REPORTS OF COUNTY SOCIETIES. 369 



The program was very closely adhered to. 



The officers and members appeared to appreciate the value of 



time. 



Mr. G. B. Bracket of Iowa, a man well and favorably known to 

 most Missouri horticulturists, was present, representing that State. 

 The next morning we were pleased to meet our old time friend W. H. 

 Bagan of Indiana, representing that State. 



The program of the evening of the first day was devoted entirely 

 to the young folks, and was very interesting indeed. I would call the 

 attention of our society to this feature, as one which it might be wise 

 for us to copy. The future of horticulture rests with the young peo- 

 ple, and the sooner they are caused to feel that at least a portion of the 

 responsibility rests on them, the better it will be. I hope some means 

 may be devised to interest more of our young people in the work of 

 the society. I found a very good show of fruit on the tables and 

 several varieties not usually seen in our Missouri collections. There 

 was quite a collection of grapes, some of them in fine condition, nota- 

 bly Goethe, Black Defiance, Triumph (white), Niagara (white), Irving 

 (amber), in fine condition, and Norwood, a large black grape, in best 

 condition of any, and of fair quality. I found a box of apples and 

 pears from Secretary Goodman awaiting me, which, by the courtesy of 

 the fruit committee, was placed on the tables as Missouri fruit. I 

 assure you it did not suffer by comparison, but called forth a great 

 many favorable comments. At the close of the meeting it was donated 

 to the Illinois Society. One feature of the fruit exhibit I wish to call 

 especial attention to. Each exhibitor put his name and county on the 

 entry card, thus showing where and by whom the fruit was grown. It 

 thus became not only an object lesson in fruit-growing, but a good field 

 for comparison and instruction as to what varieties are adapted to the 

 different localities. This is a feature we may well take into consider- 

 ation. With our wide range of soil and climate, I see no good reason 

 why we may not adopt it. 



The reports of the secretary and treasurer showed the business 

 affairs of the Society to be in good shape, with $1,200 in the treasury. 

 They receive $4,000 per annum from the State, which gives them a 

 good fund with which to work. 



They have established nine horticultural experiment stations, three 

 in each of the three fruit districts of the State, under the control of 

 the executive board and auxiliary to the State experimental station, 

 each in charge of a director and paid for actual labor done. They 

 hope to soon make these stations of vast benefit to the fruitgrowers 

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