ANNUAL WINTER MEETING AT WARRENSBURG. 191 



frost. There will be no more splitting of the bark at the collar of the 

 tree. There will be no more immature fruit buds. The roots will be 

 relieved from the water pressure that in the past they have been com- 

 pelled to bear. I do not blame the surly winter which God hath or- 

 dained for a wise purpose for the damage of our fruit trees. I attach 

 blame to the men who do not plant their orchards on the highest 

 and driest situation on their farms. 



I have a system of underdrains of near two miles on my place 

 that is doing its work night and day in a very satisfactory manner. It 

 is a cure for wet ground, the plants, vegetables, all kinds of grain, 

 small fruits and fruit trees all luxuriate in a soil that is well under- 

 drained. I can recommend it to every citizen of the State who owns a 

 farm, believing it to be the only remedy for bringing into successful 

 cultivation all the wet soils. 



PEARS— LOCATION, TREATMENT AND BEST VARIETIES FOR 



PLA.NTING. 



BY J. A. DURKES, WESTON, MO. 



The pear tree, in its wild state, is a native of Europe and Asia, ex- 

 tending from the Mediterranean sea northward as far as Sweeden — 

 eastward to China and Japan. 



The culture of the pear is one of very ancient date. The great 

 length of time during which the fruit is in season for eating or culin- 

 ary uses, its superior delicacy and flavor, and the great beauty of the 

 tree has always maintained for it a very high interest in the annals 

 of horticulture. 



Roman writers speak of it, mentioning many varieties and the 

 uses their excellence adapted them to. 



The estimation of the fruit grew apace with the civilization of the 

 people, and the introduction of superior kinds. 



So far had this improvement been advanced from tlie acrid wild- 

 ling that as early as the first part of the last century a writer informs 



