Proceedings at Semi-Animial Meetiny. 33 



Springfield and certain favored localities that enjoy R. R. facilities. 

 In siich localities many extensive orchards have been grown to give 

 satisfactory retnrns in a commercial way, so as to encourage further 

 planting and a deeper interest in the science of horticulture. 



However, there is a large area of Southern Missouri that has 

 almost, up to the present time, been cut off from any great 

 thoroughfares or railroad facilities. Thus overlooked, there has 

 never been inducement to grow fruit, except in a limited way, for 

 family or home consumption. ' The first and perhaps the greatest 

 evidence of this section of country's adaptability for growing fruits 

 successfully, is that wild fruits abound in great variety, and many 

 of them of superior quality. To- wit: strawberries, raspberries, 

 blackberries, dewberries, gooseberries, huckleberries, persimmons, 

 plums, grapes, etc. Native blackberries and grapes, are worthy 

 of especial mention. We are gi'eatly indebted to our late and es- 

 teemed fellow member Fredrick Muench for his early and untiring- 

 efforts to improve our native grapes. He, after having his Catawba 

 and Isabella fail from mildew and rot, turned his attention to the 

 native grapes of south Missouri, to secure healthy, hardy kinds to 

 supply tlie place of the other and failing kinds then in cultivation. 



In October, 1851, he traveled on horseback several hundred 

 miles to hunt for wild grapes; returning home with a bundle of cut- 

 tings an<l scions and some seeds, and commenced cultivating and 

 experimenting, and in a few years was in jDossession of the Cyn- 

 thiana,. which far excelled his S. W. Missoarians. Before his death 

 he cultivated the Neosho, a vine entirely hardy, reliable, and an 

 abundant bearer, making a Madeira-like wine of superior excellence. 

 Also his Far West, which is also quite hardy and prolific; producing 

 a wine not equaled by any on the globe. Cuttings of these and 

 others of similar origin, have been sent to all parts of the country, 

 California, France, &c. The demand for these healthy stocks have 

 been largely sought after to supply the place of diseased stock by 

 phyloxera and other maladies infesting the European countries. At 

 the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society, at St. Louis, in 1881, 

 there were 1500 plates of grapes on exhibition, which contained 249 

 varieties, native seedlings and hybrids of American origin. This is 

 evidence of the good results of the labor and skill of devoted Hor- 

 ticulturalists, and should stimulate others to seek out new and su- 

 perior blackberries among the many thousands of natives, that may 

 take the place of old varieties that are now giving away by disease 

 and rust. Other native fruits may claim" the attention of the prac- 

 tical, observing horticulturalist. The apple, pear and quince seem 



