SUMMER MEETING. 17 



bless her that gives and her that takes. Above all, they teach me uuselfishness and 

 generosity. But I find so many lessons and so much of pleasure that I cannot 

 begin to tell all. 



Wednesday, June 7, 9 a. m. 



The Society convened in the hall at 9 a. m., and at once proceeded 

 to take up that all-important subject, " Orchards." 



The first paper was by D. A. Eobnett, of Columbia. 



ORCBA-KD-GROWING IN CENTRAL MIS30UR[. 



The subject given me is one on which I might have been able to give you very 

 correct figures, had our worthy Secretary notified me five years ago that he would 

 call on me, some time in the future, for a paper on this subject. 



Having never kept any account of expenses, I will have to estimate the cost 

 from memory. 



The value of land in Central Missouri ranges from $5 to $50 per acre. Nearly 

 all persons interested in horticulture agree that timber or hilly land is best for 

 orchards. It seems that nature has especially endowed this portion of our land 

 for fruit culture. Hence, we do not want the highest priced prairie land, but we 

 must choose for our orchards, lands that are best applied to growing trees, and 

 those that are well drained. 



Such lands can be bought for from $5 to $20 per acre, owing to location and im- 

 provements. However, I would not make the price of land my first consideration, 

 but would consider shipping facilities and adaptability of land as more important 

 features. 



The soil of Central Missouri, with its verdant hills and fertile valleys, seems 

 peculiarly adapted to fruit-growing. There are many advantages in this portion 

 of o uState to ofi'er to those wishing to engage in fruit-growing. 



There are thousands of acres of the very finest orchard lands on earth in Cen- 

 tral Missouri. The lands on the north side of the Missouri river between Bluffcon 

 and Glasgow are especially fine for orchards. This land can be bought at from $5 

 to $20 per acre, and all this land is within five miles, or less, of railroad depot, and 

 the same distance from Missouri river. 



The cost of preparing land depends largely upon lands chosen. He who 

 selects land with much undergrowth makes for himself much labor and expense, 

 for no man gets pay for clearing land. I had rather take a river bluff farm, one 

 worn out by cultivation, and put it in orchard, than devote the labor required to 

 clear and keep down sprouts, to hauling much manure and plowing under clover. 

 No man can cultivate trees in newly cleared land without much labor and great 

 expense. Therefore we will not attempt to estimate the cost of orchards on such 

 land. , 



My first orchard was on clover land, plowed in October with four heavy 

 horses to riding plow, so as to keep it in the ground, plowed as deep as possible. 

 We then took two-horse plow and laid land off both ways 25X25 feet. This land 

 was now ready for trees at cost of $1.25 per acre. 



The cost of preparing land for another orchard on thin land was greater. We 

 first sowed land to oats in the spring, then July Ist plowed oats under four inches, 

 and again, October 1st, plowed land eight inches with riding plow, and followed 



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