SUMMER MEETING. 81 



A great many of the old orchards are dying oat from age and 

 neglect, and it seems to be a question with their owners whether it 

 will pay to replant. With scab, blight and all the other fungus diseases 

 on the increase, the codling moth, curculio, etc., multiplying, add to this 

 the peculiar climatic influences which have prevailed in the past two 

 years, and it has been very trying indeed. No wonder the weak 

 brother is ready to throw up the sponge and say it don't pay. 



But we still have faith that it will pay; but we must make an in- 

 telligent selection of soil on which to plant, an equally intelligent se- 

 lection of varieties suited to our location, markets, etc., and then 

 cultivate thoroughly and keep at it. Fertilize when necessary, and 

 spray for fungus diseases and noxious insects, and do it thoroughly, 

 and success will attend our efforts. 



Our orchards are in better condition at present than they have 

 been in the past two years, with less scab than usual. Fire-blight has 

 appeared in some orchards and is doing some damage, but it has sel- 

 dom proved serious. The crop indications for the present year are 

 not very flattering. Peach, a complete failure ; pears nearly so; plum 

 and cherry very light, and the apple only a partial crop in this portion 

 of the State. But if we have a good home supply of fine apples, which 

 the present condition promises, we should be contented. 



Eespectfully submitted. 



Henry Speer, Butler, Mo. 



Report on Orchards. 



The orchards in this part of the State were in the best condition 

 desirable for a very full crop of fruit, until the freeze of last Easter. 

 The damage was, however, confined mostly to early blooming varieties 

 and localities. 



Grasshoppers were very numerous last August in parts of Platte 

 and Buchanan counties — eating the leaves entirely from the trees and 

 barking the twigs, so that whole orchards appeared as dead. No fruit 

 could be expected on trees in that condition. We find, however, that 

 many so far recovered that considerable fruit has set upon them. 

 Young orchards of very thrifty growth have not made the showing of 

 fruit their condition would lead one to expect. The cause, as is well 

 known, is too much wood growth for the present. 



From all the information we can gather, we think will have over 

 half, perhaps two-thirds of a crop of apples. Varieties we notice to be 



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