WINTER MEETING. 217 



ciety and its grand work in developing the fruit interests of this State, 

 and what is better, seemed to know of the wonderful possibilities of 

 Missouri for fruits. 



Our report has been well received and is called for continually 

 from every part of the land. As some have said, "the reports of the 

 Missouri Society for the last ten years is the best horticultural library 

 that we can get." 



I am happy, dear friends, that I have had a hand with you in thus 

 bringing forward our interests aud letting them be known to the world 

 through our reports. Letters come by the score, not only for thei^e 

 reports, but for answers to questions covering all phases of fruit grow- 

 ing, insects, birds and fungii. Our experiment stations have been call- 

 ing for files of them, and many of the city libraries have asked the 

 same. I have been able to supply thus far these requests for the re- 

 ports for 15 years. 



I have found it necessary to have some assistance in this work and 

 have used the best that I could secure and the work has often kept 

 both of us busy for many a day. 



The transportation question is the great question to solve if this 

 business is to develop to the extent it now promises. The putting of 

 this fruit where it is called for is the solution of this question of "glut- 

 ting the market." "Proper distribution," and we will furnish the fruit 

 for the nations. Much is being learned by the railroads and refrigerator 

 companies each year in the best plan of handling, and carrying, and 

 holding and delivering ice. Brine and ventilated cars are having a fair 

 test and from all these we are sure to have this troublesome question 

 solved. 



THE OMAHA EXPOSITION. 



We have made a start in this line of work and our Vice-President 

 has visited the Exposition for the purpose of organizing for that display. 

 It seems that our State has made no provision for the showing of our 

 products, and it is very doubtful if this Society can do more than to 

 make a fruit show for a week or so in the fall, sometime in October. 



A few members of this Society have taken the burden of all the 

 exhibits we have ever made, aud spent their time without stint for the 

 benefit of the State and its fruit interests, and anything more than a 

 week's exhibit would be too much to ask without money and without 

 price. 



The Society work it that of helper and leader and director of the 

 fruit interests and other kindred interests and the development of the 

 wonderful advantage that nature has given to our State. We can 

 easily count by the thousands the successful orchards all over the State 



