Kansas City journal., 1898-02-20
CROP OF 1898 PROMISES TO BE A
RECORD BREAKER.
A VERY INTERESTING REPORT.
HORT4CULTURAL SOCIETY OPENED
IT'S BOTH YEAR YESTERDAY.
An Enthusiastic Meeting With Near
ly One Hundred Present-RepOrt
of Special Agent on Crop
Outlook From Nebras-
ka to Arkansas.

The Missouri Valley horticultural Society
held yesterday afternoon at the Coates
House club room. with nearly hundred
active workers and fruit growers present.
The programme included a number of pa
pers on horticultural topics. discussion Of
the fruit situation. examination of samples
of fruit and a general conference over the
prospects for the coming year.
Two important matters were brought be-
fore the attention of the society. Colonel j.
c. Evans, one of the foremost men among
the fruit growers of the West. made a de-
tailed report of his recent examination of
the condition of small fruits from Northern
Arkansas to Lincoln, Neb. He said the
outlook for fine crop in all lines was the
most promising he had seen for many
years. Every sort of small fruit had gone
through the winter uninjured. the condition
of the vines and trees was the best. and
the crop of the coming year would be a
fine one If there was no damage done later
through sudden changes of the weather.
He called attention to the fact that years
ago the general belief was If there was no
damage done to fruit before Christmas the
crop was assured. Later this date was
moved down to the middle Of February,
and In few instances in later years fruit
had been damaged when in bloom. but this
was a rare occurrence and not liable to
happen often. He felt certain that the
fruit growers of the West may confidently
look forward to a fine crop in all OF the
lines The report was very gratifying to
the members.
The other report was not SO pleasant,
but was listened to with equal interest.
Mr. r. ]. Lewis. of Blue Springs. who owns
a fine orchard there. reported that part of
the county seriously infected with the San
Jose scale and that much damage was GER
tain to be done the orchards IL prompt and
enect1ve measures We're not taken at once
trees.
He said the scale had been brought into
the country on trees that came from in
fected nursery stock from some Eastern
nurseries. and had gained quite foothold.
he was preparing to wage vigorous war
on the pest and believed he would be able
to largely check its rayages. There was
some discussion of the pest and the infor-
nation was CLEANED that in nearly all in
could be traced to a New Jersey nursery
that had sold some stock over the state
The remedy for the pest IS q, careful spray
Ing OF all the infected trees with solution
OF whales oil soap. 1t Is claimed that with
patience and the persistent use of this
spray the pest can be disposed of COM
pletely: Left alone it will kill any tree in
a couple of years. SO vigorous is its work.
1t is a small blue scale that attaches itself
70 the bark OF the. tree and attacks it at
vital spot 1t increases in number at an
amazing rate and is lively enemy for any
fruit man to find In his orchard.
professor Steadman, Of the Agricultural
college at Columbia, has been investigating
the scale from his place, and has found il
IN several places, and Is ready, SO he has
take the work of scientifically combating il.
The society will take the work up here at
once.
The society was informed by the manage
ment of the Trans Mississippi exposition
that display of fruit from the society was
anxiously desired at the coming exposition.
resented in the fruit display there.
A representative of the Central market
at Thirteenth and Main street was pres
ent and asked the society to. agree to mar
ket the fruit the members had to sell dur
Ing the coming season at that place instead
OF at the city market. The society took no
the new market was held in high esteem
and would not be forgotten.
MI w c. Gano won the monthly prize
of 81 for making the best display of fruit
at the meeting yesterday. 1t consisted Of
apples of a dozen varieties and attracted
attention for the splendid specimens shown.
number OF them were pronounced almost
perfect specimens of fruit.
Yesterday morning the members of the
association. who are interested m grow
ing grapes, met at the Coates House and
completed the formal organization of the
Grape Growers Association. 1t will be a
stock company, and will have for its OBJ
Ject the education of the people intgrape
culture, and the development Of that line
of horticulture.
The only man at the meeting yester-
cay who was present when the society was
formed thirty years ago was Major Frank
Holsinger Of Rosedale. 1t was the 1rst
meeting he has attended for six months,
as he has been confined to the house frhn,
the effects OF a gun SHOT wound in his
right foot last October. He is now able to
gel about some on crutches but with much
difficulty. and still suffers a great deal
from the wound. He has been unfortunate
during his life and has been six times laid
up from gunshot wounds. Some of them
he got during the war and the others were
accidents. With all of the shooting ano;
other accidents, and the wear and tear
of nearly sixty years of active life, he is
still very agile for one of his years
He was very much delighted yesterday
at the opening of the thirtieth year of the
societys work and looks forward to its
labors with fond anticipations. He is one
of the most enthusiastic fruit men of the
West and has made II source OF much
pleasure and profit during tine years he
has given IL his attention.
Talking OF the organization of the So
ciety thirty years ago, he said yesterday:
II am the only man present here to-day
who AZ the organization although