.Winter Meeting. 283 



the World's Fair, but did not find any worthy of exhibit. We had a 

 good crop of pears, a half crop of plums and cherries and some fair 

 strawberries. No peaches, but peach trees made a fine growth, and if 

 we have moderate winter once again, we may expect a good crop of 

 peaches once more. Strawberry beds are in the best condition with 

 me that they have been for years. My pear trees have shown no blight 

 for three years, while those of others not far from me have blighted 

 and died more or less every year. It seems strange that mine have re- 

 mained healthy as I manure and cultivate mine every year, and that 

 others in sod and not cultivated should blight and die. As most claim 

 that trees highly manured and cultivated would surely invite the blight. 

 Well sir, I will not change my mode of care for my trees, as long as 

 they continue to do as well as they have. Dear ^Ir. Goodman I have 

 been vexed and sorry, to read in the Western Fruit Grower, in regard 

 to the Black Ben Davis hiuddle and also of the charge of some financial 

 irregularities, casting a reflection on some of our best, most honest, and 

 trusted men in our State Society, to whom great thanks and gratitude 

 are due from at least every fruit grower in our and also neighboring 

 states. Now if the Black Ben is so near like the Gano as tO' deceive, 

 even good judges of fruit, where would the honor come in, to intro- 

 duce it at a high price, as something new, and above price. I hope you 

 will have, or have had a rousing good meeting, this winter, and as I 

 have never been so fortunate as to be present at any of the meetings 

 of our State Society, I am never the less present with my best wishes, 

 and kindest regards. jMy dear sir, if you have any copies of the 46th 

 annual report of our State Horticultural Society, I would be ever grate- 

 ful to you for one. I also hope to receive present years report, as I 

 am getting too old for traveling, but would be glad to learn how our 

 State exhibit compared with other states, that had better fruit crops. 

 We had within 48 hours, rain, sleet, and snow, with a young bliz- 

 zard all day yesterday, clear today, with two below zero this morning- 

 Ground was very dry all this fall, with no rain for nearly three months. 

 I will close with best wishes for you and family and for a happy new 

 year and hope the Giver of all good, to whom be praise forever, will be 

 pleased to bestow upon us His blessing and a bountiful year next season 

 is my prayer. 



Yours very truly, 



Peter Dailing, 



Baring, Mo. 



