84 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the winter has been a mild and pleasant one, and yet some of the 

 coldest weather that we ever have lasted for a day or two at different 

 seasons. 



The winter has been the dryest, and the spring, in sympathy, has 

 kept up the record. The early budding of our trees, the extreme warm 

 weather of March, the numerous cold spells, with frost attending, and 

 the continuous cool weather with the smallest amount of rain for April 

 and May have not hindered our fruits from fully developing. 



The extreme dry weather of 1894 injured, and the past winter in- 

 jured still more, our raspberry and strawberry crop. This drouth 

 affected more or less all our fruits which may be seen in dropping of 

 the fruit in some places this summer. But no serious injury has thus far 

 occurred and the prospects are the best the State has ever had. 



Our apple crop promises to be one of the best that the State has ever 

 produced. From the Iowa line to the Arkansas border; and from the 

 Mississippi river to the Kansas State line, the report comes continually 

 that wherever the orchard was not too full last year, and wherever the 

 trees have been taken care of ; the crop will be good. What this means 

 to Missouri, one can hardly appreciate until he sees the millions of 

 money it will bring to the State. 



In some instances the hail has done damage, in other instances 

 there has been some injury by late frosts, but the injury is local only^ 

 and the damage not severe. The south part of the State will make a. 

 wonderful showing this year if nothing intervenes, and I look for sl 

 great extension of our orchards during the next few years. 



Cultivation and care show conclusively that they will pay, in the 

 growth of the tree, the health of the leaves, the vigor of the bloom^ 

 the size of the fruit, and in the money return the crop will bring. 



Already buyers are seeking to locate our largest apple orchards,, 

 and making bids for them. The crop will be light in the East, and 

 prospects are good for fair prices. 



The peach crop will be quite a general one, but strange to say that 

 along the line of Neosho, Carthage and nearly or quite to Springfield, 

 the crop will be a very light one, while as far north as St. Joseph it 

 will be a full one. In some few locations the trees were slightly in- 

 jured, but where they were cut back properly, they have shown a won- 

 derful vigor and growth. Peaches will be abundant, however, in the 

 State, and the prospect is fair for good prices. 



The pear crop will be an average one, excepting locations where 

 some damage by frost occurred. 



The plum. Wild goose varieties promise a good crop over most 

 of the State in spite of the large crop of last year. They are being 



