INDIANA HOETICULTUHAL SOCIETY. 42T 



held in the horticultural room at the court house. The June and July 

 sessions were all-day affairs, the former being held at the residence of 

 the Secretary, just northwest of Richmond, tlie latter at the city's beauti- 

 ful parlf, Glen Miller. At these meetings the members and their friends 

 took their well-filled baskets and enjoyed a picnic dinner under the spread- 

 ing branches of forest and ornamental trees. 



The annual February dinner was as successful as any former one, 

 being largely attended. The premium lists embraced the chief culinary 

 articles, such as tin-keys, meats, breads, pies, cakes, butter, salads, jellies, 

 etc. The housewives industriously vied with one another in the prepara- 

 tion of these articles, which, after being passed on by the awai'ding com- 

 mittee, were placed on the dinner table and hundreds partook of the 

 repast. 



At all meetings our exhibition tables contained, in their season, the 

 results of man's labor on the farm, orchai'd and garden, and indicated 

 often the best varieties to plant. The ladies furnished their quota of 

 flowering bulbs and plants, the bouquets of cut flowers being usually sent 

 to the home of some sick or disabled member. 



Officers for 1902: President, Caleb W. King; Vice-President, Rev. R. 

 D. Laughman; Recording Secretary, Walter S. Ratliff; Treasurer, J. P. 

 Norris; Corresponding Secretary, Hon. J. G. Ratliff. 



Apples.— Unfortunately this has not been an apple year. Many earlier 

 varieties yielded abundantly, while the summer and many of the winter 

 sorts were almost complete failures. Many orchards that usually bear 

 continuously, had but few specimens of any variety. Where apples were 

 found it was doubtless due to the location of the orchard, systematic 

 spraying, care of the trees, thinning of the fruit, etc., preceding and dur- 

 ing the gi'owth of the apples. There seemed to be no material difference 

 in the yield of the different varieties in such orchards, but such fruit was 

 not only reasonably perfect, but of fair size and color. 



Pears.— An abundant crop of choice fruit of all varieties. Usually 

 the summer varieties are finest, but the autumn and winter sorts were 

 exceptionally large. A more liberal planting of the Dutchess, Bartlett, 

 Tyson and Keiffer pears will doubtless be made during the coming year. 

 This year's crop was equal to the demand. 



Plums.— But few plums were grown in this locality. Too many of our 

 orchardists neglected to spray their trees at the proper time and the in- 

 sects secured most of the fruit. The ravages of the black knot has had a 

 discouraging influence on plum culture. A number of new seedlings are 

 being gi-own in order to secure stocks that are not affected with fungoid 

 diseases. 



Cherries.— A large percentage of the fruit dropped before mature, but 

 a fair crop was gathered from most trees. A warm showeiy spell of 

 weathei" at ripening time caused much loss by bursting and rotting on 

 the trees. 



