312 State HorticitltM-al Society. 



a little when planting. Buy direct from the nearest nursery and get them 

 as fresh as possible, and under no consideration would I buy from a 

 dealer or an agent. 



Time of planting. — I would prefer fall or early spring, never late 

 spring. 



As to varieties, I will have to confine myself strictly to my county — 

 Vernon — as there may be other varieties that would do well in other 

 localities and not in Vernon. I will name them in order of preference: 

 Early Richmond, commonly called Early May; English Morello, Mont- 

 morency and Late Richmond. 



Cultivation. — I consider this one of the most important points in 

 fruit growing and one of the most neglected parts. I believe there are 

 mc're failures on account of poor, or no, cultivation, than all other failures 

 put together. Cherries should have thorough cultivation the entire sea- 

 son, not a weed allowed to grow ; this should be kept up for five or six 

 years, then sowed to clover, mow the clover twice a year and leave it on 

 the ground, never take it ofif or pasture the cherry orchard. 



SEVENTH SESSION— THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 8 P. M. 



The program for the evening was opened by a beautiful piano 

 solo, variations of Home, Sweet Home, by Miss Patterson, which 

 was enthusiastically encored. 



Vice-President Dutcher presided over the meeting. 



THE FIRST TWO YEARS IN A COMMERCIAL ORCHARD. 



(W. L. Howard, Assistant Horticulturist, Oplumbia, Mo.) 



It is to be hoped that the facts and figures to be given in this 

 account will not be taken to apply perfectly to all localities, even in 

 the State of Missouri. However, the figures for the different items are 

 actual ones and represent the cost that was necessary for all purposes by 

 one who found it necessary to hire all the work done and to pay cash 

 therefor. The apple orchard is the only one that will be reported on. 



The first planting was done on land that had been in cultivation 

 for several decades, although it had been in bluegrass sod for the 

 past seventeen years. The soil is of the well-known loess formation, 

 but the situation was almost a mile from the river and hence there 



