3 34 State Horticultural Society. 



right at the University. Our teachers need to be properly directed ; 

 then they will take hold of the work and give us just such teaching 

 as we need in our j^ublic schools. The Society has brought this mat- 

 ter so emphatically before the people that the}' are discussing- it in all 

 directions. At Shaw's Garden the topic was up for discussion one 

 whole evening. Teach! Teach! Teach! Teachers who know how 

 to do are what we want, in order to present this subject clearly and 

 prominently before our schools. Teaching pupils how to think is 

 lietter than cramming into them bushels of knowledge. 



It looks now as though cur grand State is to be the Mecca of 

 apple growing for the west, and, indeed, for fruit growing in general. 

 Our spacious rich Aalleys and high table lands, our sunny slopes and 

 airy heights, and above all, oui highly organized mineral soils, and 

 our central location give us advantages which are combined in no 

 other State so fortunately and i:)roftabl\- as in Missouri. — American 

 Truck Farmer. 



THE OLD FRIEND, BEN DAVIS. 



(L. A. Goodman.) 



We will take care of him for the good he has done and the good 

 he will yet do for us. I wish I had known I'enjamin of old, but not 

 knowing him, I ^vant to say in addition to what I have said : The 

 Ben Davis :s one of the best market apples, pays the most money per 

 bushel, bears the most, and pays the best per acre of all varieties. 

 The following- are ten reasons win it is one of the best market apples : 



First, it is a good grower in the nursery. 



Second, it makes a handsome tree in the orchard. 



Third, it bears young. 



Fourth, it bears oftener and more abundantlv than anv other. 



Fifth, the apples are usually large and fine. 



Sixth, they alwa3'S sell well. 



Seventh, they cook well before they are ripe. 



Eighth, they cook well when ripe. 



JSFinth, they are the best for drying purpose. 



Tenth, there is money in them. 



The other best apples for Missouri are the Gano and Jonathan. 



I see much is now being said against good old Ben Davis. It 

 may be that much is true for eastern or n<^rthern grown Ben Davis, 



