258 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



MISSOURI FRUITS AND MISSOURI LANDS. 



G. W. HOPKINS, SPRINGFIELD, MO. 



The above subject assigned me on the program is of such vast mag- 

 nitude that I cannot hope to treat the question in a paper of this kind, 

 in a manner that will be of much benefit, without making it so long that 

 the society will become wearied with its reading. 



MISSOURI FRUITS. 



In the beginning, I take the position that there is not a county in 

 the whole State of Missouri but what will produce some kind of fruit. 

 Of course some kinds are brought up to a higher state of perfection in 

 some localities than others, owing to difference in soil, latitude and cli- 

 matic influence. Apples, pears, plums and the small fruits are grown 

 successfully in most all parts of the State. But the home of the 

 peach is on the southern slope of the Ozarks. Here, nature has estab- 

 lished a barrier against the bleak, wintry winds which sweep over other 

 portions of the State, generally killing the fruit, and often the trees. 



In the Ozark region the peach crop is rarely a failure. The fruit 

 ripens up in all its perfection, colors beautifully, and the quality is 

 unsurpassed. Missouri fruits now have a national reputation. The 

 exhibitions which have been made by the State society on several 

 occasions have been an object of wonder and admiration to all who 

 have seen them. ]So grander display of fruit was ever witnessed on 

 the American continent than that shown by Missouri at the World's 

 fair at New Orleans, and last year at St. Louis. And so we might say 

 of the many displays made by our local societies at different fairs over 

 the State, though on a smaller scale, were just as good so far as they 

 went. 



The display of fruit and other products of South Missouri collected 

 and shown by Mr. Kelson of Lebanon, at Buffalo, and other points in 

 New York, seemed to impress the citizens of that grand old State, so 

 long famous for its horticultural products, that there was a State out 

 west called poor old Missouri, which would come out victorious every 

 time in a horticultural show. This is the true way to advertise ; carry 

 the proof along with you. Our sister State of Kansas adopted this 

 plau. .lust as soon as her young fruit trees began to bear, collections 

 were taken to Boston, and exhibited before the Pomological society and 

 every other available place, and Kansas at once took front rank as a 

 horticultural State. 



