The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-06
FLoRIDA's AGRIouLTuRAmsTs.


Orlando. Fla, May 5.-Not so many
members are in attendance upon the meet
ing of the State Horticultural Society as
last year. Secretary Hastings attributes
this largely to the absorbing interest Of
the people of the state in the preparations
for war. Up to ten days ago applications
for membership certificates emitting the
holders to the reduced railroad and hotel
rates came in rapidly. But upon the cul-
mination of the hostile feelings toward
Spain these dropped off at once and al
most ceased. 1t would seem that tho
average Florida horticulturalst therefore
must be something of a patriot as we'll
Yesterday morning Rev Lyman Phelps,
chairman of the executive committee Of
the society, reported that since the last
meeting his committee had perfected the
draft of a bill for the eradication of in
sects prejudicial to agriculture and had
arranged to have the same presented to
the state legislature with a view TO Sc
curing its enactment into a law.
valuable paper by Prof. Weber,
formerly of the Eustis' experiment station,
now of Washington, upon "Some Prob
was read, the professor not being present.
He states that experiments along the line
of hybrdiZation are now being extensive
ly carried on by the department, until
large number of new and distinct varie-
ties of oranges and lemons have been
originated. Some of these show the better
qualities of both parents, and some are
proving far better able to Withstand cold
than any of the varieties heretofore in cul-
az l., IA 1s.tas a. bb
| time is at hand when new varieties will
be brought out which will be as hardy
! as the Wild sour oranges of the Gulf states,
| but possessing all of the valuable charac-
| teristcs of the best varieties now grown.
| The paper was a most Interesting one
and was followed by a discussion which
| demonstrated the keen interest felt in the
subject by the fruit growers.
Mr.. Phelps considered 1t a most impor-
| tant line Of experimentation. He had
| been at work on these lines for sixteen
years. and now had, as the result of his
] efforts new varieties of oranges which he
| thought superior to any of the Old stan
dard varieties which have given to the
| Florida orange the distinction of being the
finest grown in the world
| A resolution was finally adopted eX-
! pressing the interest Of the society In
| these experiments being carried on by
! the agricultural department, and suggest
ing the establishment of the experiment
stations which have been discontinued in
| Florida and the establishment and main
tenance of others, so that this work may
receive the attention which It's importance
| deserves
brief report made by Capt. Thomas
| e Richards of Eden on Indian river on
tropical fruits, ran into the growing Of
pineapples, and finally to the best method
of protecting them against the effects OF
cold
This brought out a discussion of the
merits of the shed or arbor system of pro-
lection adapted by the pineapple growers
of Orlando, and being adopted by many
other growers in different parts of the
state.
Mr.. Stevens of Citra stated that. In adj
dition to the slab covering he mad pro-
| vided his sheds with additional Stats COM
bined in sections, 50 that upon the APP
| proach of a cold wave he could simply
move the sections a few inches md let
| the movable ones drop between the others,
thus making practically a tight roof. I'm
| der such cover, ne had carried his plants
through a temperature of 10 degrees with
| out damage A lemon tree growing UNI
der such a shed had gone through such a
degree of cold. and did not lose its foli-
age, and in the spring boomed freely and
| is now holding a crop or fruit
| Mr.. Russell of Orlando did not use the
extra slats. and only used small iires 70
q very limited extent, and his loss amount
ed to less than 10 per cent. His plants
were small, having been but recently set.
In the Stevens Pinery Company's shed
where the plants were grown, 80 per cent
of them are now fruiting, and the fruit
promises TO attain fun size and weight.
Here the discussion drifted to the pro
lection of orange groves by the dlstrl3u-
| ton Of small fires among the trees DIT
| Kerr of Volusia county told of the re-
| Suits attained by such means by Mr.. Kin
ney. a neighbor of his, who saved mis-
| trees. while ne Dr Kern lost both Mr.
Kinney sold his fruit last winter at IS &c
SO per box for tangerines and 50. 80 to 45'
| ner box for ordinary fruit
He used small wood, prepared II
advance and only three or four sticks tc
a fire, replenishing as the fire burned low
| One man could attend three acres anc
the cost per acre to Mr.. Kinney for firing
nine nights during the past winter amount
| ed TO less than $25 per acre.
Ripe peaches from the home of B. NJ
Han,pton of I.akemont were exhibited. The
fact created considerable interest. 1t being
so early in the season. The discussion o.
neaeh and plum growing occupied consid
cradle of the afternoon session. The con
census Of opinion seemed to be that pium'
had thus far not been successful. The re
verse was true of peaches where intelli
gent selection of varieties had been made
and proper attention given to cultivation
and the destruction of insect enemies. Wal
ter Cooper of Sorrento stated that few
years ago It had been claimed that th'
tree curcullo did not exist in Florida
Rut It was here, and must be fought per
slstently II we would succeed. He haC
specinens Of the pest bottled up with hin
which all could see if interested. He uset
canvass trap, shaking them from thu
tree by using a uhallet, and then destroyed
the insects. The same gentleman was ex
perimenting with a new wash to save th'
trees from the moth of the borer. Thu
far IL seemed effective, but he preferred
not 10 report fully until after another sea
sons test. All agreed that the peacl
tbrives best on new land
President Tabor stated that there Is
seeding of the Kelsey plum, known al
tho Excelsior which thrives, and vii
fruit in all parts of the Florida pennsu
10.
The question Of feftilizers received con
siderable attention, Mr.. Price OF Eusti
t.,f.,,1 ,baf for the. farmer MOI hing notil,