122 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fruit culture, which is shown by the fact that a single orchard situated 

 in Howell county produced this season 15,000 bushels of peaches and 

 1,000 bushels of berries. This orchard was begun only five years ago, 

 so that this is just a beginning, for only the first plantings were of suf- 

 ficient age to bear a crop of fruit. 



From answers received by your secretary, Mr. Chubbuck, to ques- 

 tions sent out by him to his correspondents in the different parts of the 

 State, to ascertain to what extent orchards are being planted, it appears 

 that in Northeast Missouri very little interest is taken in the cultiva- 

 tion of fruits ; the same is true in Central Missouri, except in the south- 

 ern part. 



In the northwest and southeast portions of the State, fruit-grow- 

 ing is carried on to a considerable extent. But it is in Southwest Mis- 

 souri that orchards are being planted most extensively, and from the 

 way all kinds of fruits thrive in South and Southwest Missouri, it 

 seems as if nature intended this part of the State for fruits; but just 

 because some have made and are still making money out of fruits, it 

 does not imply that every one will do it. 



To grow and handle fruit successfully, and success means dollars 

 and cents (I speak from the standpoint of a commercial orchard, and 

 not one for family use), requires a man particularly adapted for the 

 business. No one can be a successful fruit-grower who neglects his 

 trees; simply planting a tree and then letting it take care of itself does 

 not constitute a successful fruit-grower. 



It has been estimated that not over one tree in ten set throughout 

 the country ever comes to bearing, and the chief cause is neglect, or 

 letting them take care of themselves. Fruits to thrive and be made 

 profitable must be cared fo?; insects, diseases, etc., must be fought r 

 the fruit must be gathered and^ handled properly, for the most perfect 

 fruit as it hangs upon the tree san be ruined by improper handling. 



To illustrate this, I will refer to a trial I once made : I took six 

 barrels of Ben Davis apples that were hand-picked and free from 

 bruises ; three of the six barrels I sorted, making two barrels of nice 

 fruit and one barrel of poorer grade ; I marked these three barrels lot 

 one. The other three barrels I did not sort, but packed them well and 

 marked them lot two. I then went to a party dealing in apples and 

 told them to put me up three barrels of Ben Davis apples and to de- 

 liver them at the depot ready for shipping; these I marked lot three. 



The nine barrels I shipped to a commission merchant, writing to 

 him to examine each barrel of the three different lots and to sell them 

 the same as he would if he had a car load of each as a sample, and 



