292 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



customs and organizations peculiar to a live northern town. Many fine 

 people are settled here, while others from the north are coming to find 

 a home in this land of mild winters, fine fruit and no malaria. 



Oregon county is in extreme south-central Missouri. There is no 

 prairie lands ; about two-thirds of the county broken and hilly — some 

 very rocky — with narrow valleys, called 'M^ottoms,'' which are, very 

 productive. Some of the upland is comparatively free of rock, and 

 yields fine crops when handled by competent farmers. 



All unimproved land is covered with timber — black and white oak, 

 black-jack, hickory, elm, with many wild fruit-bearing shrubs. 



The streams are Eleven Points river and Warm Fork, There are 

 many powerful springs and strange natural freaks, which may yet 

 become popular health resorts. Being just east of Howell county, they 

 are very similar in adaptability to fruit-growing. They have taken the 

 blue ribbon at every fruit exhibit made at all the large fruit shows^ 

 We grow apples, peaches, pears, grapes, plums, cherries, apricots, 

 strawberries, raspberries, Lucretia dewberries and other fruits to per- 

 fection. It is hard to find a piece of ground on which all these fruits 

 may not do well, but it is generally conceded that the higher the land,^ 

 the better colored and firmer grained apples and peaches grow. A 

 high northeast slope is better for peaches than any other. Our market 

 for berries and all fruits is unlimited. According to season or demand,, 

 we may ship north or south. The railroad has reduced express rates 

 on fruit to Kansas City, from $2.50 per 100 pounds to $1.25, or one-half, 

 in the past four years, and as business increases, we may expect other 

 concessions. 



Our home market is good ; so far, the demand for fruit, garden- 

 stuff, eggs, butter and poultry is far in excess of the supply. 



Land may be bought at from 50 cents to $50 per acre, according 

 to location and improvements. The cost of planting an orchard de- 

 pends much on the management, amount of ground to be set, location, 

 etc. A thousand acres costs much less per acre than a small orchard, 

 probable cost ranging from $25 to $50 per acre to buy the land, clear, 

 fence, break, set to trees and cultivate thoroughly up to bearing age. 

 One-year-old trees are best, and should be procured from reliable 

 parties. Plant very few varieties, such as do best here. Trees cost 

 $40 to $75 per thousand. 



To prepare soil for orchard, use heavy breaking plow; put it into 

 the ground as deep as possible ; harrow thoroughly. Set apple trees 

 25 feet apart each way on high land, and 30 to 32 feet on low ground. 

 Cultivate as thoroughly each year as you would any root crop. It is a 

 good plan to plant field in corn and work it thoroughly each way. The 



