242 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the latter assisting very much in promoting the fertility of certain- 

 tracts which otherwise would be sterile. In this region the hills often 

 ascend by steep elopes to plateaus of thinner soil, on which the growth 

 is chiefly post oak. But all of this region is capable of giving welcome 

 returns in the shape of peaches, apples and especially grapes, as well 

 as all of our other smaller fruits. The wild grape, as it grows upon the 

 limestone slopes along the hillsides, is often large and delicious, prov 

 ing the capability of the soils. 



A large area of South Missouri contains deposits of iron ore, and 

 I have noticed especially at the mines the additional luxuriant growth 

 of vegetation, especially of the blackberry. 



The sandy hills, or where the soil is flinty or silicious, and, of course,, 

 thin, seems to be the favored home of the huckleberry, of which I 

 have observed three or four species, including the delicious blueberry, 

 ripening in July. 



The Chickasaw plum is indigenous to the valleys, and includes sev- 

 eral varieties, shading from rich yellow to deep red. 



The north and west Missouri region embraces an area of gentle 

 undulations and rich soil, becoming richer in the northwest. The 

 natural home of the strawberry was on these prairies. In other locali- 

 ties the blackberry and raspberry flourish, and by cultivation do also- 

 flourish on the prairies. The strawberry, blackberry and raspberry are 

 found throughout the State. 



The Chickasaw plum is not found in Northwest Missouri, but 

 flourishes in the eastern part of North Missouri. 



The Pru»us Americanus is found throughout the State, and in- 

 cludes sweet varieties as well as some that are disagreeable. 



The persimmon does not grow west of a line passing northeast 

 from Clay county, but is very common everywhere else. In Southwest 

 Missouri it is very abundant. 



The wild black Qap raspberry grows nearly everywhere, being 

 especially abundant in South Missouri, and will successfully bear cul- 

 tivation. 



The blackberry (two bush species) also seems at home nearly 

 everywhere, especially on sandy soil. The dewberry is rarely found 

 except on thin soil as a trailing vine. I would like to see it cultivated. 

 The first vineyards in Missouri were made in Gasconade county, 

 between 1835 and 1840. When I first became familiar with them, about 

 1853 to 1850, the Catawba was the principal grape grown, with a few 

 Virginia Seedlings. The grapes then sold readily at 20 to 30 cents a 

 pound, and one could never tire of eating them. It possessed that 

 quality above all others. One could eat apparently a great many, rest 



