The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-05
PRIZES FOR FINE APPLES
INDIANA HORTICULTURISTs CLOSE
THEIR ANNUAL MEETING.
Pippins as Big as Pumpkins Create a
Furore Among Fruit Growers
Election Of Officers.

ST really must beg the pardon of the
members of the society for calling attention
to an apple so inferior in size and quail
ity." said F. NJ Zion to the Indiana Hortl-
cultural Society yesterday afternoon, as he
held up big red pippin, somewhat smaller
than a pumpkin, for their inspection. Il
planted some trees of the Wolf River va
riety thirteen years ago, and this year they
produced from twelve to twenty busheis
each of apples that beat anything ever
saw. This one is a runt, poor, lnslghili-
cant runt, which | happen to nave In my
pocket. The others, most OF them, wouid
each require a gripsack."
Mr.. lions was no idle boast, for In
room adjoining that in which the horticul-
tural association was having its annual
meeting he had on exhibition several plates
of apples that astonished experienced fruit
growers, and made them slightly envious
Mr.. Zion took away with him to his big
fruit farm and nursery, La Homa Jardin,
at Clarks Hill, near Lafayette, two first
prizes, one for the apple of greatest size
and the other for the most beautiful apple.
The wolf River" variety, with which he
scored his success, gained the first prize
for him at the Indiana State fair, ana mas
The remarkable variety first attracted at
tention at the Chicago worlds fair. Mr..
Zion bought trees and began to experl3
ment. There was some objection among
Indiana horticulturists about trying to raise
monster apples for the reason that they
drop from the trees before they are ripe;
but Mr.. Zion has proved that they can De
raised successfully and in great quantities.
He is enthusiastic about the apple. and
claims for it all sorts Of wonderful viz
tues.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The annual meeting of the society came to
an end yesterday afternoon with the cleo
ton of officers for the ensuing year and
the awarding of prizes. President W. w.
Stevens was reelected, also Secretary w.
B. Flick and Treasurer Sylvester Johnson.
The following vice presidents were elected:
First district, w. ]. Ritterskamp, Prince
ton; Second w. c. Reed, Vincennes;
Third, r. H. Troth, Orleans; Fourth.
w. S. Young, Franklin: Fifth, d. B.
f KING. Richmond: Seventh. ]. ]. Miihouse.
Valley Mills; Eighth. ]. w. Schumacher,
Daleville; Ninth, d. F. Maish, Frankfort;
Tenth. H. w. Henry: Laporte; Eleventh
Wolcottville, and Thirteenth, II. H. Swain,
South Bend. III. III. Swain was elected
first vice president.
The following exhibitors were awarded
prizes: c. p. Bradley, Chris King, ]. w.
Apple. ]. d. Hale ]. NJ. Zion. w. s. Ratliff.
NJ. s. Duncan, w. B. Flicker, F. NJ. Buker,
]. A. Benton and j. E. Hitz. The cash
prizes were small, but so much honor at
| tached to them that the successful exhib-
itors were delighted with their triumphs.
At the afternoon session papers were
read by William II. Barnes on CONNER
| cial Fruit Growing" f. ID. Williams on
| fought Indiana Have a Uniform Fruit
| Package Law?" and Joe a. Burton on In
| diana Fruit at the Louisiana Purchase Elk
position" The report of the committees on
| awards and resolutions completed the bust
| ness of the afternoon.
| At the morning session paper was read
| by j. H. Hale of Connecticut on Modern
| Methods in Apple Culture and Marketing. "
A paper written by Henry Ward Beecher
| and read by him before the Indiana Hor-
| ticulturaI Society at its meeting in 1874
| and published in the Magazine of Horti-
| culture in that year, was read.
There was considerable discussion among
| the members as to what should be done
| with the great amount of fine fruit that
| had been on exhibition. The puzzle was
| finally solved by one of the members, who
| said:
| Now, there are a number of things we
want to ask the Legislature for; why no,
| put these fine apples In cold storage and
| give them to the members of the Legisla
ture when that body convenes?" The plan
| was adopted without a dissenting voice
and many a fine pippin will be munche6
| by the lawmakers next January.