Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-11-26
GROWERS DISCUSS
EXPE R|EN CE IN
RAISING APPLES
A. NJ. Vaughan of Randolph
President of Horticultural So
ciety, NJ. b. Cummings,
Burlington, Secretary.

Rutland Nov. 2o--The Vermont Hor-
tlcutural society members at the closing
sessions of their 10Th annual convention in
this city to-day listened to practical talks
on apple growing by c. J. Ferguson If
Burlington and G. r. Holmes of char
lotto, the well known Vermont orchards,
and Prof. =. +. Lutman Of the University
of Vermont told them about diseases to
which applCtrccs are liable. These men
talked informally ana were frequently in
terrupted 10y questions, and there wer"
women as well as men among the infor-
nation seekers showing that apple grow
ing in Vermont is by no means confined
to the male sex. The convention closed
this evening. Invitations were received t.
hold next years convention at Morrisville
and at South Royaton. tho matter being
left with the executive committee.
The following officers were to-day elect
ed: President, a. NJ. Vaughan. Randolph;
secretary, VI. r. CUMMINGS burlington;
treasurer w G.. Cotton Montpelier; audi.
tor, y. T. Clark, Ncrgonncs; executive
committee Mr.. Vaughan Mr.. Cummings.
Elmer $ Brigham. St. Adams, state com
Johnsbury, +. II. West, Dorset. Tn"
county vico-prosidcnts are appointed
The convention this morning received
visit from V. A. Saunders crop estimator
of the United States bureau of statistics
Mt Washington, -. e. Ho spoke briefly on
methods of the department and question:
ed a number of the Vermont horticulture
lists as to suggestions for better obtaining
a true estmat" of crops. 1t developed ,n
this connection that while this is consid-
cred a great apple year in Vermont there
are vast areas which are without any
fruit because of doprodations of worms in
the last two seasons.
w. G. stone, assistant horticulturist at
the Vermont experiment station mt Bur
'ingon. gave the convention a talk on the
results of his experiments in raising
SQUASH. He discussed the advantages Of
hNhr'dization and explained the import
onc" of environment ana horcditv He
usually plants Hubbard squash II foot
apart two plants to tho hill, the average
yield being n little over four squashcs to-
the plant. Under SOM conditions the
hills can he much closer than IL foot apar.
G. J. FERGUSON on PLANTING
c. J. Ferguson Of Burlington discussed
the subject. "ManaginS 100 Acres of
small frees He said that tho or
chardist who was going into tho busi-
ness on an extensive scale should begin
with tho selection of the farm Unless
there was right beginning in this re-
spcct tho whole euterpris" would be de-
feat"d. Soil is the first consideration
The stone contained in It generally
shows whether soil conditions are right
Mr. Fer@uson is a believer I'm limestone
as an essential element. Some of his
trees in his Lake Champlan orchard
are SGT where, in order to maintain the
continuity of rows trees were put !
holes blasted out Of solid rock and these
trees ar" doing as we'll as those in moro
m"lio" land. He has used pulvcri2ed
limcstur" successfully I'm places where
lm'aiHn" did not exist
S!"r" must h" considered IN setting an
orchard. The FcrgusOns chose n north
west slope. II" believes that by rctard-
ing h'ossoming slightly owing to this
exposure he has prevented damage to
his trees by late spring froSts
In selecting trees for planting it is not
so much of Importance where the seed
llnEs We're grown as It IS who grew
th"m. The business methods Of tho
nursoryman ar" " greater importance to
his customers than his location. After
much hesitation Mr.. Ferguson set out
yearly trees, whips" on the advice
of experts living outside Of Vermont and
against the advice of veteran apple
growers of this state and he has found
by experimenting with ioo two and three
year Old trees that tn Ycarlings do
much better than the older Ilauts Thu