The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-24
State Hortic ultural So.
ciety to Hold Its Annual
Session in Staunton.
GOOD WORK DONE
BY THE SOCIETY
Has Already Accomplished Much
for the Advancement Of the In
tcrcsts ofFrtlit Growing ii, I.
Virginia, and Looks
Hopefully to the
Future.

Future.
lM8 Especial to The Tir1es- pispatch.l
STAUNTON, VA, November 23.--The
Virginia state horticultural Society.
which holds it's annual meeting III the
county assembly hall at Staunton on
ganized at n meeting of frult-growerS
at Charlottesville in 1897, 1t being
recognized that In order to encourage
the development OF the fruit Industry
Tor Virginia a horticultural society
based on the same lines as those 0fge
|other states, was necessary.
Up to that time every fruit-Erowcr i
had to do the best he could for hint
self unaided, though there were some .
local associations, which, however, did
not have sufficient influence to be of
much benefit to the growers. One OF
the principal disadvantages the Vir-
GINA growers had to contend with
portation of their produce, which
usually shut them off from markets
outside of the State, unless prices were
Unusually high During the past ten
years. through the efforts OF this
society. express rates have been re-
duced to some of our most important
markets by as much as 35 per cent.
loads growers weres paying as much
as SO cents per barrel to the New York
market. and through the persistent
efforts of this society the rate to this
market Is now only 90 cents per barrel,
or IL cents less, a saving to the pocket
of the shipper of not loss than Si6,5Y
Iper $50 barrels (the lowest :carload}.
IpOrtion.
| Secured CrOp Pest Inv
| 1t was through the society's efforts
| that the present crop pest law Was
passed by the Legislature. at time
when the very existence lof malay or {
chards in the State We're threatened
.lby the increase OF insect pests ami
fungus diseases; II has been now. made
easy for growers to know tie 1sstssi
land diseases BY visits from the 81 -Ss
|spectors and ALSO how to Shrewsbury
threat their orchards and keep them N
Icontrc!. ssi IL
The society is also Increasing tile
demand for Virginia apples by adver-
Using them. On account ~ iin2ncia s.
Limitations this has 50 tat had IS ne
ldona through eznlplts. at on. os tfls
annual meetings a few ears ago tic
editor OF one OF the leading agrs-us-
Itural and horticultural journals waI
invited to mako an address. AS usual
members of the society brought spcci-
y
This editor commenced his address by
/ saying that it was his hrst visit to-
Virginia; that he had attended many
exhibits of apples at various fairs and
4 horticultural society meetings in tho
North and Middle West, and only on
ono occasion had he ever seen such a
show OF magnificent apples as here.
but, gentlemen" he said. why don't
you tell us New Workers that you
have then?"
i Tho following year member. Dr..
~. B. Emerson, resident in New York,
u and owning an orchard in Albemarlo.
of which county he is a native. offered
among the members. with the condi-s
Ition that all fruit shown in this COM
petition shall become the property of
4 1.-The society,", and that he would arr
range for its exhibition as an adver-
ltisement of Virginia fruit In New = ork.
4 This is a step in advance, thanks tn
the public spirit and love OF his native
state shown by DR.. Emerson. But the
society desires to advertise Virginia
4 fruit and orchard lands on a much
more extended scale. for which more
u money than is at, present at Its com n
mand would be needed. An official
] should BIO appointed with sufficient
salary to secure his services. instead
J. LOT having to be content, with one OF
: having his own farm work to attend,
Z acting as secretary in his spare time.
| The State should recognize tha im-s
J, portance of Advertising, and also bel pc
Ing the fruit industry In other Ways.
,lby making a good annual appropria-
ton for this purpose. Iss
n The Exhibit at JamcstoWn. IL
The secretary Of the society. feeling
. that for the credit OF the stata the
Virginia growers should be repre-
i sented by good exhibit OF apples at
1.-THE moeting Of the American Pomo-
: illogical Society. held at the Jamestown;
Exposition during the last weeks OF
/ September, made an appeal to all the
members to contribute apples for an
!, leXhibit by tho society on that coca
/ lsion. There was a good respon3ae to
!, Ithis appeal, and a really ma gniticentS
) display resulted. which came into COM
. petition with those made by & several
other States and Canada, The societyssi
| Iexhibit (credited to the State ~ Vir-3
i Eginia) received the highest award
made to any States collection and
J second highest premium granted TO.
t any ono, being cXcelled only by q pri-t
!, yate collection. which naturally could
bo more carefully selected. Within q!
!, few wceks the secretary received a.
J letter from a large buyer In the West.
!, saying ha had seen the ma gnticent
) apples displayed by Virginia at the
) meeting referred to. and wanted to buy
!. largely from US. An Instance OF the
! results of advertising. X
q In these days OF co-operation5 aud
: combinations, In order to successfully
], lcompeta In selling produce at living
t prices, about all classes OF producars
y have found 1T necessary to stand to-.
gether, as in the case OF the peanut
growers, tobacco growers. cotton grow
I ers, etc. Such organizations, working
: Tor the benefit OF their members. ana
a this society presents itself to the fruit