192 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



southern climate will furnish an agreeable cliange from the freezing 

 winter weather. 



Wishing you a very successful and interesting session in St. 

 Joseph^ and hoping to see most of our members here in January. 



Yours very truly, 



S. M. TRACY. 



After discussion of the president's paper, the society adjourned 

 until Thursday, 9 a.m. * 



THURSDAY, 9 A. M. 



Opened by prayer by the chairman. 



The secretary stated that an-angements had been made to hold 

 our session a little later and complete the programme before 

 adjournment. Dinner will be at l:30»'tit the hotel and it will give ' 

 time to take the trains both noi'th and south. 



AN ITEM FEOM A*' D. WEBB, OF BOWLING GEEEN, KY. 



Mr. President, andmemhers of the Missoiiri Horticultural Society. 

 Having been requested by your secretary to furnish an item 

 for this your annual meeting, and feeling it my duty to comply to 

 the best of my ability with every request made of me in the interest 

 of horticulture, on this occasion, I don't know what better I can 

 do than to briefly refer to Missouri horticulture thirty and forty 

 years ago, and compare the same with the present. 



It was my privilege to become a citizen of your state in 1842, 

 where I remained in full fellowship until 1852. ten years. Then 

 circumstances rendered it necessary for me to return to my native 

 state, Kentucky. During my ten years residence I traveled over a 

 considerable portion of the state south of the Missouri river, my 

 headquarters for seven years being at Independence. Prom my 

 earliest recollection I was a dear lover of fruit, and a close observer 

 of the same, and my taste has not yet departed. 



The horticulture of Missouri at this time was in its infancy. 

 Apple orchards were like small potatoes and angels' visits. Those 

 who were fortunate in having a small orchard, barely had enough 

 fruit for home consumption during the winter. 



In the vicinity of Independence there were a few orchards that 

 yielded a small surplus that partially supplied that market. Any 

 great surplus would have resulted in a loss to the producers, there 

 being no means of transjjortation to the larger markets during the 

 winter. 



