206 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



No better work has been done or can be done anywhere than that 

 done by the State Society duriog the last 12 years in unifying our peo- 

 ple in this cause, in developing the fruit interests of the State, and in 

 scattering this experience abroad over our entire land. 



Another forward step we have taken, and taken it for good, and 

 that is the use of the fungicides and the insectcides for the preserva- 

 tion of our fruits from the ravages of fungus disease and insect life. 

 We cannot give a positive rule that will be a panacea for all troubles, 

 yet we feel sure we are on the right road to success, and all it now 

 needs is perseverance, intelligent perseverance. 



Another step : The care and cultivation of our orchards is now 

 being followed in a very systematic and thorough way, and the orchards 

 are showing it in their wood and fruit growth. 



Some other important, very, very important matters for us to con- 

 sider before we have a "science of horticulture" are 1st, to know how to 

 breed our trees; 2d, how to feed them; 3d, to know when they are 

 sick, and how to cure them ; and 4th, to know how to take care of them 

 when they are well. 



THE FRUIT DISPLAY AT THE ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION. 



The success of this display is due to the fact that our county 

 societies took hold of the work with such vim and energy that we could 

 not have done otherwise. The fine display of fruits in jars that were 

 shown at Chicago was renovated, added to, and the liquid changed so 

 that the fruit in many instances was much improved in appearance. A 

 clear liquid seemed to make a very great addition indeed, to the beauty 

 of many of the specimens. A special arrangement was made of all 

 the fruits, so that every kind of fruit was put by itself, thus making a 

 greater educational feature of the display than could otherwise have 

 been done. Thus all the apples were on a table by themselves, all the 

 peaches by themselves, pears, strawberries, raspberries and vegetables, 

 each distinct and separate. These were all arranged on the same tables 

 and fixtures that we had at Chicago, and were very attractive indeed. 



Outside from this we had a room which had table room for about 

 200 plates of fruit. This was filled with the finef?t fruits that the State 

 of Missouri could furnish, samples of which you now see on the tables 

 before you. A large quantity of fruit was sent to cold storage in St. 

 Louis early in the season, and this was drawn upon at the opening of 

 the Exposition September 5th, so that the display from the very begin- 

 ning was a complete one in every regard. The display of grapes, 

 pears, plums and apples was as perfect as one could wish to see. 



