74 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



300,000 acres. Deducting one-half of the total area named for agricul- 

 ture and grazing (a fair estimate considering the nature of the soil and 

 surface), and deducting, also, the land now in fruit, we have available 

 about 140,000 acres of as fine fruit land as the sun looks down upon, 

 on the line of a great trunk railroad, and at prices within the reach or 

 every fruit-grower, whatever may be his condition. 



Let these further facts be realized in considering the present and 

 future development of fruit-culture in Howell county. It is not only 

 an exceptional fruit country, but it has also a large area of excellent 

 farming land, much of it as smooth as any in the State, and this farm- 

 ing land is interspersed among the best fruit lands. It is admirably 

 adapted to dairying and stock-raising, with long grazing and short feed- 

 ing. Much work can be done during the mild winters in fields and 

 orchards, and in preparing new land. The soil is stored with elements 

 that will make it productive for years without fertilizers ; the climate 

 is healthful and agreeable; schools and churches abound and are 

 thoroughly appreciated ; no sectional or political differences prevail. 

 For successful fruit-culture on an extensive scale it is essential to have 

 an abundant, industrious and steady population sufficient to meet all 

 the demands of gathering, packing, etc., at moderate wages. 



There must also be such conditions on every hand as will enable 

 the small grower to buy his land and to plant and maintain his orchard 

 while supporting his family; in effect, to tully utilize his own labor as 

 against the capital of his wealthy competitor, with equal facilities of 

 disposing of his product. Where do so many favoring conditions in- 

 vite the grower, however he may be circumstanced, as in Howell 

 county, Missouri ? Chas. H. Wheeler, West Plains, Mo. 



The Age of Education. 



Fruit-growers and friends — We prefer to make this report in writ- 

 ing for this reason, that although the report is upon one single subject 

 and you might think easily made, yet to us, that subject is the subject 

 of all subjects, and embraces a number of important items. Some of 

 these items might be omitted if the report was not committed in writ- 

 ing. 



The design of our Society in appointing this committee is that it 

 may collect, classify and arrange such facts and such experiences and 

 weave them together in such a way as to represent the scientific, artistic 

 and practical features of horticulture as we find them in Missouri. 

 This knowledge shall be put into such a shape that it can be grasped 



