TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING. 311 



The Society met yesterday afternoon, and elected the following 



officers for the ensuini; year : 



President— N. J. Colraan of St. Louis. 



Vice-Presidents— 1st district— Henry Mitchell, St. Louis. 



2d district— T. Mudd, Kirkwood. 



3d district— Jacob Rliodes, Bridgeton. 



4th district— H. W. Wilson, Cape Girardeau. 



5th district— W. S. .Fewett, Crystal City. 



6th district— M. ,1. Roundtree, Springfield. 



7th district— GeorgaHusmann. Sedalia. 



8th district— Major Ragan, Independence. 



9th district— Jacob Modinger, St. Joseph. 



10th district— W. U. Miller, Chillicothe. 



11th district— S. M. Tracy, Columbia. 



12th district— J. Hawkins, Hannibal. 



13th district— Wm. Stark, Louisiana. 



Secretarj'— D. L. Hall, Kansas City. 



Treasurer— J. C. Evans, Harlem. 



The pear culture and blight were then discussed. 



In the evening, Judge Krekel delivered an interesting essay on 

 "Home Adornment." 



After short speeches, the Society selected Jefferson City as the 

 next place of meeting, and adjourned. 



It was decided to ask the Legislature for a small appropriation of 

 $1000. It should certainly be granted, as the work is one of incalcu- 

 lable importance to the State. 



THE PEACH AND ITS CULTURE. 



[Address of Mr. Geo. Husmann before the Missouri Horticultural Society, 

 delivered Wednesday, January 30, 1878.] 



The summer and autumn of 1877 brought us a very abundant crop of this 

 delicious fruit, and, as I consider it, in Its general utility and commercial impor- 

 tance, only secondary to the apple, while far superior in beauty and lusciousness, 

 a few remarks about its culture, and especially about the most sure and profitable 

 varieties, may not be out of place by one who has followed its culture nearly a life- 

 time. 



SELECTION OF GROUND FOR A PEACH ORCHARD. 



The most high and airy situations generally produce the surest crops, and I 

 am inclined to think that a northern or northwestern slope is preferable, as it is 

 not so often the extreme cold as the continued freezing and thawing on the south- 

 ern slope which proves destructive to the buds in winter. The soil should be well 

 drained and as deeply plowed as possible before they are planted, as the peach is a 

 deep-rooted tree, and will bring its best fruit only when the trees are kept in a 

 healthy and uniform growing condition. 



