122 State Horticultural Society. 



largest collection of varieties ever collected and shown. The exhibit 

 is one which is the pride of every Missourian and the wonder of every 

 visitor. It is doing more to extend the interest in the fruit lands of 

 the State than was even expected it would. 



There are certain lessons to be learned by the fruit grower in 

 the examination of the various State shows that are well worth the 

 learning. First, the adaptation of varieties to special localities and 

 the increase of value in color, size, quality and productiveness, where 

 so adapted. It is certain that some varieties should never be planted 

 in some localities. Second, the value of the subsoil in giving character 

 and quality to the fruit, and healthy growth and long life to the tree. 

 Third, that care and cultivation are as necessary to success as is atten- 

 tion to business in any other calling. 



HORTICULTURE IN MISSOURI. 



(L. A. Goodman.) 



Years ago "Horticulture in Missouri'' would have been a by- 

 word of our Eastern people, but in 1904 it is an acknowledged fact 

 and very important factor when considering the fruit interests of our 

 Nation, and at this date we can truly count on Missouri as holding 

 the first rank. 



The ciiniate of this central West is a modification of all of the 

 East and West, and North and South combined, having neither the 

 rigors of the North nor the heat of the South, nor the extreme 

 humidity of the East nor the droughty conditions of the West. Being 

 in the center of this grand Nation, and partaking of the good things 

 from the four quarters of the land as to location, it has also taken the 

 good things of climate from these same four quarters. 



Location, peculiar as it is, the value is not the least by any means 

 of the State, even in a horticultural way. On the highway of the East 

 to the West as well as the West to the East, and the North to the 

 South, it is more favorably located for the growing and distribution 

 of fruits than any other of our states. 



Geologically, the location embodies the semi-mountainous dis- 

 trict, the bottoms of the lakes, the "loess" of the glacier formation 

 and the loam of the river deposits. The soils are such, that for fruit- 

 growing we can find the best that the world affords. Not all the 

 lands of Missouri are fruit lands by any means, and there is where 



