Winter Meeting. 355 



we are doing well, now. I have been attending these meetings for 

 some twenty years, and while they sometimes laugh at us for saying 

 the last meeting was the best, I am sure that never in the history of 

 the Society, since I have known it have we had so large a display of 

 fine fruit as we have here now, although it was a dry and unfavor- 

 able season. I am sure we have never had all parts of the State repre- 

 sented by practical and intelligent and enthusiastic fruit growers as at 

 this meeting, nor ever have we had so many intelligent fruit growers 

 visit us from the surrounding States. 



•I thank you for the attendance and the attention given, and while 

 we have done so well, and while we are doing well, let us not be con- 

 tent with present attainments, but let us unite our forces and march 

 onward and upward to a higher plane for greater usefulness, until 

 we shall obtain for the State of Missouri, as a fruit growing State, 

 the very highest pinnacle in the American Union. 



Major Holsinger : I attended the fruit exhibit at Buffalo and I 

 must say that this beats that display. I have examined all of this 

 fruit, having been Chairman of the Committee on Fruit. These 

 Apples are perfect. There is hardly a plate on the table that isn't 

 in perfect condition, smooth, free of fungus and free of insects. 



jMr. Evans : I think enough has been said and enough time taken 

 up, but I will just say, as well as I remember, I think this is the 43rd 

 annual meeting of this Society that I have attended, and I want to say 

 this is as good as any. 



• Mr. Irvine of St. Joseph : We have been 43 years, according to 

 Col. Evans, in getting up to this place. The last time when the So- 

 ciety met here a gentleman made the prediction that the price of 

 grapes would not go below ten cents a pound. We now consider our- 

 selves lucky if we get ten cents a basket. But now since we hav^ had 

 such a good meeting here let us have it every winter. 



Mr. Baxter of Illinois : I would like to remind all the ladies and 

 gentlemen present that our Society meets next week. 



I have been a member of this Society for several years. I like to 

 come here and I learn something, but at the same time I wish to say 

 we have a very progressive Society over there in Illinois. I believe 

 you can learn just as much over there as I can here. Now you have a 

 magnificent display of fruits. We have a magnificent display of fruits 

 over there. Now then we will meet you in friendly competition in 

 St. Louis in 1903, as we did in Paris last year, and we will not take a 

 back, seat cither. 



]\Ir. Marshall, President of the Nebraska State Horticultural So- 

 ciety : I wish to say a word. I would say this is the best display 



