380 STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



LAWTON POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



PKEPAEED BY SECEETARY LAWTON. 

 OFFICERS. 



President — N". H. Bitely. 



Secretary — C. D. Lawtoii. 



Treasurer — D. W. C. Lytle. 



There is but little to report relating to the Lawton Pomological Society for 

 the year 1881. The peach crop was a failure owing to the severity of the 

 winter. The fruit buds were nearly all destroyed and in some instances a 

 percentage of the trees also; but the orchards have received proper care dur- 

 ing the past summer and the trees are in excellent condition for the present 

 winter, and give abundant promise for a bounteous yield the ensuing year. All 

 tlie dead trees will be replaced and the orchards enlarged and increased, and 

 the number of peach trees planted out will be considerably increased. It is 

 the first season since 1874-5 that there has been even a partial failure in the 

 peach crop. The fruit men have been vigorous in watching for and in 

 exterminating trees affected with the yellows. A commissioner made diligent 

 search in all the orchards of the township, marking every tree that gave indi- 

 cations of disease, and found cheerful acquiesence in his judgment of con- 

 demnation from the owners. The yellows law is found to work admirably 

 here, and the result thus far in endeavoring to check the spread of the disease 

 is encouraging, to the extent that the percentage of loss of trees from this 

 cause has not increased since systematic measures have been pursued to eradi- 

 cate all diseased trees. 



The berry crop, though not lai'ge, proved I'emunerative as prices ruled high, 

 but owing to a lack of crates and boxes the growers were only able to ship a 

 portion of the fruit, and much of it was sold to the fruit evaporating company 

 here, by whom it was dried and marketed in that form. 



Grape vines yielded well and the fruit brought good prices, and those who 

 were fortunate enough to possess bearing vineyards profited handsomely. The 

 anticipations of the early fruit growers here that the hills about Lawton are 

 exceedingly well adapted to tlie production of this fruit in unusual excellence 

 is borne out by later and larger experience. No better grapes are anywhere 

 grown or with greater ease and profit. The varieties thus far cultivated are 

 the Concord and Delaware, though many other kinds to a more limited extent, 

 are successfully grown. The newer much lauded, high-priced varieties are being 

 tested and such as prove valuable here will undoubtedly be largely set in the 

 future. Among those of which the greatest hopes are entertained are the 

 Pocklington, Vergennes, Prentiss, Dutchess, etc. Possibly the Niagara may 

 be found to possess the greatest merits. When the embargo is removed that 

 also will be tried. At present we listen to its praises from its proprietors and 

 wait. 



Members of the society have organized a frnit evaporating company and 

 have an excellent building supplied with two Williams evaporators and other 

 necessary appurtenances. It has been in operation two seasons and proves to 

 be a very important adjunct to our fruit growing, enabling us to work up and 



