ANiJUAL WINTER MEETING AT WAKRENSBDRG. 185 



In a few years it will be noticed that the trees have become more 

 or less drooping, and many of the lower limbs will be too near to, or 

 perhaps even touching- the ground. 



At this period the pruning; should be confined mostly to thinning 

 out and cutting off tliese trailing under-limbs, and it will be found 

 necessary to cut some pretty large limbs. Whether with saw or knife 

 use the tool so as not to split or to even check below the cut off, and 

 paint thoroughly all cuts over one inch in diameter and no harm will 

 follow. 



TIME FOR PRUNING. 



I have a very decided preference as to when my trees shall be 

 pruned. 



Watch the progress of the season, and just as soon as your trees 

 have begun to grow pretty fast, begin and finish as soon as possible. 

 There will .be but few, it any, suckers thrown out, the mechanical 

 pressure of the process of growth will tend to prevent checking, and 

 the new bark will soonest cover small cuts and partly cover large 

 ones. 



Men, women and children of Missouri — with her plains and hills, 

 and her unnumbered variations of soil, from Iowa to Arkansas, from 

 the Mississippi to her western boundary, by nature the best of the 

 States for producing the greatest and surest crops of apples of the rich- 

 est colors, the highest quality, and of the widest range among the best 

 varieties — do not fear that you will not get paid for your work in the 

 necessary article of money, nor in the high and refined satisfaction of 

 results accomplished in one of the best of all employments, and re- 

 member that what pays tor doing at all pays best for doing well. 



After which the following was read by W. G. Gano, of Parkville: 



To the Missouri State Horticultural Society : 



The productiveness of this section of our countr3^ in early times, 

 was wonderful. The young trees were no sooner introduced into the 

 soil when they would spring forUi with such strength and vigor as to 

 astonish us who have been accustomed to their culture in the old 

 Eastern States. Before we were prepared for it, our cellars were over- 

 flowing with the most beautiful, delicious fruit, God's best gift to man ; 

 so delightful to the sons of Missouri, that they doubtless felt that they 

 could justify our first parents in Eden for partaking so freely of all 

 the fruit of the garden, considering that it was the first growth of a 

 new country. 



