The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-01-05
DECEMBER MEETING
Of the Stark County Horticul-
tural Society Held at the
Infirmary.

The closing meeting of the Stark
County Horticultural Society was held
on Wednesday, December Goth, at the
Stark County Infrmary, in charge of Mr..
and Mrs. Lichtenwalter, who demon
strated that they not only know how to
take care of the county's poor and needy,
but that when our society needs home
for a day this county institution is
good place to go. The Infrmary Direct
ors were present, and Director Bixler
acted as floor manager and was valu-
able aid to our host and hostess in man.
aging the large company present.
President Hayhurst called the meeting
to order at IL o'clock a. m, had the min
utes of the October and November meet
ings read, appointed S. H. Rockhill and
w. B. Shanafelt Committee on Member
ship and A. R. Hanna, c. w. Faust and
P. ]. Palmer on Nomenclature.
Mr.. John F. Roth brought up the sub
ject of printing the report for next year,
and dinner being announced, the society
adjourned until o'clock. ..
Convened again, the Secretary read
request from Secretary Farnsworth, of
the State society, asking for brief re-
port of the work of our society for the
year, for publication in the State report,
Clayton Holl read the following essay,
which was commented on by Messrs.
Wise, Faust and McGregor, each en-
phasizing some points brought forward
in the essay.
| DUTIES OF THE HoRTGcULTURIST.
First in the line of horticulture is
proper planting of all seeds, plants, trees
and shrubs. How many failures do we
see, especially in planting fruit trees?
The most common is leaving about all
the top originally belonging to the tree,
too deep or too shallow setting, improper
pruning etc. True, the condition of the
soil and climatic changes may cause fail
ure also. These being beyond our con
troll, but can be relieved to some extent
by proper attention. Another greatly
neglected duty is the proper feeding or
manuring and cultivation of soil among
our fruit and orchard trees. While do
not advocate continued cultivation in
we'll established orchards or fruit gar
dens, possibly mulching with any coarse
litter or manure to break the stiff sod is
preferable to too much cultivation. The
growing Of clover and other legumes
occasionally believe beneficial. Other
duties may be necessary. Spraying
properly attended has, it seems, done a
vast amount of good. But as scientific
investigation advances we are somewhat
at sea as how to proceed. The latest
theory is that the trouble turks in the
leaves, and that these must be destroyed
or spraying may do no good. Seem
ingly plausibls theory, as you are aware
that spraying properly done according
to experiment station instructions has at
times been a failure. But now what OF
all this? These matters have all been
discussed before at our meetings. Our
duty is plain-only by oft repetition and
study do we learn. Is it not fact that
by being reminded from time to time
that which you may even know, that you
will enforce the same and more nearly
fulfill your duty2 These are the benefits
of organized bodies, the coming together
in social intercourse, commingling our
thoughts and receiving such instruction
pertaining to horticulture. These are
the benefits presented by the Stark
County horticultural Society. Why
should interest lag and attendance wanei
Fellow laborers, in the cause of horti.
culture, come and be with us, receive
such inspiration at our hands each
month during the year that will enable
you to grow better crops on your farms
more and better fruit to eat, and to sell
so as to remunerate you more than ten
fold.
And now, another duty more important
than all, that we receive at the hands o
our law-making power, our Legislature
such enactments as will prevent the
spread of San Jose scale and other in
sect pests from foreign countries. These
you all admit, are wise and judiciou
laws and should have our full support
Furthermore, let us retrace our steps t.
one year ago. Have we added to ou
horticultural knowledge that which th
conditions of the times demand? Ney
ideas have sprung up. Has horticultur
received its share of inspiration? Hav
we gained by the new conditionsa Ha
agriculture, the foundation rock of ou
beloved country, had its share of the up
lifted conditiops3 Commercial and in
dustrial combination after combinatio
has sprung up during the year in tn
interest Of trade. and cheapening c
products, so they tell us. Is it true
What has horticulture to do with a