MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 351 



Pruit-trees come into bearing in a remarkably short time. An apple 

 orchard will produce paying crops the fifth year from bearing; peaches 

 have netted $100 per acre the third year from planting, which seems 

 an incredibly short time to a Xorthern fruit-grower, who has to wait 

 ten to fifteen years for an apple orchard to bear a paying crop. 



While visiting one of the finest fruit farms of this section, known 

 as "Pomona," a farm of 300 acres all set in fruit, owned by Hon. H. D. 

 Mackay, I learned that last year from grape-vines set only two years he 

 realized a net return from two acres of $1100 ; and a more interesting 

 fact was learned: that the first growth of these vines was killed while 

 in bloom by an unusually cold storm in April, in which ice was formed 

 sufficiently to iojure fruit ; but a second growth pushed out on these 

 Tines which ripened the same season, 30 pounds of perfect grapes to 

 each vine, and they were of only two years' planting. This "Pomona" 

 farm is a model of fine work, thoroughness, perfect system in care, 

 pruning, etc., that is well worth going many miles to see. Col. Mackay 

 is the president of the South Missouri Horticultural Association, is a 

 lawyer by profession, but is devoting his whole time to his fruit farm, 

 and brings to it that system and method that a professional man 

 usually puts into his work. 



The famous Olden fruit farm, at Older, is a marvel in extent, con- 

 taining 3000 acres, 1300 of which are covered with fruit-trees ; 30,000 

 boxes of peaches and 12,000 crates of berries have been shipped from 

 this orchard, besides many car-loads of apples, in one year. There is 

 one solid block of "Ben Davis" apple-trees covering one hundred 

 acres, and the most vigorous, healthy trees in appearance, loaded with 

 fruit buds, with very great promise for the coming season. Col. J. C. 

 Evans, the President of the Missouri State Horticultural Society, is 

 the leading spirit on this immense farm. He has traveled all over the 

 United States — California, Oregon, Texas, ISTew York, Ohio — and after 

 studying this portion of Missouri, saw in 'it the best conditions of our 

 country, when he set to work as the pioneer to develop the great 

 Olden fruit farm, and to start what will be known as one of the great- 

 est enlerprises in the United States. Associated with him is the Sec- 

 retary of the State Horticultural Society, L. A. Goodman, who has 

 also done much to develop the horticultural interests of this State. 



Much of the country is comparatively new, covered with wood 

 which is easily cleared, and it is surprising to note how in 60 or 90 

 days from the time a Northern settler has come in here he has from 10 

 to 40 acres of land cleared, broken and orchards set, where so short a 

 time previous the forest stood. The winter climate is superb. Agri- 

 culture is yet in a primitive condition. Cattle range in the woods 



