COUNTY REPORTS. 293 



stalks help to shade the young trees, and, as trees have deep roots and 



corn is a surface-feeder, they do not damage each other. Never allow 



the ground to become hard or matted with grass. The best, net return 



I have had on berries was $125 i)er acre. Peaches net from $50 to 



$150 per acre, according to care and varieties. 



S. W. Gilbert. 



ANOTHER REPORT. 



The population of the city of Thayer is not less than 1500. It is 

 a division point on the K. 0., Ft. S. & M. R. R. Koshkonong is only a 

 switch and flag station. The prospect for another railroad is good, to 

 be built in the near future, from northeast by way of Alton, the county 

 seat, and on to West Plains, in Howell county. 



On the north and northeast of Eleven Point river the timber con- 

 sists mainly of heavy pine. Along this river are many large, fine 

 bottom farms ; also along Frederick and Warm Fork creeks are many 

 very beautiful and rich farms. The streams are all stocked with 

 numerous and fine fish. 



A great portion of the uplands in Oregon county is level and 

 gently rolling, and the soil very fertile, while another portion is more 

 rough and somewhat hilly. However, much of this hilly land is well 

 adapted for farming purposes, while all is especially adapted for the 

 raising of all kinds of fruit, wine-grapes and other berry kinds, or can 

 be used as pasture land. About 70 per cent of the Oregon county 

 land can be used for farming and fruit- raising. 



From a horticultural stand-point, Oregon county stands second to 

 no other county on the southern slope of the Ozark mountains. The 

 Big Red apple, the finest in the world — noted as the product of the 

 Ozarks — can certainly be grown in Oregon county. Peaches, pears, 

 plums, cherries, apricots and other fruits, the finest of grapes, straw- 

 berries, raspberries, blackberries and dewberries are successfully 

 raised. 



While it is true that fruit-raising in Oregon county has not yet 

 been brought to the equal dimension of that of Howell county, it will 

 follow just as rapidly as possible. There are several very old orchards 

 in the county, some of which are 50 years old and are yet sound and 

 healthy trees, some bearing as high as 40 to 50 bushels of apples to 

 the tree. Mr. l!^. B. Allen, of Couch postotfice, showed me an old 

 apple tree the other day that is about nine feet in circumference. 



Mr. S. W. Gilbert and Mr. C. Barnard of Thayer have both fine 

 young orchards which begin to pay a good yearly income, and many 

 others are planting out apple and peach orchards in the new scientific 



