348 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



exception of the busy summer months. The Society has a small library, which is 

 constantly increasing. 



OFFICERS FOR 1869. 

 Peesidext— Dr. John Ilyde. 

 Vice President— Joseph lioustons. 

 SECRETARY AXD TREASURER— O. C. Barber. 

 LiBRARlAX— M. D. Blackman. 



The Society has not as yet adopted a fruit list for this locality, but will, perhaps, 

 during the coming year. Its meetings are held on the first Saturday afternoon of each 

 mouth. O. C. BAIli3ER, Secretary. 



RiCHViEW, December 8, 1869. 



REPORT OF THE STATISTICAL COMMITTEE. 



Read before the Richview Horticultural Society at its regular monthly meeting, held 

 on October •2d, 1869: 



Mr. President: In the performance of the duty derolviug upon us as a statistical committee, we 

 shall beg indulgence, but liope the shortness of the time given in which to mate our report will 

 exempt us from severe criticism. 



It was impossible to see every one engaged in horticultural operations, and in cases of recent 

 commencement in such pursuits, also in some others where these engagements were of quite a 

 limited extent, we were obliged to rely on such information as could be gathered from neighbors. 



Where your committee fail iu exact statement, it is om- endeavor to under rather than over esti- 

 mate the extent of operations. With this explanation we state that our report closely approxi- 

 mates correctness— the more so, as our most extensive growers have furnished us with statements 

 so exact in detail as to leave no room for doubt. 



We will state from the first settlement of the country, apijles and seedling- jieaches have been part 

 of the farmer's i^roductions. Prior to 1859 scarcely a budded peach could be foimd. Horticultural 

 pursuits may in reality be said to date back no farther than 186-1. The slight efforts put forth previous 

 to that time p;u-take more of a spasmodic than systematic character. In that year, four men com- 

 menced the business of fruit-growing somewhat extensively, and with an eye to its profit. 



Subsequent to the above date, so many liave turned their attention iu that direction as to enable us 

 to present the following statement evidencing the extent of our orchards and vineyards: 



In this immediate vicinity we find there are planted— Peach trees, 0.5,000; apple trees, 20,000: pear, 

 7, .500; cherry, 2, .500: quince, 3,000; grape, 16, .500; gooseberry, 1,800; currant, 2,000; blackberry, 

 10,000: raspberry, 20,000: acres of strawberries,. 21. 



Of the above numbers of trees and plants, the great majority is not yet in bearing condition. The 

 number of peach trees which actually bore the crop this season,! is about six thousand. § Pom- 

 thousand produced three-fourths of a crop. 



With slight exception, the high ground has yielded the most. The varieties which have been the 

 most productive this year are the Hale's Early, Serrate Early York, (both rotting badly), Tillotson 

 Galbraith Seedling, George the Fourth, Keusington, Yellow Rareripe, Portermixon, Oldmixon, 

 Orange Free, Red-cheek Meloootoon, Heath Free, Ward's Late, Scott's Nonpareil, Smock Free, 

 Heath Cling, and a nameless variety by Mr. Wilgus. But few Troths or Crawfords could be found. 



The peaches have been remarkably free from cureulio, and have brought prices for most of the 

 season in advance of quotations. 



The apple trees which are in bearing condition are productive, this year's crop being mostly ou 

 the trees. Cherries were good. Grapes have rotted badly. Currants and gooseberries have pro- 

 duced a good crop. The strawberries were very productive. In one case 2.50 bushels were grown 

 from one and one-third acres. 



We find uponin(iuiry that sales of peaches have reached .30,000 boxes; apples, 1,000 barrels; pears, 

 1,000 boxes; cherries, 500 cases; strawberries, 22,000 quarts; tomatoes. 10,000 boxes. There have 

 also been put up about 500 dozen commercial cans, and 500 1-gallon cans of peaches, by Jlr. Wilgns, 

 our largest orchardist. In addition to the above enumerated articles, there has been shipped large 

 iiuantities of melons, squashes, cucumbers, and other garden j)roductions. 



Wine has not been produced iu our immediate vicinity, but at our ."county seat, [Nashville, some 

 8,000 or 10,000 gallons have been made previous to this j^ear. 



We may in justice to the ])lace be permitted to state that the above amounts do not comprise the 

 whole which should naturally find egress from this station. From the orchards Iboth east and west 

 of us, much of the crop has been taken to Centralia from the fact of lower rates of freight. 



