524 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



accord with Mr. Crcasy's paper, at the same time I grow things for 

 money. There are two classes of customers. We have an educated, 

 wealthy class that wants the best that can be had, and horticul- 

 turists must plant for that class. Then we have a laboring class 

 in all communities that will buy an article because it is cheap. My 

 Kieffer orchard is the oldest in Delaware. I have improved their 

 quality by cultivation, fertilization and thorough spraying. The 

 Kieffer has no equal as a preserving pear. It has a quince flavor 

 peculiar to itself when put into glass. The tree is hardier and more 

 productive than any other. As for Ben Davis, it has brought more 

 dollars to /American apple growers than any other apple, but I 

 would not want it for myself when I can get Stayman, Jonathan or 

 Rome Beauty. Last year 85 per cent, of my crop was absolutely 

 perfect. 



PROF. WATTS.— What are the claims made for Stayman? 



MR. BROWN. — Trees bear younger than York Imperial, and ripen 

 a larger per cent, of good apples. It is decidedly more profitable 

 than Rome Beauty. We also have an apple called Nero, and the 

 tree at 18 j^ears old yielded 44f bushel baskets of fruit which sold 

 for more in Philadelphia than ISI^ew York Baldwins. It bears every 

 year and is beautiful and uniform in color and size. 



MR. REED. — I find that Kieffer on heavy soil will yield large 

 fruit of poor color and quality. On sandy soil it is usually of good 

 color and quality. 



Adjourned. 



Wednesday, 9.30 A. M. 



Having been called to order by the President, the Treasurer's 

 statement was read showing a balance of |8.60 on hand. 



The following letter was read by the Secretary. 



Harrisburg, Pa., January 17, 1905. 



Mr. Enos B. Eugle, Secretary of State Horticultural Society, Har- 

 risburg, Pa.: 



My Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your notice of 

 the meeting of the State Horticultural Society, which meeting it 

 was my purpose to attend. I am sorry to say, however, that a wire 

 message from my home, announcing the death of one of my closest 

 friends calls me away, and will make it impossible for me to be with 

 you. Hoping that you may have a very pleasant and successful 

 meeting, I am, 



Very truly yours, 



N. B. CRITCHFIELD, 

 Secretary of Agriculture. 



Prof. H. A. Surface and Gabriel Hiester were appointed a com- 

 mittee to wait upon Governor Pennypacker, and invite him to the 

 meetings. 



Mr. Cooper, Chairman of Committee on Nominations, submitted 

 the following list of officers for 1905. 



