272 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIEIY. 



Heath Cling, a few years back, was one of the most profitable 

 peaches grown with us, but of late years it seems to have been attacked 

 by some disease, the fruit in many, instances being completely covered 

 with gum, making it utterly worthless, and I notice other clings are 

 affected in like manner. 



The peach yellows and San Jose scale are both with us and I fear 

 if there are not laws enacted by our State Legislature that they will 

 spread to every portion of our State. I have only had, so far, three or 

 four peach irees affected with the yellows, and these I cut down and 

 burnt as soon as I discovered they were affected, but there is scarcely 

 a peach orchard for miles around that is not more or less affected with 

 the disease. Mr. L. V. Dix's orchard is the only one, so far, in which 

 the San Jose scale has been discovered. 



About 90 per cent of the strawberries and blackcap raspberries 

 succumbed to the drouth. Blackberries and red raspberries were but 

 little damaged. Fruit trees that were well cultivated were not seriously 

 damaged by the drouth, and the prespects for a good crop of fruit next 

 year are good at present. A. J. Davis, JelTerson City, Mo. 



BEST CHERRIES, BEST LOCATION AND BEST TREATMENT. 



In all fruits there are those varieties that excel in popularity and 

 stand out pre-eminently superior to the majority of varieties of the 

 same class on account of their hardiness, thriftiness, fruitfulness and 

 other good qualities. For ningle illustrations that will be plain to all 

 take the Ben Davis in the apple. Wild Goose in plums, Concord in 

 grapes and Crescent in strawberries. 



These varieties with a few others, some of which are far better in 

 some respects than the ones which I have named, stand at the head 

 of the list in their respective classes ; and the man that plants them 

 and gives them fair treatment will reap a bountiful harvest. 



On the other hand there are hundreds of other varieties that will 

 be a source of expense and disappointment to the planter. I would 

 therefore advocate the planting of varieties that have been thoroughly 

 tested and known to be good. Not that I wish to get into a rut and 

 stay there, but I do not believe it is the business of the fruit-grower 

 and farmer to engage in expensive experimental work, especially when 

 there are other agencies better adapted to such work than he is. I 

 believe in making use of all the experience I can get from Experiment 

 Stations, Farmer's Institutes, agricultural papers, friends, neighbors 

 and every other available source. Experience is too dear to be bought 



