130 Missouri State Hor^ticultural Society. 



Of reds, Turner, Cutlibert and Colossal are my most reliable. 



Currants I have but one bush, and that had but little fruit. 



Gooseberries, Houghton and Downing both bore well, the lat- 

 ter much the largest and best, but will not bear as much as the 

 former. 



Blackberries, Snyder and Western Triumph bore a small crop, 

 but Kittatinny and Lawton never worth looking after. This latter 

 fruit I only grow for my own use. 



I cannot attend the coming meeting of the society. 



REPORT ON SMALL FRUITS. 



BY W. M. HOPKINS. 



As one of the committee on small fruits, according to the 

 requirement of the society, I submit this report for the year 1884. 

 In consequence of a late, cold, backward spring strawberries were 

 late starting consequently behind in ripening about ten days. The 

 crop was about a full average one contiguous to Kansas City. 

 Prices much lower than usual. A great deal of very poor stock was 

 shipped into this market before home grown berries were ripe, and 

 sold at ruinous prices to the grower. This poor stock had a very 

 depressing influence on prices of home grown ; the consumer having 

 too much bad strawberry was very slow to take hold. I think that 

 at least one-half of the strawberries sent to commission men here 

 later in the season were never placed on this market, being 

 shipped direct from the union depot to western and southwestern 

 points, thus relieving this market of what would have proven a 

 heavy glut. I cannot urge the grower too strongly to pick and 

 handle this tender fruit with the greatest care if you exjiect to 

 realize paying prices in this market. It will pay. Red and Black 

 Cap raspberries were about three- fourths of a croji and realized 

 good prices. There was the usual heavy glut only for a day or 

 two, and good stock in good condition sold to retailers at fair 

 prices. Blackberries were almost a failure and brought high 

 figures. The rust has destroyed nearly all of the Kittatinny and 

 some others. Thus far the Snyder and Taylor are entirely exempt. 

 The currant crop in this vicinity was much larger than I have ever 

 seen it before, and j^aid the grower well ; it seems to be doing better 

 of late years, or probably we have learned better how to treat it. 



