Winter Meeting. 343 



dustry as compared with another, nor can we show the dechne of 

 any industry. Prosperity in most hnes of farm production is at higli 

 water mark. 



Now as to Horticulture ; this has been our work for the last 

 •seventeen years. We are famiHar with the changing* conditions in- 

 cident thereto. We have seen frost, drouth, hail, blight and insects 

 with all their accompanying and destructive effects. We have stood 

 in the rain and sold berries at 40 cents per crate ; we have also en- 

 joyed the bright sunshine and sold them at $4.00 per crate. Our 

 balance sheet always showed favorable returns, large or small as the 

 case might be. On a small acreage near a large city. Horticulture 

 has the decided advantage. Large incomes may be cited in support 

 of this proposition. A good asparagus bed will yield from $400.00 

 to $700.00 per acre. I have done well with the whole catalogue of 

 Horticultural products, with but little distinction as to profit, though 

 the peach would be a leader if we could have it every year. 



More, that is to be prized above the profits of the business, is 

 to be found in its pleasure and fascination. 



O pleasant orchards, emerald leaves 

 And sliining fruit the summer weaves 

 Into a jewel of design 

 Finer than man will e'er refine. 



I will say to the young man of the city with broken health and 

 doubtful salary, try the open fields. To the city girl, I say, that a 

 fruit farm will beat your hard earned cash in point of reward and as 

 Tierve tonic it is vastly superior to a department store. I know that 

 I subject myself to criticism by inviting competitors, but this favored 

 land is wide and only partly developed, to all critics I say there is room 

 at the top ; climb up higher. ■ 



XyiFFKRENCE IN HANDLING FRUIT NOW AND THIRTY- 

 FOUR YEARS AGO. 



(By W. G. Gano, Parkville, Mo., read at the Missouri Valley Horticultural Society.) 



. On coming to Missouri in 1870, my desire was to engage in fruit 

 -growing. In March, 1871, I became connected with the Park orchard 

 and nursery at Parkville, Mo. This orchard had produced a very 

 bountiful crop of fruit the year 1870, and as the surrounding country 

 in ttie vicinity of Kansas City had at this date a considerable number 

 of orchards coming into bearing, the prices of fruit in the fall of 1870 

 •were somewhat lower compared with former years. 



