278 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



with the legislative committee of the state society. C. J. Monroe and 

 J. C. Gould were selected. On motion, R. Moekill was added to this 

 committee. The committee on resolutions reported in the usual style and 

 the resolutions were adopted. 



QUESTION BOX. 



Can gooseberry-growing be made profitable in this vicinity'/ 



J. G. Ramsdell: The Downing rarely drops its leaf, while Smith's 

 does sometimes. Several others, including the Industry, are hardly worth 

 planting. It mildews badly. Drouth seems to be most severe on goose- 

 berries and seems to affect the Downing least of all. This variety seems- 

 best far all purposes in our locality. 



A. Hamilton: The gooseberry has been in the past profitable; but now 

 there seems to be a disposition to plant largely, and I fear it will be over- 

 done. A few years ago crabapples were in great demand, but now the 

 price is so low that it does not pay to ship. 



J. L. Hopkins: The supply of gooseberries is very great now but the 

 demand is so great that if one half the land on the lake shore were planted 

 to gooseberries there would be none too many. For variety the Downing 

 is preferred. 



J. C. Gould : I think no fruit except pears should be picked green.. 

 It injures the market and all fruit is better ripe than green. 



E. C. Reid: As to the gooseberry there is a growing liking for the ripe 

 fruit, but green gooseberries are very nice for sauce and preserving, and 

 they can be sent even to the Rocky mountains. I have the Smith 

 Improved, which dropped its leaves somewhat last year but is a thrifty ,_ 

 strong grower, with fruit of excellent quality. 



W. A. Taylor: It makes some difference as to the soil on which the 

 g(joseberry is i)Ianted. The Houghton does well on light, sandy soil.. 

 The Downing will sometimes mildew on heavy soil. 



H. Chatfield: I think California will take lots of our gooseberries. 

 They can not raise them there — it is too hot. Colorado will take quanti- 

 ties, and it is one of the best fruits we have for canning or preserving. 



Can we sell our fruit at home f 



J. C. Gould: If we are to sell our fruit at home we must have enougli fruit 

 to get buyers to come. It was about three years before we could get them 

 to come to Lawton, but now we find we can do better than to ship it. We 

 sell by private sale. 



E. C. Reid: As secretary of the State Horticultural society I have 

 numerous inquiries as to where fruit can be bought, and the fact is that 

 the number of buyers coming here is increasing, and, if we work the mat- 

 ter up judiciously, the buyers will all come and we will get better prices 

 from the direct competition; and it is more satisfactory to sell your fruit 

 at home and get your money. 



The meeting adjourned sine die. 



