WINTER MEETING. 311 



While the specimens almost equal the imported Spanish chestnut 

 in size, varying from H to If inches in largest diameter, their quality 

 is far superior, and almost equals that of tne best American Sweet 

 chestnuts. The uniform tenor of all my reports about the behavior of 

 the Paragon elsewhere justifies the expectation that our trees will bear 

 quickly-increasing crops from year to year, and the earnest advice to 

 every owner of a rural home to plant at least a tree or two of this 

 chestnut. It is a pleasure to have it on the grounds. And if you 

 want to know what a tree of bearing age, even if yet young and small, 

 is worth, ask the children what they would take for the tree to have it 

 removed from the premises. 



Louisiana Products in Missouri. 



During the week ending December 8, inst., L. L. Seller, of Lake 

 Charles, attended the annual meeting of the Missouri State Horticul- 

 tural Society, held at Fulton, Missouri. From here he took quinces 

 weighing two pounds each, three varieties of oranges, three of Japan 

 persimmons, two of figs — one on the branch, the other in jars pre- 

 served and pickled — and rice in the sheaf. Prof. Stubbs had sent from 

 the experiment stations the finest collection of sugar-cane ever brought 

 together. There were about 50 varieties, all nicely labeled and named. 

 Many of the canes were of enormous size, and the coloring was some- 

 thing of artistic beauty. In addition to the sugar-cane the Professor 

 had sent Japan beans with pods a foot or more long and 2 inches 

 wide, jute stalks 12 feet long, ramie stalks 3 feet long, teasinte stalks 

 18 feet long, an indigo plant that emulated the size of the scriptural 

 mustard; Para grass 10 feet long; fresh alfalfa and several other vari- 

 eties of forage plants. 



This Louisiana collection made a most favorable impression on our 

 northern neighbors. The hard limits of time alone put an end to their 

 questions concerning this country. The oranges were sampled by the 

 commissioners of the Society, and as is universal, classed with the 

 best. At the close of the convention, every one who could carried 

 home a souvenir in the form of a sugar-cane, head of rice or other 

 article ; and as an expression of good-will and desire for reciprocity, 

 the Society filled a box with some of their show apples, and requested 

 Mr. Seller to put them on exhibition in Lake Charles. They say : "We 

 want your winter vegetables, early strawberries, grapes, pears, oranges, 

 rice, sugar and lumber. You want our corn, pork, flour, Irish pota- 

 toes, fall grapes and apples. Let us trade." We answer with a hearty 

 amen. — Lake Charles American. 



