The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-03
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE OUTLOOK
Maj. G. NJ. RyaIs Talks of Prospects
for the Coming Season.
Absolutely Pure

Maj. G. NJ. Ryals, one of the most prom
inent and successful fruit and truck grow
ers in this section, was seen by a Morning
News reporter yesterday and asked to give
his views of the outlook for these indus
tries during the coming season.
1t is somewhat too early" said Mai.
Ryals, Ito form a correct opinion of the
value or extent of the vegetable crop this
year The heavy rains of the last few
weeks have made the preparation of the
soil, which for most of the crops is now in
progress, more difficult than il usually is.
However, the growers are preparing their
customary areas and If the season favor
us, our crops will reach or surpass those
of previous years.
THE cabbage crop is about the only one
now in the field If this crop succeeds
here, there should be money in 1t, for I
understand that in Florida, where a large
part Of the country's early supply is
grown, the crop will not exceed one-half
and is probably not more than one-fourth
of the usual yield.
Ground is now in preparation for plant
ing potatoes and this part of our work
will be finished during the present month
Soon thereafter cucumbers, canteloupes
and beans will be planted. English peas
are being planted now or will be within
tne next lew days.
Maj. Ryals is largely interested in the
peach industry in Southwest Georgia
where he has over 10000 trees now under
cultivation. When asked about this crop.
he said: These trees are full of
DudS and we anticipate a
large yield. The crop in the Triton sec
ton was comparatively small last year.
and this usually indicates a heavy one in
the ensuing season"
Fruit growers throughout the state have
had much trouble with the San Jose scale,
which has swept over the country, and
where its ravages have not met with
prompt resistance, destroyed everything
in its wake. In my orchards We have been
treating the trees with a 10 per cent.
emulsion of kerosene oil and subjecting
them to the vapor of hydrocyanic acid.
These methods of fighting the pest have
served to check, but not to destroy it.
Many thousands of trees have been killed. -
So threatening to the very existence of
the fruit industry has the scale become,
that at the last session of the legislature
an act was passed creating the state
board of entomology and vesting It with
power to destroy infected trees and or
ehards, and thus prevent, if possible,
the further spread of the scale. Mr.. o. B.
Stevens, commissioner of agriculture; Mr..
Pope Brown, president of the State Agri-
cultural Society, and Mr.. P. ]. Berck-
mans, president of the State Horticultural
Society. constitute ex-officio, this board.
In addition to the enforced treatment
or destruction of infected trees
within the stale, the board
is vested with the power and entrusted
with the duty of inspecting trees shipped
from without the state, and the sale of
any tree not inspected is made a INSIDE
meanor, and punishable as such"
1.-The board met recently in Macon and
formulated rules for its government In
vitations had been sent to various fruit
growers throughout the state, among them
myself, and number of us were present.
1t was determined to hold institutes at
which the proper methods of treating and
destroying the scale should be taught. The
first of these will be held at Triton during
the month of March It is hoped in this
manner to awaken public interest and
have the growers protect themselves and
others. If they will not do it, the board
will"
Mai. Ryals Endorsed heartily the project
for state agricultural fair, to be held in
Atlanta during the summer If the proper
amount of interest among the farmers is
displayed, he thinks the fair will be of
lasting benefit.