INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 439 



[For the extract read, see page 25S, Annual Transactions of this 

 Society for 1902.] 



Mr. Hobbs: Some of us have thought along these lines for a great 

 many years, and we have tried to encourage the planting of commercial 

 orchards in Indiana, and those that have thought mostly about the 

 matter today are convinced that there are great possibilities for apple 

 growing in Indiana. When we have come in competition with other 

 States we have won prizes, and our exhibitions year after year are 

 convincing evidence that we can succeed even LTeyond our most sanguine 

 expectations in the production of fruit. While these things are proven 

 beyond a question of a doubt, tlie fact is we are not producing the 

 apple. This is the situation today. Why? Simply because we lack 

 men to do it. Mr. Burton in the southern part of the State is con- 

 ducting a successful orchard. He has proven what can be done there. 

 Flick has proven what can be done in the central part, and Zion in 

 the northwestern part. These examples are having their effect, and 

 we are going to see them, too. Large orchards have been planted in 

 southern Indiana within the last year or two from the example of Bur- 

 ton's place. If we will increase the number of successful growers we 

 will increase the number of commercial orchards. There is no question 

 about the success or protit. I can not put my money into an enterprise 

 from which I would get higher dividends than in the fruit business 

 —in the proper planting of commercial orchards, in the proper location, 

 and proper selection of varieties, and proper management of affairs. 



Mr. Apple: In my section of the country, the north central part 

 of the State, the idea prevails largely among the farmers that they 

 can buy their fruit with U'ss money than they would expend in buying 

 trees and plantiug them on their land in orchards, for ten or fifteen years, 

 and at the end of that time two-thirds of them would be dead. They 

 will pay seventy-five or eighty cents a bushel for their fruit, and yet 

 think it is chonpor to buy. I think if this Society could prevail upon 

 the farmers of the State to raise enough fruit for their own use first, 

 they might be induced later to plant commercial orchards. I have 

 failed to raise fruit tlie last two seasons. My trees are thrifty and 

 in good condition, but. there was not one bushel of perfect apples in 

 the entire orchard, and this is discouraging to a man that is solicited 

 to plant out trees, even for his own use. let alone for a commercial 

 purpose. I think we should prevail on the farmer to at least raise 

 enough fruit for himself. 



President Stevens: While we realize the importance of this subject, 

 time will not permit us to go more into detail, or give more time to 

 it. There are still four papers, liesides the election of officers. The 

 first will be "Growing Strawberries for Market." 



