The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-08-05
county of the State.

dDle 10 observe and study the conditions
which exist, | believe that the horticul-
/ tural possibilities in certain sections of
! Western Maryland are little realized,
particularly in some of the mountain
districts. There is very little known of
/ the horticultural aspect of Garrett and
( Allegany counties, but there is every
/ evidence that the possibilities are great,
/ especially in the development of apple
culture. The soil, over large portion
Of these two counties is well adapted to
apple growing. Widely scattered over
the territory, are numerous seeding
apple trees, many of them old when
men now 50 years of age were bows. as
hardy and vigorous as an oak Natur-
ally the fruit on many of these trees is
Inferior yet the sturdy vigOr and size
of the trees are instructive. Nearly
every farm has an orchard, and many
as high as three hundred to five hundred
trees. But for all the large number Of
trees. no one hears Of it as an apple
growing section" And Mr.. Stewart,
then Industrial Agent for the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad, in the same report.
said: Il expect to see the time when
! Garrett county will be d strong Compel
ltOr IN the apple and pear, and probably
grape markets Of the country
So much for what impartial observers
have learned OF our conditions and pros
poets. We in Garrett county feel just
~ proud Of what we have done to prove
in part the truth of these predictions.
Those who were fortunate enough to at
tend the handsome display of our SCcie-
ty at the Fifth Regiment ArmorV will
acknowledge that the exhibits of our
county were creditable, and by twice
winning the premium for the best col
lection of apples from any county of
the State, we have proved that the
variety ana quality Of our fruit is excel
lent. While all this is true, our people
have not awakened to the possibilities
/ before them. Every farmer has an or
chard, but in it he seems to desire to
have every variety to be found in the
nurseryman 5 catalogue and unfOrtun-
ately great percentage of these varTe-
ties are either summer and early fall
fruit, or else not well adapted to our
climate, which closely resembles that
of New England and Northern States.
The result Of the policy which | have
described is, that during the summer
and fall the ground is covered with fall
en- fruit which goes to waste. The cider
and apple butter mills are not running
to utilize this waste. The farmer tries
to sell little, but as his neighbors are
also in the same position, the only mar
ket that ne finds is for a limited quaint
ty at the railroad or the county towns.
He becomes discouraged and when the
later apples come along, he is apt to
shake the trees, take few loads to the
cider mill. put some away for his own
winter use and let the remainder rot
| venture the statement that one cam
not buy and collect at any one point in
our county at present car load Of APP
piles of one variety. My interest in hor-
uiculture has been directed for the past
six years to endeavor to bring about a
change in these conditions.
| have endeaVOred to show our own
people that we do raise good fruit which
could enter competition any where with
success, and to show to the outside
world that the soil, climate, and condi-
tons were here, which with cheap land,
and favorable railroad connections
would make the fruit industry upon
commercial scale, profitable.
have not yet convinced the farmers
Of Garrett county of the real value of a
few chosen varieties of late keeping APP
pies, over our present miscellaneous
assortment, and Of the necessity of
having those chosen in considerable
quantity of one kind. When they do
awaken to this truth, then the Dawn of
a new era will begin, orchards of com
mercial size will be set out, and the
county will have started upon develop
ment which should be one of her leading
industries.
My friends, in coming among us and
noting conditions as they are, please
bear in mind the neWness of our county.
The average farmer of over fifty years
that you will meet has gone into the
forest and carved out for himself a
home. 1t was long and stern fight
against great disadvantages, as | can
testify from personal experience. So
if our farms seem small, remember that
our county is as yet but partially de-
Veloped. But few years back the log
house was common. and the occupants
then, as now, were self-reliant and
skilled in many ways. 1t was not I'M
usual to divide the trades between
members of the family: one was car
penter one blacksmith, another shoe
maker, and so on; while from the cell
ing joist hung skeins of many colOred
wooden yarns, the work of the women
VI the IdlllllN, llCSu IIOili Vic SHlllllllE
wheel, and which would be knitted into
socks and mlttens in the long winter
, evenings, or made into genuine home
spun garments upon the loom which
was fixture in nearly every large and
prosperous family. The long barreled
homemade muzzle loading rifle always
hung upon forked pegs close TO the
doorway, and many antlers of varying
size bore testimony Of the chase. In
few homes the crane and the Dutch oven
were still in use, relics Of real pioneer
days.
Such surroundings as these were COM
mon fifty years ago, but now have gone,
and the county is making rapid strides
in development, which will be perma-
nent and substantial, while in addition
to our agricultural progress, our min
eral wealth has hardly had its surface
scratched as yet.
One mark of progress in community
is seen in its public buildings. and
trust that before you leave you may
visit Oakland, and see this recent eX-
preston of our progress.
To our fellow horticulturists of West
Virginia, / wish especially to express
our pleasure at this opportunity of
meeting them, and of having them with
us TODAY Rv 81 MANY ties and coOdi-