The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-02
So Says Walter S. RatIiff in
Report to State Horticul-
turaI Society.
FRUIT CROP is SHORT.
LATE SPRING SEASON. PAST
YEAR HAS BEEN VERY sue.
CEsSFUL FOR LOCAL SOCIETY,".

0no CHRONOLOGY than ever before, be-
cause they realize they must close
~ study the relationship of the birds
and insects with growing crops, if the
greatest success is acquired This IS
one Of the many points that will he
presented to the Indiana Horticultural
society at its meeting Wednesday. by
Walter 8. Ratliff, secretary of the local
horticultural society. Mr.. Ratliff viii
probably be the only Wayne county
representative. His report from the
local association. to that of the state
is very interesting, and follows:
Report of the Wayne County Agricul-
tural and Horticultural society, by
Walter 8. Ratliff secretary.
TO the Indiana Horticultural society.
Herewith, l submit this my annual
report to your society OF the Wayne
County Agricultural and Horticultural
society. together with the roster of its
officers for the year 1907. Aside from
the meetings in the society's room in
the county court house, during the win
ter months the sessions were held ct
the residences of some of it's members,
where well-1illed baskets were taken
and the day was spent inspecting the
orchards, plantations and home sur
roundings of the host.
I'm February, as usual. the annual
dinner was partaken of by at least one
hundred and fifty members and their
friends. At this dinner. the women
folks friendly vie with one another in
the preparation of such delicacies as
they desire to take. and take much
pleasure in commenting on the good
qualities Of these articles as they are
placed on the dining room tables.
During the year, a number of good
addresses were given by speakers pre-
viously selected, ON topics of interest,
such as history, literature. agriculture
horticulture, travels and "reminiscences
which are subsequently offered for pub
lication in our county newspapers.
Oficers for 1907 are-President,
Isaac G. Dougan; vice president, Wal
lace G. Reynolds; recording secretary.
Hon. Walter Ratliff; treasurer, r. +.
Caleb w. King.
in this locality, owing to the partial
failure in the fruit yield, owing doubt
less to the late freezes and cold raw
winds following All varieties were
apparently in the best of condition,
which, with an abundance of healthy
bloom gave evidence of a bountiful
crop, but the results were anything but
satisfactory.
Apples-But very few varieties were
summer and early autumn varieties.
Winter sorts were practically fruitless,
even the Ben Davis not bearing. Even
the crab apples, that so often are plen-
ty, yielded lightly. Among those
that fruited were the Indiana Favorite,
Baldwin. Indian. Wealthy, Yellow
Transparent, Snow and Winesap.
Pears-But few kiefer trees and the
Duchess varieties bore any fruit, while
Flemish Beauty. Sheldon, Seckel. Law
renee and Bartlett pears were seen IN
most every orchard. Pear blight was
comparatively unknown in this locality
this year, and the trees made an eX,
cellent growth.
Plums-Scarcely an individual tree
yielded any plums this year, for all the
bloom was most profuse. due, perhaps
as stated above, to climatic conditions
in early spring.
Cherries-An almost total failure
even with the sweet cherries that are
SO often the sorts most desired.
Many new pear orchards are begin.
ming to come into bearing that are be-
ing watched with much interest.
Quinces-Singularly enought. most
ounces bushes, when protected. yield
ed satisfactorily. and the demand II
this section was met by the abund
ance of this kind of fruit and that too
Of good quality. A few seasons have
passed since the bulk of the ounce
bushes were killed back, so that the,
have now recovered their former sizt
and vigor for ample fruiting.
Peaches-Not only the Seeding. bu
the grated peach trees bore a lign
crop of peaches. So many tree;
dropped their fruit when about hal
matured. while some others ripened i
quite unevenly.
OF this section are abandoning the vine
yard. owing to the prevalence of thu
grape-berry worm. This insect rem
dered some of the varieties this yea
practically valueless as the tender
rind varieties seem to suffer most, AM
naturally enough, are the sorts that ar
most desired.
Strawberries-Most plantations sui
fered severely by the late freezes las
spring. yet at least one half 4 crop Wa
gathered that met most, ready sale.
few new promising varieties are nov
being grown with success by our frui
growers. One seeding has been eS
hibited growing and ripening fruit al
most continuously for period of tw
months, the berries OF" which are O
fair size and good flavor
Gooseberries and Currants No
many bushes ripened any fruit thi
year, which was quite q disappoint
ment, as these fruits are becomin
more and popular and additional SET
tiugs could be profitably done by on
fruit men to meet the CONSTANT
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