78 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Fruits of the Ozarks, aad ^fow to Grow them Suc- 

 cessfully. 



What are the fruits of the Ozark? First, above all other ranks 

 the ever to be called for, never to be forgotten, the best of all fruits — 

 the apple; second, the peach that grows to greater perfection, higher 

 colored, richer and finer flavored than can be grown anywhere ; third, 

 the grape which seems to be at home in every nook and corner of the 

 mountains, and of better quality than anywhere in the west; fourth, 

 the blackberry ; fifth, the raspberry; sixth, the strawberry; seventh, 

 the pear; eighth, the native plum ; ninth, the foreign plum ; tenth, the 

 cherry. 



To take each of these up and discuss them as they should be, 

 would be no light task, and I shall attempt only a part of this work 

 before you. One great advantage this southern country has over and 

 above all others, is that it is all covered with wood growth; never 

 have been broken by the plow; is rich in tree and fruit-producing quali- 

 ties; well drained by the best of underground drainage; is high and 

 rolling with a rich porous subsoil ; is neither too hot or too cold ; is as 

 healthy as any of our land ; has good railroads and quick transporta- 

 tion; the best of markets in the country ; good schools and churches, 

 and the best class of people of the land settling and clearing and plant- 

 ing this south country. 



This discussion of the matter in particular has been well presented 

 on the grape by Col. McKay, on the berries by S. W. Gilbert, and will 

 be given you on the apple by A. Nelson, so that I take it, your inten- 

 tion was that I should appeal to something in general as to modes and 

 manners and not in particular to any one class or variety of fruit. 



Some of the principles underlying the successful culture of all 

 plants may be of use to us in this subject of orcharding. Our virgin 

 soils, as they appear to us today all over this southern country, are just 

 right for the production of tree fruits. It then behooves us to take up 

 this work and do it correctly in growing our trees, pruning them, plant- 

 ing them and care and cultivation of them for the future profitable 

 orchard. 



FIRST, THE TREES NEED TO BE WELL GROWN 



From good, sound seed, free from disease of all kinds. The plants 

 should be grown from good, healthy plants or bushes and given the 

 best opportunity possible for the developm ent of root growth. A good. 



