The daily sentinel., 1912-12-18


Not only were the merchants and
business men dead to the world of
horticulture to which they must owe
their living in great part In the fu-
ture, but the fruit growers them
selves were no doubt alternating at
their homes because scarcely a ha-
ker's dozen listened to the opening
welcome by Mayor Todd, or the
pungent remarks of Senator Crowley.
who urged those present TO get busy
before afternoon and get crowd. as
he feared his wife would get lone
some and go home without him.
In the afternoon the attendance
was much better. though the room
was not more than half filled any
time, and IL is a noteworthy fact
that one does not see those growers
who need the Information TO he gath
cred at such meetings in the audi
ence, but growers who are up to date
already, but who are always alert to
discover some new idea which will
add to their knowledge of the bust
ness. One understands that Senator
Crowley. DR.. Divine of Palisade, b.
A. Smith of Fruitvale and dozens of
others are making a success OF fruit
q. Stl luts way oI manu-
at such meetings, ready to give OF
their knowledge and to catch some
thing of use TO themselves. Ii Is very
patent that 1t is going to be sim
Pile case of the survival of the fit-
test" in this fruit business In the
future. Ii must be the very best OF
fruit which brings living prices; the
cheap stuff will either be used up at
home In the iby-product' lines OF
rot on the ground. That demand ey-
en- for next year will be made by the
live growers who are willing to learn
that the cost of handling 4 cheap box
of apples shall bear its proportionate
cost of handling and selling. and that
the extra fancy box shall not be
made to meet the expense; In Other
! words, on the per cent basis. the ex
ira fancy box which sells for $l.5C
| pays over Zoe and the standard al
soc pays but Sc; If both pay the same
then the incentive to grow better
fruit Will be increased; this was in,
dicated in some of the papers Tues,
day. and will be emphasized to a
greater degree later and at the meet.
ing of the association.
The light interest In the meetings
| Is dra wing the attention of many tt
| the fact that the state board OF hor
| ticulture might be abolished Just a.
well as not. and the work now done
be handed over to the state agricul
tural college. which furnishes the
expert knowledge at the meetings
the board Is wholly political as al
present constituted, and most of the
members are proxy fruit growers, and
take but very little interest in the
work Political pull prevented Me
sa county from having X. Il. Turpir
appointed two years ago, and has
always prevented the organization OF
The body along practical lines. which
could be done by the college author.
tiles. The state horticultural soci.
ETY., of which Senator Crowley is pres.
ideDt Is wholly 'thank-you" jot
and does. not receive enough money
to. warrant the publication of re.
ports. The! two societies might be
done away with and the money given
to tho college just as well as not This
state of affairs is largely due to the
lack of Interest in the work by the
growers who should demand of the
governor something for the money
expended, and that prominent grow
ers should be named on the board
: The waning interest in the matter
Of frost prevention was Indicated by
the apathy which greeted Prof.
Nichols of the weather bureau when
he read his paper. 1t was practical
and Interesting. but our growers are
not thinking about smudge pots a
great deal and are not watching the
mercury In the thermometers. 1t is
doubtful If there will be any interest
taken for u series of years or until
the memory OF the past few springs
has faded away and series of cold
springs brings the matter 10 the
front again: 1t may be well for the
growers to store the pots in a place
where they Will be preserved for
future reference"
Prof. l.. p. Taylor met with a
hearty receptions; he has warm
place in the hearts of the Grand
valley growers who have been hop
Ing that he might be induced to re-
turn here, but he says he has a pret-
ty soft berth In the Rifle-Silt coun-
try and will not leave Just at present.
His paper on Efficiency" ought to
have been heard by every grower in
the valley. 1t was the better meth
ods of doing things and the little
things saved upon which the success
ful grower must more and more de-
pend. DR.. Devine rose to remark that
1t was 1.-The best thing he had ever
heard on the subject" and that was
high commendation.
The paper on Top Working" by
George NJ. List, was fruitful sub
ject, but ought to have been fully
discussed, as the average grower
hardly realizes what he might do
with his old trees of the worthless
But then 4 discussion not
heard by those who need 1t, would
really have been a waste of energy.
Prof. G. p. Weldon took up the
''leaf-roller'' and in few words told
of Its rayages and the means of pre-
yention or control. AS 1t has not ap-
peared In this valley he thought 1t
hardly needed much attention at the
present time.
The paper or talk on cover crops
and cultivation by Prof. Benuette,
was interesting, as he always makes
his efforts. but he though we had
- ako