358 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The little society we now claim as our charge will in a few years 

 grasp within its fold the owners of many thousand acres of fruit lands 

 and orchards. 



I cannot close without saying that the prospect for a larger display 

 of both fruits and vegetables, that will be supported by over five coun- 

 ties for next year, is very flattering. 



Our society is entirely free from debt and money in the treasury to 

 meet all urgent demands. We are growing each year in size, as well 

 as influence. Respectfully yours, 



P. P. B. Hynson, 



Vice-President. 



HOLT COUNTY. 



HORTICULTURE OF HOLT COUNTY. 



Forty years ago when I came to Holt county there were very few 

 bearing apple orchards in the county, and no cultivated or tame small 

 fruits or stone fruits, except a few sour Morello cherries and some 

 seedling peaches. 



Some people would set out small family orchards without fencing, 

 and turn the stock in the field and let them destroy the trees, and 

 many were destroyed in this way when large enough to bear fruit. 

 About 37 years ago I wanted some shade trees in my door-yard, and I 

 asked Josiah Springer to bring me some shade trees for that purpose, 

 and he said he would bring me some apple-trees for ten cents a tree, 

 and he did so, and they looked like they were six or seven years old, 

 very tall but healthy — and seedlings of course — do not think there 

 was a grafted nursery in the county at this time. The trees grew a 

 year or two, and thinking I might as well have some fruit, I had them 

 budded, putting in four buds in the body five or six feet from the 

 ground. This was about the middle of the tree. I cut out the top a 

 little at a time for several years, until I cut away entirely the stem 

 above where the buds were put. This I done so neat and careful that 

 they all lived and bore fruit, some of them are alive and in good health 

 today. Where the buds were put in they look so solid and nurly that 

 I have sometimes wondered if dynamite would burst them. 



From 1867 or 1868 to 1881 the apples were hauled to Kansas and 

 Nebraska in wagons, the apple wagons running day and night. In 1882 

 was the first that were shipped by car-lots to amount to anything — that 

 year there were over 200 car-loads shipped out of the county. From 



