284 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



friend Stark's catalogues that Mariana had ripened 85 per cent of its fruit. We had 

 it bearing the past season on its own root, on Peach and Wild Goose stocks, and 

 should have had at least ten bushels of plums; but instead of ripening 85 per cent, 

 ours rotted 98 per cent ; but as a stock for working other fruit on we think it valu- 

 able. 



Of peaches, we place Druid Hill and Bonanza at the head of the list. Druid 

 Hill ripens with stump-fruit equally as good, and a much better bearer. Bonanza, 

 with me, ripens with Solway— not 15 days later as per catalogue — but is a grand good 

 peach, a sure bearer, hardy tree, heavy foliage, and holds its foliage the latest of 



any peach tree we grow. 



D. F. Emry. 



A resolution was passed asking the Legislature for aid to make 

 exhibits outside the State, to advertise the resources of the State and 

 to open up markets for our products. 



N. F. Murray — The way to get good peaches is to plant a few trees 

 every year. They cost but little. The people regretted the past season 

 that they had not kept planting. Those who had good trees had an 

 abundance of fine peaches. Plant a few good peach trees every year 

 or two : then if a peach season comes you will enjoy good peaches. 



Mr. Gano — I will give a list of such good kinds as I can call to 

 mind: Mountain Eose, Early St. John, Family Favorite, Elberta, Wil- 

 kins, Mrs. Brett, Wheatland of the Early Crawford family, Smock, 

 Solway. These varieties cover the season. Henrietta is a little later 

 than Solway. 



THINXIFG FRUIT. 



BY JOSEPH KIRCHGRABER. 



Nature, in her" efforts to reward the labors of the horticulturist, 

 often lavishes her gifts too plentifully on him, for which he ought to be 

 thankful, and he generally is, but the gift of too much is very often a 

 burden to the fruit-grower, and many a way he devises to diminish the 

 over-plentifulnese ; and one way of reducing the surplus is by the 

 process of thinning the fruit on the tree. Many not familiar with the 

 operation wonder what its meaning implies, and here in these few lines 

 I will try to explain to the best of my ability. 



First, what is thinning! A reduction of part of the crop by tak- 

 ing a certain quantity of the fruit off of the trees or vines. Why 

 should we thin our fruits ? As every intelligent fruit-grower knows, 

 or ought to know, that too much fruit on a tree or vine is not a very 



