18 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



compact, within easy reach of the picker, fruit of highest quality, attrac- 

 tive in color, always sought for, and brings the best price of all. The 

 Willow Twig we name next on the list ; tree good and easy grower, fruit 

 separate and on pendant limbs, good bearer, fruit very large, fair 

 quality, excellent keeper, therefore much sought for by dealers. For 

 the fourth on our list we suppose some would name the Rome Beauty, 

 an excellent apple ; others doubtless will claim that Smith's Cider should 

 be included ; certainly year after year it is becoming more popular as it 

 comes to be better known. The Winesap we give our preference from 

 the fact that it has been in cultivation for a longer time and over more 

 parts of the State, therefore better known and tested ; the character- 

 istics of the tree differ from those mentioned before, and to get the best 

 results, a little more attention is required to thin out the smaller 

 branches and also the fruit when a heavy crop occurs. It is attractive 

 in color, a good keeper, cooks and bakes to perfection, a first class 

 eating apple, and a general favorite with all. And last but not least, 

 we have the noblest of all, the Ben Davis ; for thirty years or more the 

 cry has been against it on account of its quality, while it possesses all 

 the worth which makes it truly valuable. The tree succeeds every- 

 where in the west and southwest ; compact in its growth, fruit easy to 

 pick, it cooks well, it is one of the best for evaporation, keeps well and 

 ships well, large size, very attractive, and a prolific bearer. 



To sum up, we think we have all the most desirable points in the 

 five varieties named; they are hardy and productive, and have borne 

 oftener than others, they are more generally known and have been in 

 bearing during a longer period, enabling a full and thorough test of 

 their qualities. 



N. F. Murray — -Would use Smith's Cider in place of Willow Twig. 

 Maiden's Blush is one of our best; Jonathan is his best. Early ripen- 

 ing is in their favor for the northwest trade. 



A.. Nelson — Ben Davis should be on the high poor soil and we get 

 the best quality. Wiue Sap wants good soil and good cultivation. 



J. A. Durkes likes Smith's Cider ; would not top-graft older trees 

 than four years. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



Meeting called to order, and the first matter taken up was, "Cider 

 Making, or Vinegar from Cider," by Chas. Patterson, Kirksville, Mo. 



