44 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



mittee presented a report on tlie fruit that conld not be excelled, 

 and we may well be proud of the display. 



A box of the finest were packed and sent to Chas. Downing, 

 that veteran fruit grower and horticulturist, and elicited the 

 following : 



ISTewbukg, Neav Yokk. 



Accept my thanks for the box of beautiful specimens you have 

 sent me, and I assure you that I shall enjoy the privilege of ex- 

 amining them as they ripen. I scarcely knew some of them, they 

 seemed so large and handsome. Surely they must be overgrown, 

 and the apples cannot average anything like those sent. But I 

 suppose that they were selected for show. I shall report on them 



as they ripen. 



Chas. Downing. 



In answer to this I wrote him that they were fine of course, 

 but we could show hundreds and thousands of bushels of nearly 

 the same size. 



Since that time I have received a number of letters from him, 

 calling in question the names of some of the varieties, and criti- 

 cizing some others, but always with candor. 



The new variety called Gano, which was named by tlie Mis- 

 souri Valley Horticultural Society, delighted him very much, but 

 he was unwilling to decide whether it was a new variety or an old 

 one and there the matter stands. 



It is a beautiful apple and will comjjare well witli the most 

 handsome of apples. It was found by W. Gr. Gano, of Parkville, 

 Mo., and by liim first shown. It is a great bearer and good keeper 

 and sells at the higliest prices. Our society should take this matter 

 in hand and bring out some new varieties and this is one of them. 



This whole matter could be controlled by our society and given 

 to the people of the state this fall free of charge or for the cost of 

 cutting the scions. I would recommend that this be done and that 

 this society pay for all the scions and distribute them ( a few in a 

 place ) so that there will be no one to make a run on them or a 

 great profit on the trees. 



Let the scions be given to the members of the society only and 

 it will help our membership. 



The following letter was received from Marshal P. Wilder in 

 answer to a box sent him also : 



DoKCHESTEK, January 31st, 1884. 



Thanks, thanks, my dear sir, for the magnificent present of 

 apples. They are most beautiful specimens and are now on ex- 



