72 STATE HORTICULTURA.L SOCIETY. 



such experimental culture of these fruits as will be necessary to settle 

 the all important question of profit. But this will come. 



Plums do well, and some prune orchards have been planted by 

 those familiar with prune growing in California and who believe this 

 valuable fruit can be grown as successfully and more cheaply here. 

 This region is well adapted to cherries ; they grow here spontaneously 

 and bear abundantly ; will undoubtedly oecome one of our shipping 

 fruits in the near future. Apricots and nectarines are claimed to be 

 hardy and prolific, and many small plantings are being watched with 

 interest with a view to making these fruits a feature in large orchards. 

 Quinces are discussed as one of the future valuable fruits of the dis- 

 trict, and several large plantings are in contemplation. 



The grape has become an important factor in the development of 

 our future only within the past two years. There are now 175,000 vines 

 within the county, of which not less than 125,000 were planted during 

 the period named, including three vineyards of 20,000 vines each. This 

 remarkable change in favor of the grape is due in no small degree to 

 the investigation, observation and experience of Col. H. D. MacKay, 

 President of the Pomona Fruit Company, also President of the South 

 Missouri Horticultural Association. The astonishing yield, in quantity, 

 obtained from small vineyards on the Pomona farm, the trenchant and 

 well supported arguments advanced by Col. MacKay in support of his 

 vines that this is a grape country, par excellence, and notably, his able 

 paper read before the horticultural institute in this city last winter have 

 all attracted widespread attention. 



Hon. Geo. T. Powell, of New York, a horticulturist of national 

 fame, in a series of lectures at West Plains early in 1894, declared un- 

 reservely that he had never found in combination so many favoring 

 conditions for profitable grape growing as in Howell county. The 

 plantings have included all the best recommended varieties, both table 

 and wine. Table grapes can be put on the large markets from here at 

 a time before the immense product of the great New York and Ohio 

 districts begin to move, and should therefore command remumerative 

 prices. Wine grapes, it is stated by veteran wine experts of this 

 country and Europe, will thrive as well and produce as fine flavored 

 wines, in due time, as in any of the present wine-growing districts. 



Berry culture is practically in its infancy in Howell county, but as 

 to strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, the success of all has 

 been fully demonstrated and the development in growing these fruits 

 promises to be rapid from this time forward. In strawberries, the 

 season has just closed, and though the yield was greatly curtailed by 

 unfavorable weather, the growers are all increasing their acreage 



