SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



Thursday, December 6 — 2 p. m. 



May be long or short, high or low, broad or narrow, full or brief, 

 as occasion may offer ; but whatever it is in quality or quantity, it will 

 not fail because of the want of material, or of interest in our work, or 

 of growth in horticulture, or of lack of enthusiasm. 



Missouri horticulture is of steady, permanent, intelligent, earnest 

 growth. There is arising in our midst a '' Western horticulture " that 

 will spread and culture and enlighten our people more in the next few 

 years, than has been done during the last half century. 



Our fruit men are beginning to watch and inquire into every im- 

 portant and unimportant factor that enters into the propagation, growth, 

 cultivation, protection or marketing of our fruits. We are beginning 

 to examine the soils where our orchards grow, to watch the fungus 

 diseases and insect enemies, to study the different plans of cultivation 

 and pruning, to correct the planting of so many varieties, to seek the 

 adaptation of different varieties to various soils, localities and climates 

 and to observe the markets of the coiintry closely. 



While other business may be failures, we feel glad to say that the 

 fruit-growers of Missouri have come out of this series of trials and 

 tribulations and failures with a firmer conviction that their calling is a 

 safe and sure one, and although it may not make millionaires of them, 

 it will surely give them a safe and sure income, if not a noble compe- 

 tency. We feel satisfied, here in Missouri, that if we wish to enter into 

 the fruit business anywhere, here in Missouri we have the choicest 

 lands, the best locations, the most valuable markets, close and quick 

 communication, cheap railroad rates, the lowest lands in price, the 

 highest lands in value, the richest soils, the choicest climate, the most 

 perfect adaptability and the brightest prospects of any of our sister 

 states. 



Orchards of ap^le, peach, pear, plum and cherry, and vineyards 

 also, are being planted by the tens, hundreds, thousands of acres in 

 single orchards, and paying profitably. All over our State you will 



