The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-02-22
FRUlTeRowERs IN SESSION.
Horticultural Meeting at MissouIa &
Big Success.

the HfSC DAY OF the Nth annual COLI
vention of the Montana State Horti-
cultural society, which convened to-
day for a four days session. The dele
gates poured in from every section
of the state, proving in advance the
expectations that the attendance
would be large and the meeting sue
cessful. The delay was beneficial in
that an opportunity was given to
properly arrange the fruit displays,
that are to be the chief feature of the
meeting.
The Bennett opera house, where
the convention is in session, is
veritable bower of fruit perfection,
displays of Montana products being
of an extent and quality most mag
nificent, and scarcely credible in a
state where the horticultural indus
try is so generally discredited.
Displays include the growth of
every section of the state. Gallatin,
Flathead, Missoula and Ravalli coun-
ties are in the lead with these, their
departments containing dozens of va
rieties of perfectly kept stock, which,
at this season, is additional proof
of Montana's ability to grow fruits
excelled in style and keeping quail
ties by no section of the country.
Prominent in the exhibition are
displays from Fred Whiteside, Kali
ispell TIA. McClaln Ravalli county;
c. M. Allen, Missoula; M. H. Pierce,
Plains, as well as by Gallatin valley
growers. These cover hundreds of
varieties of both early and late fruits
and attracting unstlnted praise from
the growers assembled.
81 have attended every fruitgrow-
ers' meeting held in Montana for
many years. said a prominent Flat
head county man, 'but never before
has anything been displayed equaling
this. Surely it is the making Of the
states reputation as fruitgrowing
section"
Governor Toole arrived from Hell
ena Tuesday. Wednesday night he
addressed the convention and Thurs.
day attended the meeting of the Mon
tana State Board of Horticulture
Olney Taylor of Park City, S. M. EN-
cry of Manhattan, G. FL. Campbell OF
Great Falls, G. M. Allen of Lolo, J
H. Edwards of Kalispell and G. Fl
Edwards, secretary, of Butte are the
other members of the board who vii
} attend.
Music by the FruitgroWers Boys
band, musical organization O.
Plains, which has the distinction O
being the only company of players
, so organized, is being made a feat
ure of the meeting, and contribute!
not little to the conventions sue
cess with it's frequent concerts.
The actual business of the conven
e ton commenced at 345 with the hal
/ only partially filled, owing to the fail
ure of the train to arrive. Flathea'
and Ravalli counties and Plains val
ley were found to be the best repre-
i scented sections of the state, thes
e districts being the principal fruit
growing parts of Montana. Vic
President w. B. Harlan of Com
called the meeting to order, referrin
with considerable feeling to the IL
y ness of President A. L. Stone, whicl
n prevented the latter's attendance.
} Mr.. Harlan introduced John M
u Evans, who gave the address of we
come. In this Mr.. Evans was hearth
cordial, Offering the visitorssthe free
+ dom of the city, and as fruitgrowers
8 representing an industry in wh1c
i western Montana feels pride an
great hopes, their welcome would
doubly sure.
% Following Mr.. Evans, S. G. Mu1
: ray, for the directors of the Missoul
, club, offered the visiting delegate
- the club courtesies and every priv
lege of it's rooms.
The response to both these az
dresses was delivered in happ
vein by Fred Whiteside of Kalispel
Mr.. Whiteside is one of the state
largest growers of fruit, and in a
matters pertaining to the advance
/. ment of that industry takes leadin
= part.
The minutes of the last annu;
meeting, which was held in Kalispe
last February, were read and a.
;, proved, following which came an il
:. teresting paper by G. G. Willis
- Plains on Fruit Interests and Diff
- culties." A noticeable part of tn
paper was caustic reference to til
4. first apple trees planted in Montan
Nv and the history of the growth of til
q fruit since. Accol ding to Mr.. Will
the society was unfortunately ign
e, rant on these points.
With the end of this paper, J.
Fossum of Kalispell moved for til
of appointment of committee to inve
~ tigate the history of fruit raising
I'd Montana, and to report at the me-
meeting.
General discussion followed ar
d. suggestions were made on the poin
n of Mr.. Willis paper. The discussio
woe in hy n ~ Ectoy ,