124 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to the acre ; the cost of production is more in the case of apples, but 

 is it equal to the money value of 70 bushels of wheat, for 180 bushels 

 of apples to the acre is not as great a yield as 20 bushels of wheat 

 would be. Still another correspondent in Southeast Missouri says 

 that owing to the severe winters, orchards have been sadly neglected, 

 'but those who have stuck to their orchards and cared for them have 

 made and are still making money out of them. 



Mr. Murray, of Holt county, Vice-President of your State Horti- 

 cultural Society, gives for his orchard of 8 acres, set 17 years ago, an 

 annual net income for the past 10 years of $64.32 per acre. He also 

 says that about 3} acres of these were Ben Davis; the remainder was 

 made up of over 40 different varieties ; but had the entire orchard been 

 Ben Davis, his net income per acre would have been at least $100. 



Now just here are some facts that should be thoroughly understood 

 by all planters of orchards, and they are facts that the most successful 

 fruit-growers of the country are agreed upon : 



That in different soils or climates, varieties of fruits behave differ- 

 ently ; a variety may do well in one soil or climate, when it is nearly 

 worthless in another. 



Some varieties of fruit are productive, while others are shy bear- 

 ers. 



A fruit to be profitable must be productive. 



Certain varieties of fruit are in demand in one market, while in an- 

 other they are not wanted. 



A bright-colored fruit sells better than one of a dull color. 



Dealers do not like to buy a mixed lot of fruit. I mean by this, a 

 lot made up of several varieties. 



Some may say, if we all go into growing fruit the markets will be 

 •overstocked and glutted, and there will be no sale for it. To such I 

 would say that I do not advise every farmer to set out a commercial 

 •orchard, for the reason that many of them would neglect the trees, or 

 not handle the fruit as it should be, and would lose money ; but I do 

 advise any man who has land suited to apples, where he has good ship- 

 ping facilities, and who will not neglect hit* trees, nor get discouraged, 

 to set out just as large an orchard of the most profitable market varie- 

 ties as he can see to well; but beyond this not to plant a single tree, 

 for there is more clear money in an orchard of five acres well cared for 

 than there is in one of fifty that is neglected. 



Plant, and do not feel uneasy as to where you will find a market, 

 for if you will grow a good fruit and put it upon the market in an at- 

 tractive manner, it will always sell for a good honest price, no matter 

 how overstocked and glutted the market is with ordinary and inferior 

 fruit. 



