The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-17
Whatcly Tells State Horticul,
tural Society There Is General
Shortage. :.
SUMMER MEETING HELD
Problems of Raising and Market.
ing Crops Are Dis
cuSsed.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.

lSpeclal TO The Times Dispatch
| charlottesville, Va, July 16.-The
summer meeting OF the Virginia State
horticultural Society. held In conjunc-
ton with the rural life conference now
! In progress at the University Of Vir-
ginia summer school opened at .
o'clock this morning In Madison Hall
! with DR.. Guerrant In the chair. The
members of the society were welcomed
by Director Maphis, of the summer
| school
Walter Whately, secretary Of the So
cicty. stated that his second report Of
crop conditions. which would be dis
tributed In a few days. would show that
while the red apple crop is short
| throughout the State, only % per cent
yet In the pippin- producing areas the
crop of that variety Is generally as
good, II not better, than last years
and that the average condition Of win
/ ter apples In the State Is 40 per cent
of a full crop. There is Il general short
age throughout this country. Canada
and Europe. said Mr. Whately. the
average not being more than one third
OF last years crop. 1t Is a pretty sure
thing. therefore, that those who have
apples will obtain good prices for
| them; the fact that buyers have al
ready been visiting around among the
orchards. indicates that Again. those
who have peaches Will get high prices
the crop being shorter throughout the
country than for several years. Mr.
j Whately said that the society now has
membership of 7ss.
| Three Pressing ProbIcms.
DR.. S. w. Fletcher. director of the
| virginia agricultural experiment sta
ton at Blacksburg. spoke on three
pressing problems in Virginia fruit
growing-packing, marketing and in
spection. He said he was in favor OF
supporting the Sulzer law and packing
under 1t. though Of the opinion that
the Virginia barrel should have been
adopted as the United States standard
II the fruit growers will pack under the
Sulzer law, even In it's present form, 1t
! should result in distinct Improvement
In the apple market. The biggest
/ problem in Virginia fruit growing, he
said, Is the marketing problem. Each
one sIlls 10 a speculator, or consigns
/ 10 commission man, sells out of
y storage. operation has made little
progress In Virginia. for the reason
/ that the growers have been able TO Sc
cure their prices most wears without
cooperation. The time is ripe for
shipping associations TO be organized
community cooperation must prccede
te-wide cooperation. Ultimately all
/ the local associations should be aft
/ Hated with strong central selling
agency, as has been done recently in
! the Northwest The fruit OF each mem
crew trained by the associations: or, If
that Is not possible 1t should be pack
/ ed under the constant supervision OF a
man hired by the association, rather
! than by the owner himself a more
! satisfactory plan. in centres of con-
siderable production is the central
packing house to which fruit from all
the orchards is brought for packing.
Problem of Marketing.
! Professor a W. Drinkard. assistant
horticulturist. State experiment sta
| ton. Blacksburg followed with valu-
able suggestions regarding the mar
kcting problem, after which the mem
bers Of the society adjourned 10 Cabell
meeting of the summer school and the
| Hall To hear an address before II joint
society by Or. Paul b. Barringer,
former president of the Virginia Poly
riculturc in the South" Or. Barringer
( said that among the virtues and vices
/ OF the Southern people. an inherent
! love OF agriculture was not TO be
found. The old Southern plantation
was fcudal in character and, stripped
/ of this asset, agriculture did not appeal
/ TO the average Southcrner. This was
/ particularly true OF Virginia and the
states settled by men of English eX-
/ traction.
/ The speaker gave a history of the
/ development OF this trait and pleaded
I
tention to the fact that this was the
day OF opportunity for the South; that
mankind had obtained Il mastery over
! diseases or the tropics. and with ma
/ ldfia and hookworm controllable and
yellow fever practically gone, the drift
| of immigration would henceforth be
! towards the South. particularly in view
I of the fact that the East and West for
! the first time, are now met on the
/ borders Of the Pacific. DR.. Barringer
claimed the great assets of the South
/ To be: first. the ownership of the great
est area Of alluvial soil in any tenn
| rerate zone second. 1t is n land of
abundant rainfall; third. OF abundant
I water power, and. fourth the home of
/ that antique staple. cotton. These, he
/ continued. make for the maintenance
and employment of an enormous local
I population. He then asked the ques-
/ ton, how are we to prepare for the
4 coming of this great opportunity, and
maintained that 1t could only be done
| by the high -classed. technically trained
I college ates-agricultural engi-
neers. hydro electric engineers, textile
and chemical engineers. 1t cannot be
done by trade school graduates or by
men unfamiliar with the history of the
! human race.
4 Crop Pest Inv.
At the afternoon session Samuel b.
! Woods. of Arrowhead" this county,
| spoke of the need of amendments to
the crop pest law. which was followed
! by an interesting discussion on the
subject. In the opinion of Mr.. Woods.
the new law should embrace the fol-
! lowing provisions: the State should
| have a board Of crop pest commissions
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