68 STATE HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



7. At short intervals, over all that portion of Missouri north of 

 an irrejrular line described by the south bluffs of the Missouri river, are 

 lar<i:e deposits of loess or bluff formation. These deposits were mad© 

 in the Quaternary period, soon after the Glacial epoch. When these 

 soils were forming, the elephant and rhinoceros roamed over the hilla 

 of Missouri in herds as vast as did che deer fifty years ago. This loess 

 soil is admirably adapted to the growth of all kinds of fruit common 

 to our State, with the possible exception of the peach. To localize 

 farther: The chert, so-called tiint and limestone of southern, south, 

 central and southwestern Missouri, afford subsoils admirably to the 

 growth of fruit. As so much was said of these localities in my paper 

 of December 2, 1890, it is unnecessary to occupy farther time on this 

 part of the subject here. The opinion is still held that no portion of 

 the United States excels these j)articular localities. But in some por- 

 tions of these localities there is a bedrock of magnesian limestone. 

 It does not afford a suitable subsoil for fruit-trees. Avoid it. 



In portions of the State, where neither loess nor cave limestone is 

 found, the best subsoil is deep beds of clay — the more porous the bet- 

 ter. This observation is especially applicable to the counties of Cass,. 

 Bates, Yernon, Henry, Johnson, northern St. Clair, southwestern Lafay- 

 ette and southern Jackson. 



Loess is seldom found in these localities, and the "flint" and cave 

 limestone is also absent. 



The fertility of limestones is caused by their origin. All lime- 

 stones are of animal origin. The atoms that compose them have all 

 been, one or more times, constituent parts of some animal. If lime- 

 stones are not too highly crystalized, water easily decomposes them,, 

 and converts them into suitable plant foods. 



Where springs abound, the dip of bed-rock can be determined by 

 their location. If the springs of a given neighborhood are all on the 

 northern and western sides of the hills, the dip is to the, northwests 

 If on the east sides, the dip is east. 



North of the Missouri river, in our state, are large Glacial deposits. 

 They consist of granite boulders — sometimes called "lost rocks" or 

 "niggerheads" — smaller gravel and sand. The sand is red, yellow or 

 white. It is entirely different from the sands of the creek and river 

 beds. Where these Glacial deposits are overlaid by loess or other 

 suitable soils, they afford splendid locations for orchards. 



Inasmuch aft loess has been referred to so often, the Secretary is 

 asked to submit a sample for the inspection of the members of the 

 Society who are not familiar with it. 



