark closet. My work then commenced.
Stealing into the closet ] continued the
raising process from time 20 time during
the season. Ii was the opinion of my
mother tnat the raising OF Currants was
a success, but the care and preservation
a failure.
Ny horticultural education was contin-
ued in this manner until ! knew the taste
OF all the varieties of fruit and realized
the feel Of every kind OF switch thar grew
OF bush OF tree
Every one has been gratihod at the re-
markahle progress horticulture has made
IN our state. From being comparatively
unknown beyond Sos borders as a fruit-
growing state. she has placed herself In
the front ranks already in peaches she
rivals California. and as for melons. we
can now return the compliment 20 Con-
necticut, ana send her wooden melons.
Her reputation BIS go high that they would
devOur them with the same relish that the
south consumed the wooden nutmogs i'm
years gone by. Horticulture has made such
progress iu improving size ana flavor Of
fruit that no longer do parents drill into
the small boy the evils of understood UNI
ripe fruit ! remember the sweet limos
Gorrowful, but true. pathetic. 10 not beau.
tful Instructive. if not classical real.
istic. n not romantic. The warming ram
as follows: