330 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Dallas county is fast coining to the front as an apple growing 

 county. Our orchards are generally in good condition. Insect ene- 

 mies are few ; more damage being done by borers than all other insects. 

 Eighty per cent crop, 75 per cent of marketable fruit. Commercial 

 planting is increasing, and here lies the future success of fruit-growing 

 for profit. We must plant more abundantly if we expect shippers to 

 come in, and remunerative prices. 



The number of varieties in our orchards should be greatly reduced. 

 We have learned, in the sad school of experience, that our orchards 

 have, for profit, too many varieties. We should plant more of well- 

 tried varieties and less of untried ones. 



Ben Davis is our chief variety. We replant all other varieties 

 with it. It has proven to be the hardiest, most productive and profit- 

 able variety we have. In the future we will plant almost entirely of 

 the Benjamine. 



We believe, without boasting, that the hill country near the top 

 of the Ozark mountains, from which we report, is nature's best apple 

 lands of the West. The steady increase in the quantity and quality of 

 our orchard products makes this apparent. 



If our farmers could only realize the natural advantages with which 

 they are surrounded they would certainly utilize them to better ad- 

 vantage. Here lies a grand mission for horticultural societies. 



Pears and plums are hardly worth mentioning, there being but 

 few planted. 



Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries and currants 

 succeed well. 



Owing to late frosts, our crop of grapes this season was very light. 

 Usually vines are loaded down with fruit and every one possessing a 

 few vines have grapes in abundance. 



All in all, I think this county well adapted to fruit-growing. The 

 soil and altitude make it an assured source of pleasure and large profit. 



ST. CHARLES COUNTY. 



Small fruits, with few exceptions, grown in the county for home 

 use. Near the city of St. Charles, which affords a market, some are 

 grown and are generally successful and selling at remunerative prices. 

 The public demand is increasing rapidly and plantings are being 

 enlarged annually. 



