54 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



many places, for long distances the natural forest only needs to be reg- 

 ulated. 



This spring I spent a week sixty miles north of this place in Iowa, 

 where thirty years ago the country was an almost unbroken wild prairie. 



Much, very much has been done there in planting trees along the 

 streets and by the waysides; but the mistakes have told fearfully against 

 what might have been. The miserable Box Elders have passed away. 

 The Soft Maple, for this purpose is an essential failure. The Cotton- 

 wood is planted no more on road or on street; but such trees as I have 

 named here are there to stay. 



Let us remember that in this matter of trees beside the roads, 

 we are planting or saving for generations, yes, for centuries to come. 



W. R. LAUGHLIN. 



MISSOURI AND CALIFORNIA FRUITS COMPARED. 



Mr. Editor: — Will you allow a common farmer to say a few com- 

 mon words in your most valuable paper. What I say shall be garnished 

 with the truth and no fictitious boom. 



Why is it that apple or fruit lands in Holt county or Missouri are 

 so much cheaper than the orange or fruit lands of California.'' I see in 

 their papers and learn from persons who have been there that they ask 

 from $500 to $1,500 per acre for land set in orchard. I believe the 

 apple orchard in Holt county is a better investment than an orange 

 orchard in California. The apple is the most substantial fruit in the 

 world. I believe " the apple is the fruit of the tree that was given to 

 Adam for our meat." Allow me to quote Mr. L. A. Goodman, the secre- 

 tary of our State Horticultural Society, who has just returned from Cal- 

 ifornia. I give it in his own words as it appeared in Colman's Rural 

 World: ist. — Their land costs a great deal more. 2nd. — The water 

 costs as much as some of our land. 3rd. — Their markets are much far- 

 ther off than are ours. Taking all in all, I am satisfied that a man can 

 make just as much money in a good market apple orchard in propor- 

 tion to the money invested here in Missouri, as he can in California. 

 Now, this being the case, why is it that our lands are so cheap.^ We 

 can raise small fruits cheaper than they can, with the exception 



