i:ndia.\a jioiM mi 1,1 tu'al s()( ii;rv. 4Sr) 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



The Convention was opened bj' an invocation offered bj^ Rev. W. McK. 

 Hester, after whicli Mv. R. A. Simpson, of A'incennes. read a paper on 

 "Tlie Fruit Industries of Southern Indiana— Whnt They Are and What 

 Thej' Ma J' Become," as follows- 



FRUIT INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHERN INDIANA-WHAT THEY ARE 

 AND WHAT THEY MAY BECOME. 



R. A. SIMPSON, AHXCEXNES. 



Soutltern Indiana as a whole is naturally adapted to fruit growing. 

 I'lie apple, pear, peach, plum, gooseberry, currant, blackberry, raspberry 

 and .strawberrj^ in particular grow to perfection and are not, as a rule, as 

 locallj' restricted as in many of our other fruit states. 



The products of the above are found in all our principal markets of 

 the middle West. an<l, I am proud to say that, v.-here they have been prop- 

 erly handled l)y our best fruit growers, they are drawing the top prices 

 and are creating a demand for Indiana fruit. 



Today I want to speak move in particular about the apple, for the 

 reason that there is no fi-uit which comes so near being a staple commodity 

 and none Avhich has a longer market season or is capable of being made 

 into so many secondary products. This commodity, I am sorry to say, 

 when its possibilities are considered, is more neglected and its importance 

 more underestimated than any of our other fruit industries— in fact, this 

 held is jiist beginning to develop, and the possibilities as yet can not be 

 fully appreciated by any except our thorough and thoughtful fruit men. 



In traveling over southern Indiana I find a great portion of it is com- 

 Itosed of a heavy clay soil. ' Now this particular clay is ideal soil for the 

 iipple. I also find that Indiana's best clay land is well located for orchard- 

 ing, since it is rolling and elevated, thus affording ideal surface and air 

 drainage, both of which are almost a neces.sity to a paying orchard. This 

 clay is particularly rich in potash, which is also of vital importance, since 

 it gives the fruit quality, and the high quality of Indiana apples is largely 

 due to this almndant supply of potash. 



If you ask a nurseryman why he likes clay to grow Ids apple trees on. 

 he will tell yon without hesitation that it is because he wants the best 

 possiltle root system and a good, strong body. No other soil will producp 

 this as Avell as the clay. Now if this is so in the nursery, you can readily 

 see its advantnge in the. orchtird. T have often noticed also that tre(>s live 

 longer on clny than on any otlier ground. 



