COUNTY REPORTS. 34& 



9 



our meetings were held out-doors, at the homes of the members. At 

 these meetings the ladies were out in large numbers, bringing with 

 them a basket of good things to eat, and generally a collection of flow- 

 ers. The display of flowers this season has been the finest I have ever 

 seen since becoming a member of the Society. Vegetables have also 

 been shown in large quantities. In the way of fruits, although we 

 have had specimens at each meeting, the quantity has been very lim- 

 ited, owing to extreme scarcity. Premiums have been awarded to the 

 best of all articles in competition, and in this manner quite a little sum 

 has been paid out during the year. Our financial condition is good, 

 having now a balance in the treasury of |150. It has never been less 

 than that in five years. Quite a number of good papers have been 

 read before the Society this year, among which are the following: 



Small Fruits, How to Plant and Culdvate—G. W. Hopkins. 



How to (rrow Pears — H. H. Park. 



Bees in Horticulture— W. T. Zink. 



Our Best Bedding Plants— J. Kirchgraber. 



The Necessity of Intelligent Study of Horticulture— Major E. D. Parce. 



The Best Fertilizer, Fresh or Well-rotted Manure— Dr. Hensley. 



How to Grow Grapes— S. W. McLaughlin. 



The Mission of Flowers — Miss E. Lindsay. 



Trimming of Large Trees — J. Kirchgraber. 



Crown and Piece-root Grafts— Dr. J. Hensley. 



These papers will be furnished the Secretary, and such as are 

 desirable can be published in the annual report of the State Society. 

 The year about to close is another one added to the list of short fruit 

 crops. 



This year has been the nearest a failure in fruits I have ever known 

 in Missouri. Two short crops in succession, together with the financial 

 depression, is enough to'discourage 'the stoutest heart. But we are 

 promised that " seed-time and harvest will always come," and let us 

 indulge the hope that at the close of another year we may rejoice in 

 having harvested a large crop of every horticultural product grown in 

 the great State of Missouri. 



During the winter let us take a retrospect of the past, and see if 

 we cannot learn something from these failures. I believe I have 

 learned some lessons that will be of benefit to me in the future. But 

 I see I am getting away from my subject, and will close by hoping you 

 will have a good meeting, and regret that circumstances are such that 

 I cannot attend. G. W. Hopkins, Secretary. 



