298 State Horticultural Society. 



growers ought to try and experiment with late keepers until we find 

 some one or more that will fill the place. 



Yes we believe that there is hope for a better state of pear culture 

 in Missouri. With such a diversity of soils, locations and the climatic 

 range, it certainly would seem strange that with experiment and trials 

 of many varieties in different sections of the State we should fail to 

 make pear culture a fair success. Let us plant and experiment with 

 various kinds until we find success in our labor, remembering Dow- 

 ing's adage, that "for every tree lost, plant two in its place." 



DISCUSSION ON THE OZAKKS. 



N. F. Murray. — I am not here to tell about the Ozarks, but it 

 woul-d be foolish for North Missouri to grow strawberries for the 

 large markets, as our varieties do not have the solid hold up quali- 

 ties. We can do well in a local market, but you have the ideal coun- 

 try here for strawberry growing and in a commercial way. Also, I 

 think you should grow enough grapes for the State and to keep us 

 supplied without having to ship in New York grapes. In Dent county 

 there is one vineyard of 200 vines. On October 15th I ate some 

 grapes from these vines which were picked the 15th of September. 

 Each bunch was in a sack and 1 have never eaten their equal outside 

 of Missouri. There were not more than three bad grapes on each 

 bunch. Why should we buy from New York and Ohio when we can 

 grow our oAvn just as good? l"he Ozarks will come to be the greatest 

 fruit country in the United States. 



Mr. Messick. — I find there is one thing that has been overlooked. 

 I find in Illinois that we have an abundance of wood growth and the 

 tendency to overpower the fruit growing element. In the Ozarks you 

 have an abundance of fruit grovx^th and a lack of wood growth which 

 overpowers the tree and causes it to run down. In Kansas the wood 

 growth overbalances the fruit growth. In an orchard I just visited 

 there was enough wood on fortv acres for eighty acres, and the fruit 

 on this forty was too little. I think the time has come when the peo- 

 ple will thoroughly understand tliis relation between the wood and 

 the fruit producing elements. 



J. C. Evans. — It may seem a bit egotistical for me to say it, but 

 in 1868 when William Muir was secretary of the Society I made the 

 statement that the future fruit lands of Afissouri would be in the red 

 lands of the Ozarks. 



C. W. Steiman. — If in South Missouri you cannot grow apples 

 we invite you to come up to North Missouri. In North ]\Iissoi;ri vye 



