1872 The Westeryi Fomologist and Gardener. 17 



^tritor's Sortfolio. 



Kansas State Horttcnltnral Soclety"Aiinnal Meetins. 



The fifth annual meeting of the Society took place at Lawrence, Dec. 19 and 20th. The 

 Society met at 9 o'clock a. m. 



The President, Dr. Wm. M. Howsley in the Chair Prayer by Rev. Harvey Jones, of 

 Grasshopper Falls. 



The welcoming address was delivered by T. D. Thacher, Esq., of the Bepuhlican Jourwd. 

 in behalf of the citizens of Lawrence he bade the Society welcome, and trusted that the 

 meeting would be both pleasant and profitable. Responded to by the President for the 

 kind and generous reception in which the Society was received by the citizens of 

 Lawrence. The President then delivered his annual address, which was replete with val- 

 uable information, and suggestions which we hope everj' member will fully digest. Show- 

 ing that the Horticultural Society was doing more than all other agencies in inducing 

 immigration to the State by developing its capabilities and resources. 



E. Snyder of Highland, o{ W\ti ad-inUrim Committee, made an oral report of the condition 

 of fruit trees and fruit. He stated that the apples with all other fruits ripened this season 

 sooner than usual, but that the leaves did not drop although the wood was well matured. 

 This appeared to be general over the whole State, but no danger was apprehended there- 

 from. 



Mr. E. Snyder also read a very interesting essay on meteorology, showing the inflaence 

 of climate, changes of temperature, and moisture on trees and plants. We cannot give too 

 high an estimate of the value of it. For health, hardiness, productiveness and quality, 

 depends upon .soil, situation, temperature and humidity. 



Mr. Murtfeldt, of St. Louis, Mo., by invitation, gave us a few remarks on what he thought 

 of Kansas, he being sent here by the Missouri Board of Agriculture. He said he had 

 traveled over a great portion of the Stale, and he was so favorably impressed with it that 

 he did not know but that he might become a citizen himself from what he saw of its 

 resources in grain and fruit. A committee was then appointed to make out a list ol six of 

 the best pears for general cultivation, Col. Lines being Chairman. He reported the follow- 

 ing : Bartlett, Howell, Belle Lucrative Beurre Easter, White Doyenne, and Vicar of 

 "Winkficld. 



Dr. Wm. M. Howsley delivered an address on fruit growing as a profitable business in 

 Kansas. He said our geographical position was the most favorable, being placed between 

 the valley of the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains on the most favorable slope and 

 elevation, having sufficient rain in the fore part of the season to unfold and fully develop e 

 our fruit, with a high ti mperature and dry fall, or maturing season, giving that large size, 

 great beauty and excellence to all our fruit. Combined with this we have a virgin soil, 

 unsurpas.sed in all the essential elements required for fruit growing. That we have so far 

 escaped the devastating torrents which have swept over other States, and if the Almighty 

 had tried his hand he could not more favored us. He also spoke of our men, their thinking 

 habits, their untiring energy and determination. With such men, soil and climate, they 

 must excel. He advised close planting as we described in Pomologist — fifteen feet apart 

 each way, and cut out when they interlock too much. He said horticulture was man's first 

 business in Eden, and now, as we are entering upon the occupation for which our soil and 

 climate are so remarkably well adapted, we are only returning back to the place where 

 God in his infinite wisdom first placed man. Dr. Staynien, Prof. Kelsey, Mr. Murtfeldt 

 and others participated in the discussion. 



The report of the committee sent to Richmond, Virginia, was read by the chairman. Dr. 

 Wm. M. Howsley. It was very satisfactory and encouraging in favor of Kansas fruits. A 

 vote of thanks was unanimously given to the committee for their untiring efforts in our 

 behalf 



Mr. R. S. Elliott, Industrial Agent of the Kansas Pacific Rail Road read a valuable 

 paper upun our early cold weather, showing that it was an unusual occurrence in Kansas. 

 Never before have we any record of such a cold spell. That all countries were liable to 

 the same extremes, and even greater than what Kansas experienced by quoting almost 

 an innumerable number of facts. This we considered one of the most interesting papers 

 wc had the pleasure of hearing. 



Mr. Welcome Wells, of Manhattan, of the ad-interim committee, gave his report upon 

 fruit in his part of the State. He said they had but a partial crop on account ot 

 late spring frosts. The Winesap and Cooper Early White bore well. Peaches on low 

 ground were an entire failure. That the trees had made a good growth, and the wood was 

 ■well matured, with a fine prospect of a crop next season. 



