48 . MlSSOUkl STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



seed, it is next to impossible to obtain seed that is absolutely pure. 

 If the business were under state control, the seed dealer would not only 

 take more care to send out pure seed, but it they found that their seed 

 was jud^^ed by its quality, they would give more attention to seed 

 breedin<T and the selection of their seed stock. 



Following close upon the last work mentioned, is the testing of the 

 novelties in vegetables and fruits. Each year a long list of new varieties 

 is sent out, and it is important that their value be ascertained, the 

 synonyms weeded out, and that seeds, plants or scions of promising 

 varieties be sent to approved parties in different portions of the state, 

 who will try them on their soil and in tlicir climate, and report to the 

 station, whence the results can be sent out to the people. This work alone 

 will be worth thousands of dollars to the fruit grower in the matter of 

 the new varieties of strawberries, as they will be saved from wasting 

 their money in buying plants at high prices, which a years trial will 

 prove to be worthless. The conservatism of the farmer and their disincli- 

 nation to receive advice from " them book fellers, " will in fact be all that 

 will limit the good that can be done. 



When farmers will allow the agents to sell them Turner raspberries 

 and Amsden peaches, as such, at one dollar each, it shows that they 

 need enlightenment. 



If the experiment station can convince the farmers of the state of 

 the folly of buying stock, often worthless, from traveling tree agents at 

 prices ten times as great as standard varieties can be bought for, and 

 induce them to purchase tested varieties from the local and presumably 

 reliable nursery, or to send direct to some well known firm at a distance, 

 the saving to the state in this alone will be equal in one year to all that 

 the horticultural work of the station will cost in one hundred years. 



Testing of new varieties of shade and ornamental trees, shrubs, 

 vines and evergreens, can also be made a valuable feature of the work. 



The origination of new varieties, by crossing or hybridizing, or the 

 improvement of old ones by selection and cultivation, also affords an 

 important field of work. Implements, machinery, and various methods 

 of preparing the soil for crops may be tested. Studies may also be 

 made of the best methods of preparing the seed, of planting, cultivating, 

 pruning and managing the different crops. 



Although it may seem foolish to talk about using fertilizers in a 

 state where not one farmer in a thousand makes any pretense to save 

 and apply his stable manure, and we believe it worse than folly to advo- 

 cate the use of commercial fertilizers for ordinary farm crops, except 



