270 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



SECOM) SESSION 



"Wednesday, January 20th, 9:00 A. M. 

 The Pre:iclert: The mecling will please come to order. I believe 

 the first subject on our program this morning is that of the "Outlook for 

 Commerical Orcharding in Wsstern Nebraska,''' by Mr. Stephens, of 

 Crete. 



(Report p:\nted on pages 183-187) 



Discussion 



Mr. Christy : How about the question of temperature. Does a 

 thermometer drcp to 24 degrees mean a loss to the crop? 



Mr. Williams: Out at Grand Junction, Colorado, they are now grow- 

 ing timber in their orchards. I believe that unless the mercury falls 

 below 28 degrees there is no need of artificial heat. I would recommend 

 the use of these little CLalin^ Etations, about forty to the acre. Out there 

 in Colorado, however, ttey have abandoned the use of smudging be- 

 sause they can raise timber cheaper in the orchards and in that way in- 

 sure the safety of treir c;ci:3 of fruit. They have discarded the use of 

 these coaling staticns and are growing timber in their orchards be- 

 they can secure a better protection and at a much less cost. 



Mr. Stephens: While I was out at Grand Junction my attention was 

 called to a little sort of basket fire, whch they used, and they tell me the 

 cost of these little baskets are about seven cents each. Take this closely 

 woven wire, that is about two feet in width, and cut it into squares of 

 about two feet, make the basket eight inches deep and put in it corn- 

 cobs saturated with oil; put the saturated cobs in the bottom of the 

 basket and cover these with coal, and then go around with the proper 

 time with a little oil torch and set the saturated corn-cobs on fire. It 

 can all be done very quickly. The cost they tell me is only seven cents 

 each, and the results are very satisfactory. 



The President: I want to remind you that the Question Box is still 

 running. Any of you, whether you are members or not, are entitled to 

 ask whatever question you want to about horticultural matters. Write 

 your questions out on slips of paper and hand them to Mr. Green. Then 

 at the end of each session these will be taken up and read and answered 

 by the different members to the best of their ability. We can have a 

 general discussion on these questions in the question box. 



A Member: I just learned this morning for the first time that the 

 school here is publishing an agricultural paper. I understand that 

 Professor Davisson is Editor of this paper, and as he is here with us this 

 morning I move, Mr. President, that he tell us about this. 



Motion carried unanimously. 



