NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



NORTH AMERICAN STATES 2177 



On the whole, Ohio compares favorably with other 

 states as to horticultural possibilities, but not as to 

 development. However, there have been marked 

 increases in crop-production within recent years of 

 apples, peaches, cherries, potatoes, onions, celery, 

 tomatoes, greenhouse vegetables and canning crops. 

 There has been some falling off in grapes and berries, 

 but enough are still produced for the local markets. 



Increased interest in horticultural work is manifest 

 along many lines but the greatest is in apple-culture. 

 Old orchards are decaying rapidly but many new ones 

 have been planted and the best of the old ones reju- 

 venated. The apples have been greatly improved in 

 quality by proper care of the trees. This is plainly 

 shown by the rapidly improving excellence of the apple 

 shows, both as to quality and quantity of fruit dis- 

 played. The stimulus of the shows seems to have been 

 more to improve the quality than to increase the quan- 

 tity, and yet many orchards have been 

 planted recently. Many of these are of 

 considerable size; 50- and 100-acre orchards 

 are becoming quite common. It does not 

 appear, however, that overplanting has 

 been done as the standard of excellence is 

 maintained. The gi-eater part of the plant- 

 ing is in the eastern and southeastern part 

 of the state. Nearly aU of the orchards 

 planted are for commercial pm'poses. 

 Home orchards are decaying more rapidly 

 than new ones are being planted. 



It cannot be said that there are any 

 well-defined apple-belts within the state. 

 Apple orcharding is usually carried on with 

 general farming or with some other line 

 of fruit-growing. Mature apple orchards 

 are not usually cultivated in the hilly part 

 of the state. Mulching is often practised 

 where material can be secured. Young 

 orchards are usually cultivated for a few 

 years, but orchards set in grass and well 

 mulched are not uncommon. 



Rome Beauty is the general favorite for 

 market in the southern part of the state 

 and Baldwin takes the same place in the 

 northern part, although it is not planted 

 so exclusively as the Rome Beauty. Ben 

 Davis has been a favorite in all sections 

 but its popularity is waning, although it 

 is still retained by many growers in the 

 southern counties. There are no other 

 varieties so extremely sectional as those 

 named, although Rhode Island Greening 

 and Northern Spy are nearly so in the 

 north, and Willow Twig in the eastern 

 part of the state. 



Peaches are not grown to any extent 

 commercially except along the southern shore of Lake 

 Erie. Peach orchards have nearly supplanted vineyards 

 in the lake counties. Partial or full crops are often jjro- 

 duced in the central and southern part of the state, 

 and these have the effect of keeping the industry ahve. 

 although less flourishing in Athens, Muskingum and 

 Coshocton counties than formerly. Better cultural 

 conditions and more care in protecting against peach- 

 tree enemies are given peach orchards in the lake 

 region than elsewhere in the state. Ottawa is the best 

 peach county of the state in sureness of crop, care 

 given and crop-production. 



Pears are not extensively grown in any part of Ohio, 

 the KiefTer being jilanted more than any other variety. 

 This variety has recently showTi such susceptibility to 

 blight that it is now regarded as a menace to pear- and 

 apple-culture. The destruction of Kieffer pear trees is 

 regarded by some as a necessary step in orchard sanita- 

 tion. 



American and Japanese plums are discarded by plum- 



138 



growers and but few remain to mark an erratic and 

 unprofitable venture. No varieties but European are 

 now planted, but the attention given to plum-culture 

 within the state is limited. 



The culture of cherries is confined almost wholly to 

 sour varieties. The center of this industry is at Clyde, 

 but small orchards are found in most parts of the 

 state. 



Grape-culture along the lake shore east of Cleveland 

 has fallen off considerably in recent years because of 

 the encroachment of the city and failure of the grow- 

 ers to control the berry moth. Prices also have been 

 unsatisfactory. The manufacture of unfermented grape- 

 juice, which has assumed considerable proj)ortions, has 

 helped to improve prices somewhat on the islands, but 

 has not stimulated planting to any extent. 



Small-fruits of all kinds are grown in sufficient quan- 

 tities for the home markets, by local growers, but few 



Ohio, with horticultural parts. 



shipments are made to points outside the state. There 

 are no small-fruit belts within the state, although more 

 are grown in the northern part than elsewhere. 



There is much interest in Persian walnuts and pecans 

 at present, and plans have been considered of starting 

 orchards of these nut-bearing trees. Along Lake Erie 

 and the Ohio River, a few trees are known to be produ- 

 cing fruit. Thus far both of these species appear to be 

 tender in winter. Persian walnut trees, except along the 

 lake shore, almost always die back to the ground in 

 winter. Pecans are more hardy, and early ripening 

 varieties may prove satisfactory. But little effort has 

 been made, however, to use grafted trees, especially in 

 the case of Persian walnuts, thus courting failure. No 

 orchards are known to have been planted of these nut- 

 trees, and the same is true of other nut-bearing trees. 



Market-garden crops, including potatoes, bring 

 greater returns than the fruit crops. Potato-culture 

 has assumed considerable proportions in Portage, 

 Stark, Summit, Cuyahoga and Wayne counties, foUow- 



