130 State Horticultural Society. 



to grow for market purposes as the Houghton, that we have raised since 

 our youth. 



We are told that the Industry and other EngHsh gooseberries can 

 be as profitably grown here as in England. If that be true, which is 

 questionable, saying the least, the sturdy Brittainer should import the 

 Houghton, and other good American varieties, and experiment with them, 

 England is about eighteen thousand square miles smaller than Missouri,, 

 and being nearly surrounded by salt water, induces a moisture tinctured 

 with salt that, in the opinion of the writer, is nutritious to fruit of its genus 

 (Ribes). The writer's belief is so strong in this direction that the coming 

 July he intends to put a ring of salt three feet from each bush, in the same 

 way as we salt quince trees. The purpose is to supply the roots with food 

 that they have been deprived of by being removed so far away from the 

 soil where nature supplied them with (figuratively speaking) the nerve 

 and blood that produces its intendment. 



If the writer were intending to cultivate gooseberries for profit, he 

 would plant the Houghton in rows six feet apart each way, so they could 

 be cultivated the same way we cultivate corn. I would not permit the 

 canes or shoots to grow older than three years, pruning out after gather- 

 ing each crop. I believe a man of ordinary industry with one horse can 

 make a good living raising six or seven acres of gooseberries, and market- 

 ing them. 



DISCUSSION ON GOOSEBERRIES. 



Mr. Bailey — The wild berries around here are better than the 

 Houghton. The hills abound in all kinds of berries. 



Mr. McVey — The Houghton grows well here and bears prolificly. 



Mr. Goodman — The gooseberry bears well and is easily gathered, by 

 stripping the berries from the twigs. They will pay $1.00 per bush. 

 They should be planted six by eight feet apart. The berry ships well and 

 ought to be planted here for the local market. 



Mr. Bailey — There is a device for cleaning the leaves from the fruit 

 after it has been stripped from the bushes. 



FRUIT CROP AND PEAR CULTURE. 



Baring, May 25, 1905. 

 Hon. L. A. Goodman: 



Dear Sir — As I have seen in a notice from you, the summer meeting 

 of our State Society will be held at Versailles in June. I hope you will 



