SUMMER MEETING. 73 



largely. Comirieut is unnecessary. They know, now, that they can 

 grow strawberries of exceptional flavor, size and firmness, such as 

 will bring- good prices when berries from competing localities may 

 reach the same markets soft, out of condition and of poorer quality, 

 and that they can do this at the minimum of cost. Their advantages 

 consist mainly in the well drained and abundantly fertilized soil 

 (phosphatic oxidized) covered completely with the small broken rock 

 which constitutes nature's perfect and gratuiiious mulch, protecting 

 both plants and fruit, and bringing- them to their best maturity far 

 better than any artificial mulching could do. The prediction is con- 

 fidently made that within three years Howell county strawberries will 

 be well known and sought after in the best markets. Equally good 

 conditions exist for the raising of other berries profitably ; blackberries 

 are now extensively grown at Olden. 



Gooseberries are destined to receive some attention from growers 

 of small fruits ; the wild gooseberry grows in this region in great pro- 

 fusion and of excellent quality. 



Howell county has two horticultural societies — the South Missouri 

 Fruit Growers Association, W. F. Benson, President, which meets at 

 Willow Springs, and the South Missouri Horticultural Association, H. 

 D. MacKay, President (as already stated), at West Plains. Monthly 

 meetings are held, at many of which paperc on seasonable topics are 

 read, and at all of which open discussions are indulged in on any sub- 

 ject whicli a member chooses to bring up. They are a source of 

 valuable information and instruction to the novice, and even to the 

 experienced fruit-grower who finds himself under new conditions. 

 Here, in this new field not yet invaded, or rather not yet occupied in 

 force, by the many adversaries of the horticulturist, all of the most 

 advanced methods of propagation, cultivation and protection may be 

 applied with timely efficacy. It, therefore, behooves these and kind- 

 red societies to foster development of Howell county with unceasing 

 and intelligent care, for on their watchfulness against the encroach- 

 ments of diseases and pests momentous results to this land of great 

 promise may depend. 



This paper would not be complete without some information as to 

 the area of fruit land already planted in the country and that which 

 yet awaits development. There are aljout 240,000 trees of those enum- 

 erated which are five miles or more distant from railroad, largely the 

 old orchards. Calculating the remaining 875,000 trees as occupying 

 the belt or strip extending along the railroad five miles on either side 

 through the county, and allowing the usual number of trees per acre, 

 we have only about 10,000 acres in fruit out of a total area of about 



