ANNUAL WINTER MEETING AT WARRENSBURQ. 287 



days there succeeded in p:etting; the best apples in our collection. 

 With the assistance of P. P. Dobozy, E. F. Hynes, Levi Smith and J. 

 O. Richardson, of West Plains; Geo. Loy, of Moody, and G. L. Sessins, 

 of Olden, a goodly number of varieties were collected. Besides these 

 a collection was sent in by the Bates County Society, of Butler ; Dr. 

 Morerord, of Schell City ; F. Lionberger, of New Florence; J. B. Wild 

 & Bro., of Sarcoxie, and many others in smaller lots but none the less 

 valuable. 



The Missouri Valley Society also gave us a good collection for our 

 use. 



I can point with pride to our collection of 150 varieties of apples, 

 50 of pears, 26 of grapes, 3 of quinces and 3 of peaches as being one of 

 the best in the hail, and to the success of the exhibit in receiving a 

 medal for the collection. 



Some of the northern and eastern men opened their ej^es to the 

 beauty of our apples, and the remark was true that " westward the 

 star of fruit growing takes its way." 



At this meeting I believe our fruits attracted more attention than 

 did any other display, and I am sure it was the means of bringing more 

 buyers into the western part of our State to buy apples than all other 

 causes combined. 



The expenseof this show, all told, was $ 145.90, ot which $25 00 will 

 probably be returned by the express company. Our express charges 

 alone were $50.00, and we are expecting a return of one-half. 



The fruit shows are one of the best means of advertising our fruit 

 crop, and always will pay. 



ST. LOUIS DISPLAY. 



The display made at the St. Louis Fair consisted of 180 varieties of 

 apples, 80 of pears, 30 of grapes, 3 of quinces and 3 of peaches, prob- 

 ably the most complete collection of fruits ever shown at that fair^ 

 We received $55.00 in premiums and a diploma for the " best and 

 largest collection of fruits by any society or club of individuals." The 

 expense of this display was $65.00. Both of these expense accounts 

 will be referred to the finance committee for approval. 



The work of the Secretary is one that is growing all the time, and 

 although one of pleasure and love to me, is one that takes more and 

 more time each year, and will soon occupy his attention completely. 



Last year I sent out 3,000 circulars, wrote 1,000 letters and 1,000 

 postal cards, named many varieties of apples, answered many hun- 

 dreds of questions, and last but not least, enthused new life inco many 

 of our fruit growers and a few of our societies. 



