SOUTH HAYEIN" AISTD CASCO POMOLOGICAL 



SOCIETY. 



OFFICERS FOR YEAR 1388. 



President — 0. J. Monroe. 



Vice President — A. H. Cook. 



Secretary — Wm. H. Payne. 



Treasurer — R. W. Liuderman. 



This society keep «p weekly meetings except during the busy season from 

 July to November; but during that time, usually in August, it has been 

 customary to hold three or four out-door meetings, gathering at the home of 

 some fruit-grower, going systematically through his orchards and criticising 

 his modes of planting:, care, trimming, and culture, then gathering at the 

 house to listen to the report of the ''viewing" committee; and in the dis- 

 cussion which follows, the grower has a chance to defend his modes and give 

 his reasons. Then the baskets are brought out and a late good dinner ends 

 the day. The society numbers this year over one hundred members, and 

 when they are all out with their wives and invited guest's, we have pretty 

 much all that is known here of practical fruit-growing. 



The season opened briskly for us, in making preparations for the State 

 Farmers' Institute, held here Jan. 23-25, and the annual dinner of the local 

 society to be held at the same time. The institute was a success in all points 

 — the attendance was large, the interest intense, and a great impetus was 

 given to the study of pomology and the best modes of culture, handling, and 

 marketing of fruit. The meetings of the society immediately following this 

 event were devoted to discussion of papers read before the institute. The 

 first was ''The Ideal Apple for Market," by J. G. Ranisdell, when it was 

 agreed that forty feet each way was the proper distance to set apple trees ; 

 five or six of the best varieties are enough; then, with good cultivation, prun- 

 ing, manuring and spraying to destroy the codling moth, the orchard would 

 be both productive and profitable; that while the ideal apple was not yet 

 in sight, the best six varieties for this section would be Baldwin, Red 

 Astrachan, Xorthern Spy, Oldenburgh, Wagner, and Maiden's Blush. 



At the next meeting w«s discussed the paper on " The Ideal Peach for 

 Market," by A. S. Dyckman. After a vigorous discussion, each one was 

 called upon to present a list of the best eight varieties, with this result: 

 Hale's Early, Jaques, Hill's Chili, and Smock received a unanimous vote. 

 Then, in their order, came Barnard, Snow's Orange, Gold Drop, Lewis' Seed- 

 ling, and Switzerland. Several more had a few votes each and strong recom- 

 mendations, but the others were tried and true. It was also recommended 

 that the Uale's Early be planted only on high and dry ground, as it is their> 



