124 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



WEDNESDAY, 9.4. M. 



Session called by the president and prayer offered by Rev. Mr. 

 Abbott,, pastor of Unity chapel. 



DlSCUSSIOX ON THE PAPERS OF TUESDAY AfTERXOON — 



Chairman Murtfeldt : — Thinks that if the mercury goes 12 to 

 15 degrees below zero it destroys the peach crop although the tree 

 may bloom. 



JY. F. Murry : — Says that he has known a crop of peaches 

 with twenty-one degrees below zero. 



Maj. Ragan : — Found ^liat if the cold comes on gradually the 

 damage will be light, but a cold winter after a warm fall often 

 kills them. After the cold of 1882 he, with J. K. Cravens, went 

 south of the Ozark mountains, and in Howell county found the 

 peach crop very fine on the hills, while in the valleys they were 

 killed. One day he went into one of the commission men's 

 houses and found the w^hole upper story filled with dried peaches. 

 Thinks that in that belt peach growing Avill be a success and there 

 we will have to look for our peaches. 



The Secretary read the following letters from persons whom 

 he had addressed for items for the State report : 



Gkeencastle, Ind., Nov. 2d, 1884. 

 L. A. Goodman: 



Yours of the 21st ult. should have had earlier attention but 

 for pressure of business. 



I thank you very much for the honor of an invitation to pre- 

 sent a paper to your Society in December. 



Nothing could please me better than to meet Missouri horticul- 



turalists at hovie. From the foretaste I had at Kansas City last 



winter, I know I would enjoy the occasion. As for my ability to 



return an "equivalent," for the pleasure I would enjoy, I am not so 



clear. 



But seriously, my dear friend, it will hardly be possible for 



me to comply with your request. 



The pressure of business is so great upon my time that I must 



forego all pleasures for the present. 



Shall expect to meet you at New Orleans in January. 



With kind regards to all friends, I am, as ever, 



Very Truly, 



W. H. RAGAN. 



