Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-11-18
FRUIT GROWERS OF
STATE IN SESSION
splendid efforts in behalf Of the 50.
JUDGING THE EXHIBITS.
Continued from first page

The committee on awards was hard
at work Thursday inspecting the ex-
hibits in the skating RINK, and reported
to the meeting Thursday evening The
committee had somewhat difficult
task on hand. by reason of the simi
lar quality and size Of so many Of the
individual exhibits and its labors was
not completed until night. The com
mittee IS composed of the follow
ing experts T. T. Cox, of lockwood
Ohio; Melvin Green, of Winchester
Va, and w. G.. Gano, Of Parkville,
Mo.
FATHER OF THE INDUSTRY.
An interes ting souvenir of the pres
ent meeting is in the shape of a broad
green badge bearing the inscription,
Berkeley County Horticultural Soci-
ETY., November 10, 1905" the pin at
tached being a miniature button
photograph of the late W. S. Miller :,
who Is regarded as "the father of
the fruit industry in West Virginia,
and who numbered among his personal
friends and pupils in the study OF
commercial fruit a great many of the
successful fruit growers attending the
present meeting.
Mr.. Millers operations were con-
fued almost exclusively to his native
county of Berkeley, although the
influence of his wide knowledge of
fruit culture has been diffused over
almost the entire state, and has pen.
etrated to sections of adjoining states.
On the farm where he died near Ger
rarAstown, in December. 1901, he
planted his first orchard of apples.
peaches and plums, in 1851. Sixteen
acres comprised this first orchard of
the man who was destined to revolt
utioniZe the fruit business of the
state. but under his watchful eye this
modest acreage has grown to many
times its area, and comprises at pres
ent about 40, 900 trees of scores
of varieties of commercial fruit,
all in the highest condition of euiti-
walton by those who were formerly
connected with the venerable
orchardist.
/ Mr.. Miller WAS the father OF large
/ family, and nearly all of his children
are actively and successfully engaged
in the business in which their father
was conspicuous pioneer. 1t is said
/ that the fruit interests of the Miller
/ family are more extensive than that
of any other family in America, anu
this enormous industry has been large
/ " influenced by the practical knowl-
edge and love of the business which
came to the Miller children as their
biithright aud inhcritance from their
/ famous father,
The name OF the de ID orehardist will
always be remembered ms that OF tile
most prominent of tbs oIohardists in
the history of this state and his monu-
ment is the present immense fruit in
dustrY of the eastern panhandle and
other adjacent sections of the state.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
The program on Wednesday after.
noon was one # decided interest to
the frnit growers, there being several
ADDRESSES ON practical topics by sue
cossfnl orchardists and handlers OF
fruit. Among the speeches were the
following.
Commercial Apples In the Green
hrer Valley"-B. +. Mann, OF Fort
Spring.
Commercial Apples In Central
West Virginia &c Q. Starcher, of
Berlin.
THE Value of Spraying w. Z.
Cox, of Ohio.
"rhe Possibil ties of Truck Growing
In West Virginia Stewart b. Shaw.
Some Problems OF Orchardists =
5. w. Moore