26 



SECRETARY'S SYNOPSIS OF igio MINUTES. 



JosiAH W. Pricke:tt. 



The Committee of Arrangements have thought it would be 

 of interest to this convention to have pass in review^ some of the 

 more important work of this Association during the past year. 

 This will include the deliberation of twelve regular meetings. At 

 some of these meetings, however, a large portion of the time was 

 taken up with routine business, which will be omitted in this paper. 



December Meeting (1909). 



At the December meeting 1909, the subject considered at length 

 was "The Cultivated Orchard" vs. "The Uncultivated and Indiffer- 

 ently Mulched Orchard." The testimony was pronounced in favor 

 of thorough cultivation. Another fact emphasized, that large ap- 

 ples are demanded by the markets. Such fruit can be produced 

 by thorough work in cultivation, spraving, trimming and thinning. 



January Meeting. 



The January meeting was made profitable by going over in 

 review the proceedings of our recent convention. 



February Meeting. 



February meeting. Our delegates to State Horticultural meet- 

 ing came to us with an instructive report. Among other things, 

 we were advised to feed our fruit trees all the plant food they can 

 use at blossom time. We were, also, advised to make ourselves 

 better acc|uainted with what is in the soil below plow depth. For 

 those wishing to start asparagus, the Palmetto variet}- was recom- 

 mended. Transplant the plants at one year old, using only strong 

 plants. We were to be congratulated on our fruit exhibit, 

 but were cautioned by our delegates not to use same fruit for more 

 than one exhibit. At this meeting information was furnished 

 showing the possible crops the railroad will be called upon to move 

 in the near future. A transportation committee was appointed 

 with instructions to wait upon the railroad management and bring- 

 to their attention the necessity of liberal siding and car accommo- 

 dations. 



March Meeting. 



The ]\Iarch meeting was held at Arendtsville. The Lafean 

 xA.pple Packag^e and Grade Bill was discussed and explained by the 

 corresponding secretary. The question was asked, in view of the 

 fact that we are confronted with so many enemies to the peach, is 

 it advisable to keep on planting, commercially? The meeting con- 

 cluded that, with the present means at our command for fighting 

 these enemies, we are justified in planting, and by the proper use 

 of this fighting machinery, might expect profitable returns. Select 

 high ground and tree free of Yellows, and plant not less than 16 

 feet apart. 



