318 STATE HOaTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ing of these and other frnils, it would briug into use much untilled and 

 otherwise untillable land, to their great pecuniary gain. 



It seems to be agreed among orchardists that the best, as well as 

 the cheapest, lauds for the cultivation of tree fruits are the wooded 

 bluft's and hills along our streams and the uplands of similar soils that 

 lie between them. Cole county is possessed of these in greater extent 

 and variety, perhaps, than any other county of the state. The Missouri 

 river extends along its northern boundary a distance of thirty miles, 

 the Osage river for a like distance along its eastern and southeastern 

 borders, while the Moreau flows midway between them. These streams 

 and their tributaries form many beautiful and fertile valleys, skirted by 

 hills and bluffs of greater or less elevation, stretching away in many 

 places into extents of table-land sufficiently undulating to afford excel- 

 lent drainage. Whether viewed from the standpoint of the scientific 

 and expert orchardist, or in the light of the limited practical experi- 

 ments of the past, it may safely be said that almost the whole of the 

 240,000 acres comprising the area of Cole county is well adapted to the 

 growth of all of the fruits known to this latitude. These lands may be 

 bought at prices ranging from $5 or less to $50 an acre, there being 

 many tracts of land not suited to the general tillage that would make 

 fine orchard sites and grow the best of fruit, that could be bought for 

 less than the mimimum price named. 



In addition to these facts, the excellent transportation facilities 

 enjoyed by this county commend it in the highest degree to the fa- 

 vorable consideration of the commercial orchardist and fruit-grower. 

 As already stated, the Missouri and Osage rivers border the county on 

 two sides for an aggregate distance of sixty miles, both of which are 

 navigable during a large part of each year, furnishing cheap and easy 

 transportation for the products of the orchard and the farm. The Mis- 

 souri Pacific railroad passes through the entire width of the county from 

 east to west, giving rapid transit to St. Louis and Kansas City,and thence, 

 to the markets of the world. The Lebanon or Southwestern branch of 

 the Missouri Pacific railway runs a distance of twenty-five mil*^s south- 

 westerly through the county, and the Chicago & Alton and Missoari, 

 Kansas Texas railroads, on the north side of the Missouri river 

 afford transportation directly to Chicago and points east, west and 

 southwest. 



It becomes apparent, therefore, that if the cultivation of the 

 arboreous fruits can be made profitable anywhere, it can be made so 

 here in Cole county. It cannot be doubted that it has proved remu- 

 nerative where intelligently engaged in under favorable conditions of 

 soil and climate, bringing not only good returns for labor bestowed 



