180 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



We may be sure that this is no time to neglect our orchards, or 

 vineyards, or berry-patches. If there ever was a time when it was 

 necessary to give close attention to business, now is the time. We 

 may be sure that only the person who watches closely, acts quickly and 

 studies correctly is to be the successful orchardist of the future. In 

 this time of wreck and ruin in so many different walks in life, we can 

 see the fruit-grower holding his ground and his home, by the strictest 

 economy, perhaps, but much more successfully than any of the other 

 trades of business or profession. We have no need, therefore, for dis- 

 couragement, even if we have made no money to speak of this year on 

 our fruits. A strict attention to our work, a study of the principles 

 which underlie the subject, a lesson to be learned from experience, al- 

 though dear, will help us make a success of what we do in the end. 



Spraying is one of the most important matters now before the fruit- 

 growers. Experiments so far show that the best fungicide is the modi- 

 fied Bordeaux mixture : copper sulphate, two pounds ; lime, two pounds ; 

 soap, one pound ; water, 40 gallons ; add, for insects, Paris green, two 

 ounces for apples and one ounce for peaches and plums. 



We are on the right road to find the best use to put these to. Our 

 experiments are proving to us each year that there is something to 

 learn yet. One may get a mixture that will burn the foliage, while an- 

 other will claim that it is not strong enough to accomplish any good at 

 all. Some parties last year injured their trees very badly by usiog the 

 formula just as given by the Department. We must test these reme- 

 dies of our own mixing before usiug. 



I wish to call your attention to the use of tobacco for this pur- 

 pose; it is a much better use for it than to smoke, chew or snuff it. 

 There is no simple remedy that the insects dislike so utterly as to- 

 bacco. It will kill or drive away most of our injurious insects, and will 

 not injure the leaves of our trees or plants. I have not tried it for the 

 codling moth, or the scale on the raspberry, or the curculio, but it oc- 

 curs to me that it will keep them away, as I know it to be so beneficial 

 in our green-houses and on our plants. 



The Farmers' Institutes which are now being held over the State 

 are some of the good plans to scatter information. In the arrange- 

 ments of dates from Nov. 12 to Dec. 22, and at 26 different locations, 

 we have and will have Mr. Murray for ISorthwest and Northeast, myself 

 for Western, Mr. Nelson for Southeast, and Mr. Evans for Central and 

 Southwest Missouri. The series coming during this meeting will be 

 attended by one of our prominent members of South Missouri who 

 could not be present with us, Mr. Z. T. Russell. Many a good word is 

 spoken, many an experience given, many a seed dropped that will help 



