i^2 State Horticultural Society. 



to the truck growers. This Society was organized in 1859, by some 

 of the pioneer fruit growers and gardeners of the State who conceived 

 the idea that meetings for the mutual expression of opinion would be 

 helpful to them in their profession. At that time the horticulture of the 

 State was in its infancy. The large commercial orchard was practi- 

 cally unknown in this section. The best commercial varieties of fruit 

 •were scarcely yet determined, and planting largely, or exclusively of 

 a single variety was not dreamed of. The best orchard was at that time 

 tiie one that contained the greatest assortment of varieties, regardless 

 ■of whether these varieties would thrive well in this cHmate or not. The 

 nomenclature of varieties was not well systematized, a variety frequently 

 passing by different local names in various sections. Modern methods 

 of cultivation and management were not well understood. With this 

 confusion of ideas and methods the pioneers of this Society entered into 

 the work of furthering the interests of Missouri Horticulture, and the 

 improvement they have brought about has been little short of wonder- 

 ful. 



One of the first lines of work that attracted attention was the 

 determination of the best varieties to plant for market. Reports by 

 ciiferent growers of the behavior of the various sorts were secured, in 

 order to determine what ones proved to be most generally profitable. 

 This revealed the fact that the correct names of varieties were not gen- 

 erally known, for the reason that local names were variously applied to 

 fruits in different sections. A correct nomenclature was of importance 

 in order that the grower might be sure he possessed a given sort. At 

 the meetings of the Society collections of fruit were exhibited, so that 

 competent committees might pass on their comparative merits and also 

 straighten out conflicting names. This has given rise to a comparatively 

 wide knowledge of varieties by the leading fruit men of the State. 



The origination of new varieties, adapted to our soil and climate, 

 was also taken up by a number of enthusiastic members. As a result 

 a goodly number of commercial sorts have orginated in Missouri. New 

 varieties of apples, peaches, pears, grapes and berries have gradually 

 s\\elled the list. Formerly nearly all the varieties of fruit grown in the 

 State were old sorts which were brought from the east. At the present 

 time the majority of commercial sorts are of western origin, many of 

 them having had their birth in Missouri soil. 



Ideas and traditions with respect to methods of cultivation and 

 m.inagement, as well as varieties, were formerly brought from the eastern 

 states, where conditions are very different from our own. The Horti- 

 cultural Society began agitating the question of adapting methods of 

 shaping fruit trees and of i:)rnning to our own local conditions. Mem- 



