REPORTS OF COUNTY SOCIETIES. 335 



for two-year-old trees to set and no trimming or cutting back at time 

 of setting. I have come to this conclusion after several years obser- 

 vation. Yours truly, 



M. J. Smith. 



GENTBY COUNTY. 



King- City, Mo., November 25, 1889. 

 I/. A. Goodman, Secretary Missouri State Horticultural Society : 



Dear Sir — I will endeavor to comply with your request in writ- 

 ing the report for Gentry county. It would require a very lengthy 

 report to describe all of the fruits of Gentry county, and the adabta- 

 bility of the soil to the different fruits, and their care and culture. 



Strawberries do exceedingly well in this county. There are but 

 few families that do not have an abundance of this fruit. They give 

 quick returns — they can be put out in the spring and the following 

 spring we can have an adundance of nice fruit, or we can pat them 

 out in the fall and the next spring have a good crop of fruit. The 

 leading varieties cultivated here are Sharpless, Capt. Jack, Crescent, 

 Browning and Jessie. As to care it is best after the weather begins to 

 get cold to cover them lightly with straw and let it remain until all 

 danger of freezing is past in the spring. The cultivation of this fruit 

 is on the increase each year in this county. 



GRAPES. 



Grapes are raised here in considerable quantities, Concord being 

 the principal grape raised, although there are some other varieties 

 grown as the Clinton and Worden, but the Concord leads all other 

 varieties. TVe can hardly treat it bad enough not to get a crop. The 

 growing of this fruit is also on the increase in this county. It is hard 

 to find a family but who have from a few vines to a good-sized vine- 

 yard. 



PEARS. 



As to pears, they are a fruit that has not received much attention 

 until within the last few years they are being planted more extensively 

 and seem to be doing well, especially the Bartlett, Keiffer and Seckle ; 

 the trees grow, do well and bear early. I planted a few Bartlett's 7 

 years ago, and they have borne fruit 3 years ; the only fear is blight. 



PEACHES. 



As to peaches, we are rather too far North for the successful 

 growing of this crop, although a few years ago we had several good 



