Middletown transcript., 1898-01-22
PnN1NsuLA Hoar1cuLTuRIsrs.


Annual Session Held In Snow Hill,
j Md.s Last Week.
- =Theannual session of the Peninsula Hor-
ticultuFal Society was held in Snow Hill,
Nd. last week. These officers were elected
for the ensuing~year: President, John J..
Rosa, of Milford, Del; vice president, Cap
tain r. s: Emory, of Chestertown, Wesley
Webb, Of Dover, was unanimously re-elect-
ed secretary and treasurer. The next meet
ing will be held at Smyrna, Del.
DR.. L. H. Bailey, of Cornell University.
gave talk on economic questions relating
to the growing of fruit. Of the staple fruits
: that is, those which can be kept for any
length of time, there can be no over pro-
duction but Of the delicate and perishable
varieties there is great danger of an over
production. Naturally this would cause 8
reduction of the market price because of
the supply.
SH. Derby, of Woodside, Del, who con-
Quoted the experiments referred to by Pro-
fessor Chester, spoke of the striking results
obtained by him in spraying his Winesaps
for apple scab with the Bordeaux mixture.
He had increased the yield, the keeping
qualities, the shipping qualities and the
size and his Winesaps are now selling at 80
cents basket.
During the meeting discussion arose as
to the beneficial or non-benefcial effect of
crimson clover in orchards. Charles Bar
ker, of Milford, one of the most successful
growers on the peninsula advocated its use
1t is true that Its too abundant or incorrect
use might, bysupplying toomuch nitrogen,
put the trees in such physical condition as
not to be so well fortified to resist attacks Of
the yellows, but in every case where it did
not prove beneficial it was because of its in
;udicious use, and not because of its harm
full effect in itself.
Prof. F. Harold Powell, of the Delaware
Experiment Station, spoke of the general
feeling among fruit growers that apple cul-
ture is not adapted to the Peninsula. The
climate and soil, he stated, are not unlike
that in any other sections apple culture is
proftably developed. The fundamental
trouble lies in the former attempt to grow
northern varieties. The variety is largely
an expression of the physical condition in
which it exists, hence varieties should not
be brought into climate entirely different
from that in which they are naturally adap-
ted. The mistake was made, however, be-
cause when the early Peninsula orchards
ant
varieties in existence. The production of
local varieties is one of the horticultural
demands of the times. They can be pro-
duced on the Peninsula by seedlings Of th
finest commercial kinds, already here in
cultivation, though Seeding production is
only lottery. Or by introducing the va
rieties from sections having similar climatic
conditions in this way the Winesap, Stay
mans, Paragon and York Imperial have
been introduced or by improving these
kinds by one selection. The apple can be
grown as cheaply here as in any section in
America, and its future is bright one if
correctly developed.
Capt. r. s. Emory brought quite storm
of protest down on his shoulders by saying
that he never planted the potatoes he rails
ed, but always got bis seed potatoes from
New York. and would rather pay 81 a
bushel for them than to have another sort
as gift. Delegates from Delaware and
Virginia both stated warmly that their ex-
perience had by no means been that way,
but their own growth or local seedlings had
always given excellent results for them.
The Virginia delegate, Mr.. Elsey. stated
that he knew of one dealer in Accomac
county who had bought 5000 bushels to be
shipped as seed potatoes to northern mar
kets.