364 State Horticultural Society. 



growers of different parts of the country givino- their experience with 

 different fruits, different locations, different soils and different condi- 

 tions, also the reports of the state entomologist ujjon the different in- 

 jurious insects and how to combat them, also the rt-ports of the chemists 

 as to the different fertilizers for the different fruits and different soils 

 required and the different spraying compounds, how to mix, what for, and 

 when to apply, all of which may he obtained by becoming a member of 

 some good live society by paying a membership fee of $i.oo and to think' 

 so few fruit growers will avail themselves of these golden opportunities 

 free of cost. It is no wonder that fake fruit tree agents can do a thriving 

 business in our midst. Another evidence of gross ignorance is the num- 

 ber of whole root nursery signs you see in driving through the country. 

 Fardon me for mentioning a dead issue, for that question long years 

 back has been thoroughly discussed by most of the state societies and 

 tested by many of the experiment stations in the different fruit states 

 and I supposed was settled to the satisfaction of all intelligent fruit grow- 

 ers, who read and attend horticultural societies ; but I am sorry to find 

 there is a large class of fruit growers who do neither, hence they are 

 easily imposed upon in buying fruit trees and ])lants, they do' not know 

 what it takes to constitute a good tree, vine or plant and usually pay 

 well for their ignorance. I find on observation, in judging there are tens 

 of thousands of second and third class (very inferior) trees being set; 

 cheap trees which will add no new lustre to the Ozark's reputation as a 

 fruit country. The best trees we can obtain are none too good. What is 

 a few cents on the tree compared with the results ten or fifteen years 

 hence? T mention this part of the business because in fruit growing it 

 is of vital importance that }ou commence right by setting good, healthy, 

 thrifty, well grown trees, vines and plants. Having had twenty-five 

 } ears' experience in propagating trees, I feel competent to advise planters 

 to plant nothing but the best. 



I want to see our fruit growers wake up, join some good live society, 

 attend regularly its meetings, attend the state meetings, take one or more 

 good horticultural papers, send in your name and get our state experi- 

 ment station reports, send to Washington, D. C, get a list of the bulletins 

 published there, select such as would be of most interest to you as a horti- 

 culturist, read them carefully and apply the information they give to 

 your business and grow number one fruit, for the day is fast coming when 

 it will nt>t pay to market any but number one fruit and to do this we must 

 keep abreast with the time and we cannot do this without education — 

 horticultural education. 



