WINTER MEETING AT OARTHAGE. 169 



plant. I am growing sixty-ftve wild Missouri plants. We have just as 

 beautiful tiowers as can be found anywhere. I am strongly in favor of 

 the hardy perennials. 



Vocal Solo — "Is That Croquet !" — was beautifully sung and brought 

 down the house. A piano solo was also beautifully rendered. 



Music — song — trio, by the Misses Wright, was gladly received. 



Friday, Dec. 9 — 9 a. m. 



WILL IT PAY TO GROW APPLES ? 



Our worthy Secretary assigned to me for this meeting the subject : "Will it 

 Pay to Grow Apples." This question, "Will it pay to grow apples, and will it not 

 be overdone ?" I am asked by letter more than I have time to answer. 



*In answer to the latter : Yes, if every state was adapted to growing apples 

 like Missouri, and every tree planted was cared for, judging by the large amount 

 of trees sold by nurseries. But not one-fourth reaches the age to bear. Many die 

 immature for want of knowledge of how to plant and cultivate, and many varie- 

 ties are not adapted for our climate and soil. 



In answer to the first question, will it pay to grow apples? Yes, if judicious 

 selection is made for climate, soil and locality, and the orchards properly cultiva- 

 ted. One asks, what shall I plant ? One neighbor recommends to set one kind and 

 another the other kind. Attend our State Horticultural meetings, read our State 

 reports. I feel safe in saying apple trees will come into bearing here about two 

 years younger than they will \n eastern states. 



The golden apple is justly called the king of fruit. All farmers who are will- 

 ing and capable of caring for trees should plant an orchard. 



The most important feature is to extend the season nearly or quite through 

 the year by making judicious selections of summer and winter varieties. There is 

 no farm crop which on an average will produce half as much income per acre 

 as a good apple orchard. But as it takes four to six years to come into bearing, 

 some people hesitate to plant, regarding the time and expense in a great measure 

 lost. In reply to this, let us figure on that and see. Fifty apple trees are about the 

 number for an acre, but as small trees should stand thicker to protect each other 

 from the wind, plant double that amount as follows : 



100 trees on an acre first year cost $8 00 



Planting one acre 100 trees 2 00 



Securing from rabbits, borers and insects nO 



Culture of the one- fourth acre 2 00 



Total cost first year 12 5i) 



The balance, three-fourths of an acre, can be planted and cultivated 

 toother crops; castor beans and tobacco are the best for orchard 

 crops. 



I 



