144 State Horticultural Society. 



Xot only does the weather, which is the subject of so many comments 

 and remarks by all, and which so uncomplainingly bears the blame for a 

 large number of the failures of the tiller of the soil, have its effect con- 

 tinually registering itself upon our plants, trees and their fruits and also 

 upon the insects and fungi which prey upon them, but in this complex 

 system of living of ours, other conditions as well exist which, while not 

 affecting directly the production, do not affect the marketing, which 

 really is the greatest problem now presenting itself for our solution. 



In planting, even after years of experience, we may well be at a 

 loss to know what to say when asked, even by a neighbor, what varieties 

 of fruit to set out. What a slight difference in the condition of the soil 

 chemieallv, or in its fertilitv, or in the moisture it holds, mav do for a 

 plant or tree is hard to calculate, particularly where w^eather conditions 

 have such a wide range as in Missouri, and in fact in the greatest part of 

 the world where fruits are produced. 



In our continual efforts to find something better than what we are 

 growing we must give those new fruits which are ever being introduced 

 and Avliich we believe would do well in our locality a trial. This of 

 course is the work of the experiment station, but we must all be experi- 

 menters to some extent at least if we M'ould know what is best suited to 

 our soil and conditions. Having done a little work of this kind myself 

 I can now say that it is truly surprising what grand fruits a very high 

 price for the plants or trees or the method of their propagation may some- 

 times develop. Of course nearly all of these new thing-s will prove of 

 no value to us, having either degenerated so rapidly after being sent out 

 by the introducer or propagator that they have become worthless by the 

 time they should bear fruit for the planter, or to take a more charitable 

 view, have journeyed so far from the favorable influences and conditions 

 surrounding the place of their birth as to become as stated. Particularly 

 are these things to be noticed in the strawberrv, while the tree fruits are 

 much more to be depended upon. 



JSTotwithstanding the disappointments that must of necessity attend 

 this work if it is carried on in a small way, it may result in much good and 

 is a source of a great deal of satisfaction to the one doing it — satisfaction 

 not only in occasionally finding a good thing, but in l»ei ng able to know 

 uf those tliat are worthless as well. 



