368 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



their bodies against the trees, injuring or destroying the bark on 

 the trunks of the same. Our orchards are no doubt many of 

 them starving to death for many causes. We may prune too 

 much, which may induce too many fruit buds, and the trees bear 

 too heavily and become stunted and ruined. Moderate pruning 

 and moderate crops of apples would no doubt help our orchards 

 to live longer, as the chemical elements in the soil would be more 

 gradually exhausted. We learn from scientific and learned men that 

 51 per cent of the a&h of apple tree bark is lime. If that is true, 

 which I do not doubt, the trees must die as soon as the lime within 

 reach of the roots of the trees becomes exhausted, and it cannot be a 

 very long time, as it is said that a very large per cent of lime is re- 

 quired also for the sap-wood of the trees. Much lime also may be re- 

 quired for the growth of the apples, and much also for the bushes and 

 briers and weeds and blue-grass or clover sods that may grow about 

 or near the trees, which may all require more or less lime for their lives. 

 Is it any wonder then that our apple orchards are starving to death. 

 I can see no remedy only to give them back these natural chemical ele- 

 ments of which the trees have been robbed or taken from them. As I 

 have lived in the great State of Missouri more than fifty-seven years, 

 I have seen many changes in many things; and I am glad to know in 

 these later years that so many refined and intelligent men and women 

 are working with a great zeal to advance the great horticultural inter- 

 ests of our great State ; and that our worthy representatives and legis- 

 lators, with many other distinguished men, seem willing to assist by 

 public appropriations in advancing the great cause of horticulture. 

 Hoping that the meeting at Lebanon may be the means of doing much 

 good in advancing the cause of horticulture in our great State and 

 elsewhere, I am yours truly, 



William McCray. 



BATES COUNTY. 



Butler, Mo., Dec. 20, 1889. 

 Mr. L. A. GooDMiN, Secretary Missouri State Horticultural Society : 



Dear Sir — I have the honor of reporting to you that pursuant 

 to appointment I attended the meeting of the Illinois State Horticul- 

 tural Society at Hamilton, 111., December LOth to 12th, 1889. I arrived 

 there at noon of the first day and found the society in session, with a 

 goodly number of live, progressive horticulturists piesent, and Mith 

 all the officers at their posts. 



