The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-12-14
Report OF President For Cecil
County To State horticultural
Society,

not materially changed since last report at least.
| have not seen or learned of any especial increase
in the acreage that is now devoted to the produc
tion Of fruit or garden crops that come especially
under this heading. The canning industry is still
an important one but its operations have been
confined to corn and tomatoes and at least one
of the corn Gamers did not run his plant or have
any planted for his use because of the unsatisfac
tory prices obtained for the pack of the previous
year.
The tomato crop was fairly good one and some
growers realized a satisfactory return, but this
crop seems TO do better on soils than others
and will not produce uniform yield when all
other conditions seem equal
know OF no general packing house that begins
ON the earliest vegetables and runs throughout
the season. ending with apples Our end of this
county is so blessed with perennial springs of
running water and will grow such good crops of
natural or cultivated grasses for the use of cattle.
that it makes our locality prominently the home
OF the dairy.
There should be and is no iDsuperable obstacle
between the care of cattle and poultry and ordi-
nary horticultural pursuits but those of us who
have tried it know that they must be kept in sep
arate and distinct enclosures and have witnessed
the disastrous results of brief incursion of even
one favorite family COW in the home garden, and
know how flock of Plymouth Rocks relish
breakfast of peas, cabbage, or lettuce
The dairy man enjoys the fruit and the vegeta-
bles as much as anyone else when he can get
them but for the reasons have stated he does not
always have them where money getting is the
primary object but if any one under whose eye
this may chance to come wants a home free from
malaria with spring of soft water in every field
of his farm and who enjoys the prospect of seeing
his herd of Jerseys browsing contentedly on his
greengrass pasture let him come to old Cecil and
can accommodate him. Or il he be = manu-
facturer we yet have water power running to waste
and will in the near future show him second
only to Niagara harnessed to the wheels of civ
ilization.
The past has not been full fruit season with
but beginning with the strawberries there has
been an ample supply for home use. We did have
frost that caught the trees when just leaving out
and the grapes ia many localities where
sheltered by buildings were badly scared by it
and the early blossom buds destroyed. This had
the effect of thinning the fruit the new growth
that came from the remaining dormant buds pro-
duced enough clusters to make crop.
Some effect on the Spanish chestnuts as well as
on our native species that bloom early was noticed
Large trees that had their heads above the tros
line escaped, but the damage to the young growth
on all small trees, well chinquepin
bushes cut off the bloom with it so that they pro
duced but little fruit
Raspberries and blackberries that bloom later
were not affected and made better crop than for
several years past.
The first bloom of the Strawberries was all black
ened so that the crop was later in ripening, but
there was no spring droughts to shorten the sub
sequent crop.
By request will notice some of the fruit thai
has done we'll in this locality, far as personal
observations gives during the past fifty years
Some of these are not to be found in the lists
grown by nurserymen. having been discarded
mainly because not the most Symmetrical or Wig
orous growers or else they not the most pro-
life but where quality is what is wanted they are
not yet suspended Taking them in the order OF
ripenng may name the summer Pearmaiu for
its excellent quality a desert fruit Thu tree is
slow grower, but regular bearer, and can be
top grated into large tree. Banoni is one of
the best favored apples and not to be rejected be-
cause below the average in size. 1t is a good
grower and productive OF the same season is the
Gravenstein that is not much planted as its
merits warrant for there is fruit then ripe that
can excel it in good cooking qualities, and when
it is to be had no others desired. 1t is also
very desirable when ripe to eat raw. Cornell or
Cornells Tauey is Pennsylvania apple of most
beautiful appearance, excellent favor and good
selling qualities as is the preceding, and these
two apples can be sold when there is full crop of
peaches in market. Our old Smokehouse apple
follows standby for the housewife for pies or
apple sauce.
Do you desire big apples. then try the Fallo-
water. Here the trees are not long lived Our
Holland Pippn are near the same in size. of golden
yellow color when fully ripe and most excellent
The Hays English Redstreak when fully ripe is
most excellent table fruit and good in every way.
One we have valued for many years Its merits
as table fruit is the Pleasant Valley Pippin 1t
is not Of large size and because OF its large
desirable for cooking, For the latter tart
apples are generally desired, ana for this reason
some of those alreaoy mentioned are often dis
carded. OF apples of Northern origin that may be
very successfully grown in New York State we
have tried many. only to reject them because not
adapted to our needs. Northern Spy is most
deceptive. Even the Baldwin. though it bears
well and is of most excellent quality when ripens
ON the tree, is liable to fall be blown off so
quickly after it comes to maturity that it cannot
be depended on here for winter Rhode Island
Greening is like it in this particular. but most
excellent cooking apple when can get it. The
Roxbnry Russet has excellent features to recon-
mend it, but it will not stay with us longer than
those noted. Many other old sorts we have dis.
carded entirely because OF their shy bearing quail
tiles or the trees may now be very poor growers
Among the newer varieties find Stayman and
Mammoth Black TwiR to resemble each other and
both promise well. The Royal Timber Twig is OF
good size and shape and can he kept all winter
with ordinary care, and these last three will all
become mellow, desirable quality in table fruit
The great York Imperial is not yet superseded
but its toughness is against it. Landlord resem-
bles it in many ways and rate it as of better
quality.
OF the many other varieties l have handled or
grown we yet lack in fruit that be left our
trees until cool weather comes to keep it with the
assurance that it will retain its soundness until
late the winter. when there will be good local
demand for it.
should mention the Smiths Cider as one of our