The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-02-16
T5Obu n DfGCIlSSeS
Oklahoma POmOIcG GY

the state horticultural society at their
annual meeting here last week on The
subject Of "Oklaboma's Opportunity TO
Create and Local Pomology" is as fol
lows:
HortcuIturally it seems to me that
/ Oklahoma is destined to occupy an
unique position In the phraseology
of political geography. il is classed as
la midland commonwealth Biological
ly considered, it is also midland
region Here he hGeitats of the var.
ious forms of plant and animal life
which are distinctive of the Atlantic
slope region overlap those of many
which are equally distinctive of VIVA,
is termed The region of Mexican fora
and fauna. This fact accounts for the
lprofusion and variety of Indigenous
plant and animal life which character
ized this region before the time of it's
settlement Where, in a state of ma
ture, droves Of mustangs. nerds of
buffalo and bands OF elk, deer and an
telope were so numerous, il vas safe
ito preiict that the draft horse and
1.-THE roadster the beef steer and the
dairy COW. together with goats and
sheep and swine, would thrive and
grow into wealth upon the farms of
later date That a region which sup
Iportd countless hocks of wild turkeys,
grouse, prairie chickens, partridges
and quail would e.nrually be devel-
loped into an ideal section for the prof
Iitable production of poultry went
withou, saying SO, too, the horti-
iculturist, who finds within the pres
ent limits of Oklahoma more than
twenty species of trees, bushes and
vines which bear edible fruits be-
sides several species nut bearing
trees. need not fear being too venture
some in expressing a hope for great
things in the way of horticultural de-
velopment
Within reasonable limits, the natur-
al conditions whicl affect plant and
animal life vary with the locality
differences in climate and soil as
wen as the skill of the breeder of
plants or animals and the inherent
tendency TO variation have aided in
the development of special types, va
rieties and breeds. The horticulturist
finds that plants, vegetables and fruits
have range of adaptabnity which cor
responds in some degree, at least,
with their range of variation and tend
1ency to development of special types.
The colonists who first brought the
fruits of the old world to our east
Iern coasts. contented themselves with
the introduction of varieties which
were deservejly popular in the mother
country From these originated
chance or accidental seedlings, which.
being native. have proved to be bet
ter adapted 10 the conditions offered
by The soil and climate of the land in
which the parent tree, vine or bush
was, al best but an exotic Thus
many if not most, of the varieties
originally introduced have been sup
planted by harder and more desir
able varieties which have been de
rived from American seedlings Il is
to be noted, however that not all OF
the varieties which originated in the
Atlantic coast states have been found
TO be readily adaptable to the cOndi
tions existing in the interior of the
continent To be sure. the change in
the range of adaptability is generally
p quite gradual. but il is none the less
marked. The apples Of New England
origin may be grown successfully as
far west as Ohio those which orig
mated in New York or Pennsylvania
may DE erowl in Illinois OF Missouri
while those derived from Ohio seed
l'ugs may prove 10 De profitable ir
, Kansas bur the Rhode Island Green
ing and other varieties Of New Eng
land origin cannot be successfully
, growl il Oklahoma ii the horticui
tural po5siblli les Of the older states
have been improved by the develop
'ment of mere chance seedlings, does
it not follow that the possibilities OF
p successful fruit culture in Oklahoma
J and in eed in the entire southwest
p may be greatly improved and expand
.cd By the development of local varie
ties not so much by the slow process
of chance as by the design and in
dus,ry OF the plant breeder? The ap
/ pie. .he pear. the cherry, of the sDe
cies Of introduced fruits, offer a mos
: astonishing field to the plant breeders
{ OF the southwest
. In ad ition 70 the development o