The Elbert County tribune., 1907-01-31
FRUIT GROWERS
COLORADO STATE HoRTlcuL.
TURAL socIETYs WORK.
ANNUAL MEETINGS in DENVER
Fine Exhibit Of Fruit-lnterestina
Talks on Horticultural Subjects by
Practical Men-Railroad Rates Dis
cussed.

OmcerS Oh the COlOrdQO Slale f1Ortl-
cultural Society were elected Friday
as follows:
President-J. H. Crowley. Rocky
Ford, reelected.
Vice President-J. P. Farmer, Canon
City.
Secretary = Charles H. Easley,
Golden.
Treasurer-Mrs. Lutte Wilcox, Den
yer.
Executive Committee-J. s. Nc
Clelland, Fort Collins; E. d. Smith,
Masonville; Clinton Oliver, Paonia; all
reelected.
<"People in the East will not believe
that Colorado is good for anything but
the sick, when, as a matter of fact, we
need the sturdiest sons of the SOIL
Just look at what can be donei"
And Prof. B. o. Aylesworth. presi-
dent of the State Agricultural College,
who was speaking, pointed across the
room to the fruit exhibit, which occu-
pies nearly half of the large assembly
room in the chamber of commerce.
The annual convention of the Colo
RADIO State Horticultural Society was
called to order by Jesse F. Mcdonald,
and was opened with a prayer by the
Rev Mr.. Bartells. Gov. Henry A
Buchtel then delivered an address of
welcome.
Prof. B. o. Aylesworth responded,
and said that the interest the governor
had already shown in the Agricultural
college was greatly appreciated and
that the appointments he has made on
the State Board of Agriculture could
not have been better. Professor
Aylesworth recommended that fund
be raised to advertise the state.
The first speaker on the afternoons
program was p. X. Blinn of the expert
ment station at Rocky Ford. His
subject was "Seed Selection" and he
said that the grower in selecting his
seed and varieties of plants or trees
should do SO with the utmost care and
with the aim that the best quality OF
fruit is that which sells the most read
lily. The success of the fruit grower
does not depend on the market alone,
but rather on the preparation for the
market.
Ornamental Shrubs" was the topic
of an interesting paper read by w. D.
Smith of the Park Floral Company of
Denver, in which he suggested va
rious varieties of shrubbery that will
beautify the yards and gardens, and in
conclusion gave some good advice in
regard to the best method of setting
out and starting shrubs.
A paper on Pruning and Thinning
prepared by w. b. Fenton of Colorado
Springs, that was read by Mrs. M. A.
Shute, secretary of the State Board Of
Horticulture, brought forth consider
able discussion. Valentine Devinny,
one of the pioneer fruit growers,
raised serious objection to pruning the
top branches of trees, but said ''let
cyrn nd hnn r,rtTsar I'd in
stead"
when the trees get so tall you can
not pick the fruit" asked President
Crowley, then what do you do?"
''Why get some small boy to climb
the tree" replied the fruit growing
pioneer, and the next topic of discus
sion was taken up.
That red raspberries is one of the
best paying fruit crops in Colorado
was proven by the discussion which
followed paper read by NJ. B. Kill
burn. manager of the Loveland Fruit
Growers Association. In his paper he
said that from one acre of ground in
one year on red raspberries the gross
receipts were 5000, and deducting
$3.50 expenses for growing the crop, his
net receipts were $3.50 for the year.
He said that during the past three
years more red raspberries had been
shipped from Loveland than from any
other fruit center in the world. In for
lowing with the discussion, R. A.
Rhodes of Arvada said that one acre of
red raspberries for him had produced
500 crates, for which he received from
S5 cents to 81 a crate, clearing nearly
$500 on the plot.
President j. II. Crowley then dis
cussed at some length the pending leg
islative bill for the appointment of a
railroad commission in Colorado,
which, he believes, if passed, will
greatly benefit the fruit growers. He
said that the fruit growers could af-
ford to pay higher rates if they could
only get the service.
Both the fruit growers and the rail-
roads should be incorporated" he said.
the same as in the sugar beet indus
try. As it is, the fruit growers and
the railroads are getting along about
as harmoniously as the Colorado State
Horticultural Society and the State
Board of Horticulture.
What we want is State Railroad
Commission that will have at heart
the best interests of the fruit growers,
the same as the railroads. In this the
question arises, How are you going
to appoint this commission? If the
governor appoints the commission then
it is the old, old story over again of
the man having the most pull getting
the job. If the selection of the com
mission is left to the direct vote of the
people then the railroads will be
brought into politics, and God knows
they are far enough in politics as it is.
But the railroads have not been
keeping up with the times, and if the
railroads add to their equipment,
either voluntarily or because they are
forced TO by commission, it will re-
quire them five years to add sufficient
equipment to give the relief that the
fruit growers desire"