20 ■ State Horticultural Society. 



Versailles is a pretty little town of about i,8oo or 2,000 population, 

 located in the central part of Morgan county. General appearances indi- 

 cate a prosperous condition existing in the town and surrounding coun- 

 try. In the city are two thriving banks and two manufacturing plants. 

 When one has traveled over the county and seen the thousand or miore 

 acres of fruit, he is not surprised to learn that the farmers and fruit 

 growers are the main support of the banks. — Colman's Rural World, 

 St. Louis. 



Farmers and fruit growers are looking for new things in the cul- 

 tivation and marketing of their crops. The practical grower and worker 

 does not take kindly to what may be termed ''high-class technical sug- 

 gestions," because they have neither the time nor the patience to engage 

 in purely experimental work for their guidance in the future manage- 

 ment of their business. They are constantly endeavoring to find how to 

 do things in the quickest, simplest and cheapest ways that will produce 

 the best results, in which they are greatly assisted by the State Experi- 

 ment Stations and the Government Department of Agriculture. But 

 they need something else — to come together for consultation as to the 

 best methods and to exchange experiences, and this is the object of the 

 various agricultural associations, both local. State and National. Many 

 years ago, "before the war," the fruit growers of Missouri formed the 

 association now known as the 'Missouri Horticultural Society, and to 

 their efforts for the promotion of fruit growing in the State may be as- 

 cribed the splendid results that have been accomplished. 



The sumimer ineeting of the Society held at Versailles last week 

 was by far the most interesting and instructive gathering of the kind 

 that the writer has attended in many years. The papers read at the 

 various sessions, giving experiences of their authors, combined much 

 that is new, and their practical value was greatly increased by discus- 

 sion. 



The music, both vocal and instrumental, was excellent, especially 

 the singing by Mrs. Bailey, who has a clear, beautiful voice and charm- 

 ing manner. 



The floral display furnished by the ladies of Versailles was gorgeous, 

 consisting of choice cut flowers in vases, cacti and evergreens. In grate- 

 ful recognition of the compliment, the donors of the flowers were 

 awarded premiums in accordance with the artistic merits of the gifts. 



The court room, where the sessions of the Society were held, was 

 beautifully decorated with bunting and flags by the good people of Ver- 



