WINTER MEETING AT LEBANON. 211 



in physics, I might cut the answer short, very short indeed, and simply 

 say the best management has in all cases secured the best results. But 

 if we were to ask some eminent physician who seldom ever lost a patient 

 with the most fatal disease the secret of his success, and he should 

 answer, I give my patients the very best treatment, we would hardly 

 be satisfied ; not a bit of it; we would want to know all about his plan 

 of treatment, and would kindly ask him to give us all the facts in detail, 

 the kind of medicine used, size of doses given, how often and all about 

 it. So it is in horticulture. We live in a progressive age, and a united 

 call comes to us on the wings of the wind from the four quarters of 

 the globe for the best of everything; it flashes out to the horticulturists 

 of America from the web-like net-work of electric wires that envelope 

 the globe for the best of her fruite. Last year Europe consumed one 

 million and three hundred thousand barrels of apples from the United 

 States, and they were so well pleased with them that there is an in- 

 creased demand this year at advanced prices. So I take it, that if we 

 are to supply the markets of the world with the best American fruits, 

 it is time we were inquiring what management of orchards has secured 

 the best results, and studying hard to arrive at the correct answer to 

 this all-important question to the horticulturists of our country. 



In attempting to outline an answer, the first thought that presents 

 itself to my mind is, for whom and what am I writing ? For the gratifica- 

 tion of the experienced horticulturists that constitute the membership of 

 our State society, and the pleasure of our honored visitors ? A very 

 worthy object indeed ; but, my fellow-members, our society and its 

 influence for good in the work of horticulture is no longer confined 

 to the narrow limits to of its own membership. Our reports are read 

 by thousands throughout our State, who are not members of our State 

 society, and by scores in other States. So our papers read here and 

 our discussions will go upon record and become food for thousands of 

 horticulturists, all anxious to know the whole truth and nothing but the 

 truth. To this end I shall most earnestly labor, trusting that I may be 

 able to cast some ray of light along the pathway of my fellow men who 

 may be struggling hard to reach the goal of success in horticulture. 



We have in Missouri such a variety of fruit, soil and climate, that 

 I shall of necessity be compelled to treat this subject at some length, 

 in order to be understood. On all the bluff formation, the sandy bot- 

 tom lands and the rolling prairies that have a porous subsoil, orchards 

 need no under-draining. On all wet lands underlaid with hard-pan or 

 clay that will hold water, the orchard should be under-drained ; if not, 

 all after management will fail to give satisfactory results ; this is appli- 

 cable to all kinds of fruit. Apple trees should stand twenty-five feet 



