Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-03-31
STATE HORTICULTURAL u
SOCIETY.
PAPER READ BEFORE THE LAST GLoUcEs
TER COUNTY BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
BY MR. H. w. RIDGwAY.

began its sessions in the Supreme Court
room, in the State House, promptly on
time, and with President DR.. John B.
Ward as Chairman
Mr.. S. B. Ketchum, Pennink ton, in his
address of welcome TO the city and the
State House. referred pleasantly to the re-
suits of the work of the association
'through all the years of existence, and
also to horticulture as an occupation, and
to the good work of the State Experiment
Stations
The response by Mr.. Ward was short
and nothing especially striking except his
appeal to decorate our yards, declaring
that the maj ,rity of New Jersey farm
houses had not bush, shrub, vine or
flower. This remark was resented by Mr..
Roberts. of Moorestown, in no mistaken
language, who declared he had never seen
such home.
Henry l. Budd, as Secretary, began his
report by dating back to the initial meet
ing. held August II, 1875. in the College
Building, at New Brunswick, and recount
iag the names of those living and dead
who we're listed as charter members, and
giving brief review of the good work re-
su ting from the organization. Among the
needs Of the present he numbered q sys-
tenn of education similar to that carried on
in Russia and Prussia, where horticulture
is Part of the regular school work, being
taught practically by the schoolmasters
The Treasurer reported a smaller balance
this year than last.
The report of the Fruit Committee by
its Chairman, Thomas j. Beans, Moores-
town, comprised reports from correspond
ents in every county. We noticed that
the Candy strawberry was praised from
one part of the State to the other. The
difference in figures in the very low prices
obtained by those who sent to dealers, and
the very high wherethe producer was the
merchant as well, selling in his immediate
vicinity held lessen. .One of the latter,
q. W. Leads, Rancocas, from forty trees of
the early Richmond cherry had picked
4138 pounds, which sold at from s to 10
cents per pound. Of peaches he had sold
800 baskets from his 300 the prices rang
ing from 80 cents to ST. 25 per basket.
The report of the Flower Committee, by
its Chairman, E. B Beebe, of Elizabeth
gave the standing, from a commercial
point of view, of the leading flowers of
the day; also, to the use of flowers in the
garden and for home decoration; also, the
opinions and experiences of the year of
both dealers and growers. In fact he re-
viewed the whole catalogue from one end
to the other at much length.
The Presidents address was long and
tedious one full of good words, well
chosen and slowly delivered. 1t extended
so long after the noon-hour that your
representatives. mind was more on dinner
than on the address He said: "Horti-
culture is a science, but it is so unlike
many others that it must be carried on in
conformity with attendant circumstances. {"
He referred to past superstitions when
fungus foes and insect depredations was
thought to be punishment sent upon us
for some sin committed by violating the
laws of nature, but the Experiment Sta
ton had educated us better. He dwelt on
the necessity of keeping account of our
crops; called attention to the growing use
use of flowers and shrubs for identifying
the home, and in closing paid tribute to
the dead of the year-W. A. Styles and 1.
w. Nicholson.
Roll.call, with which the morning ses-
sion closed, showed delegates present from
thirteen county boards, from several SUBJ
ordinate and Pomona Oranges and from
the State Grange. But no Gloucester
County Grange was among the list.
The first paper of the afternoon session
was the report of DIR. J. B. Smith, State
Entomologist, upon the insects of the year,
beginning with plant lice and ending with
the San Jose scale. ut is almost useless .
he said, "to mention that everything was
lousy last spring and early summer and
that brought about another condition
that of an enormous increase in lady bugs
but owing to the weather conditions of
the latter part of June the lice were com
pletely wiped from the face of the earth in
less than week and the lady bugs being
deprived of their food commenced to eat
one another and in short time there were
neither lice or lady bugs" Prof. Smith
was in hopes that good portion of the
bugs might be saved to fight these pests OF
another wear but such was not the case and
louise and lady bug start on equal footing
for another year. He anticipates little
trouble from the tree louise next year but
would not venture an opinion about the
melon louise. He mentioned the straw
berry weeYil and strawberry leaf roller;
the latter bid fair to cause great deal of
trouble. He said that the peach borer
could be easily controlled by coating the
trunk of the trees with hydraulic cement
mixed with milk or by wrapping them
with newspapers Either way is effectual
if thoroughly done. The paper or cement
will cause them to climb higher, away
from the vital parts, if they succeed in
climbing at all.
The San Jose scale came in for the great
er part of the time and attention aud as
the greater part of the meeting was COM
posed Of nurserymen and some tree agents
they made things lively when the time
for discussion arrived. Prof. Smith did
not paint the future so dark as we were
Much in Little
Is especially true of Hoods PiHs, for no medi-
cine ever contained so great curative power in
so small space. They are whole medicine