Annual Meeting at St. Josepli. 253 



The outlook for a large and perfect yield of twenty-five or more 

 of our tried varieties of grapes was never better than in the spring 

 of 1884. In July they began to show rot. Afterw^ards we thought 

 to escape it ; but we were badly mistaken. By the end of August 

 the rot recommenced and in some places a few days told the whole 

 story of destruction. In some localities a man w'ould lose all and 

 his neighbor three or four hundred yards distant would have a re- 

 markably fine crop. It affected not only one variety, but all 

 seemed to suffer alike. It seems evident to my observations that 

 vineyards sloping to the east suflEer the most. 



In small fruits we had a good crop of strawberries generally. 

 The first picking of raspberries was firm and in good condition, but 

 afterwards they became seedy and dry ; their season was short. 



The blackberries blossomed full, and gave abundant promise ; 

 but when gathering time came, parties who had two acres or more 

 of vines were fortunate to have enough for their own family use. 

 In other words they Avere very nearly an entire failure. 



The present outlook for a prosperous fruit year in 1885 is 

 good ; the wood has ripened well, and the buds are in excellent 

 condition to go into winter quarters. Buchanan county fruit 

 raisers in general anticipate a much better report for next year. 



KEPOKT OF JHE MILLER COUNTY HOETICULTURAL 



SOCIETY. 



BY N. J. SHEPHEED, ELDON, MO. 



Mr. L. A. Goodman, Secretary Missouri State Horticultural So- 

 ciety. 



Not being, able to be present at the meeting of the State So- 

 ciety, at St. Joe, September 11th, I send you a report of Miller 

 county. 



We had no peaches, they being entirely killed last winter. 

 Trees were not seriously injured but the fruit all killed. 



Apples blossomed out well and gave promise of an abundant 

 crop, but as the apples began to form and until they were of con- 

 siderable size they continued to drop off, until the croj) when ri- 

 pened fell considerably below the average. Taking the county over 

 I think sixty per cent, will be as much as it will average, 



