The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-27
That Appears to Be Position 0,
Kansas Fruit Growers.
Repeated Failures Have No
Discouraged Them.
HURT BY THE COLD.
Trees Still Suffering From Last
Winters Weather.
Prospects for Next Season Are
Accordingly Not Good.

Hope and Spray seems to be the
motto which best fits the needs of the
Kansas State Horticultural society,
which is holding its annual convention
in the society rooms at the state house. It
is necessary for the horticuIturists to
do most of their talking at this session
on the subject of hope, for there has
been very little to brag about in the ae-
complishments of the orchards of the
state for a number of years past. The
reports from the district trustees, which
were read at the meeting Tuesday after
noon, were most of a decidedly blue tint.
One elderly man, named William Cut
ter. a wei known horticulturist from
Junction City and trustee from the Fifth
district sent in this mournful statement:
My horticultural enthusiasm is at a
very low ebb.4 The failure of a crop to a
man past so years old means more than
it does to the young men of the state.
And the crop the past season has been
a complete failure in this section. The
apple trees have been badly damaged
by the cold weather last winter"
Mr.. Cutter goes on to discuss each
kind of fruit in detail and his general
conclusion is that the fruit crop was
practically nothing in his district last
season.
In general the reports showed that
the trees and vines of the state which
bear fruit of all kinds, had been serious
" and possibly permanently injured by
the exceedingly cold winter of 1904 and
1905. The prospects for the coming sea-
son are therefore not as good as they
might be. In some localities, the new
growth of vines has been injured by the
wet weather of last spring.
F. L. Kenoyer trustee from the Third
district saws in his report:
THE cold wave of last February
proved almost a death blow to the fruit
crop in southeast Kansas. Temperature
was % degrees below zero. Many cher
~, peach, plum, apricot and ounce
trees were killed. Apples promised
half crop but by middle of August were
almost all on the ground, presumably
the result of cooling moth and scab.
Strawberries produced fun crop
Blackberry and raspberry vines killed
to snow line, which was about fifteen
inches. Outlook for next years crop
not very flattering- Wet spring delayed
the setting of small fruit plants. Trees
of all stone fruits are half dead from the
February freeze and will never fully re-
cover. Warm autumn has swelled peach
buds so that they will be jeOpardized
by a temperature of 10 below Apples
and pears are in generally good cOndi-
ton.
Senevth district, Geo A. Blair, Null
vane. Reports received from fifteen
of thirty-six counties: Excepting peach
and plum, in some localities, crop was
exceptionally large. Consensus of Opin-
ion is that cooling moth does more dam
age than all other insects. Trees, vines,
canes and bushes are in best of condi-
ton for the the winter"
J. B. Haney Manhattan: "The predic-
lions set forth in reports at our April
meeting that apples were badly injured
by cold, peaches almost total failure,
cherries light, raspberries fair; black
berries damaged; grapes some killed
and some healthy; and Strawberries
fine, were all fully verified Strawber-
ries the only crop with fair return We
take up the labor Of another season
hoping and spraying that we may be
more successful"
f. H. Cooley, Wichita: 1.-The Sedgw1ck
county horticultural society has made
good progress and doubled in member
ship during the year
Sixth district, J. J. Alexander, Norton;
'aThe winter was a hard one for fruit,
and many vines and trees were dam
aged Aside from this, conditions have
been favorable for fruit raising in the
Sixth district
Tuesday evening Governor HOch de-
livered a short address of welcome to
the members of the society, which was
responded to by President Frank Hol-
singer. The programme as announced
was then carried out:
The display of fruits in the corridor
is very creditable, considering the gen
eraI shortage Of the apple crop.
About so fruit raisers have registered
on the book provided for those who come
to attend the meetings of the society
The following committees have been
appointed by President Holsinger:
Credentials: 3. F. VanOrsdel, j. c.
BeckIey. B. T. Smith.
Membership: J. @. Williams, William
! EXHIBITS: c. S. Holsinger F. W.
Dixon J. S. Perkins
Auditing: B. F. Smith, J. Baldwin, f.
Obituary: Fred Wellhouse. Diehl, S.
s. DickersOn.
NEW BANK FOR SCRANTON