56 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



About a }'car ago I shipped a lot of small apples to Beal <Sr Co., commis- 

 sion merchants at Omaha, Nebraska. They sold for $8 and $9 per bar- 

 rel. Men who have large apple orchards say $100 would be a small average 

 to the acre. In 1882 my orchard, (trees 15 years old) averaged over 

 $200 to the acre, (460 bushel.) I measured all my apples that year. 

 Apples sold that year at 50 to 65cts. per bushel, so you see my estimate 

 is not over-drawn. Since 1882 I have had three very fair crops and two 

 very small crops, owing to four very severe winters and four very dry, hot 

 summers, and my orchard had borne full crops in succession for ten or 

 twelve years ; of course, all things must have rest. With as good a crop 

 this year as in 1882 (and the prospect is equally as promising), I am satis- 

 fied that m)' orchard has averaged since 1882 $100 to the acre, which 

 would pay the interest at ten per cent, on $1,000 ; at eight per cent, on 

 $1,250, and at six per cent, on $i,666|. This will bring our orchards to 

 California prices. We will say our apple orchards only average $50 per 

 acre ; this will pay interest on $500 at ten per cent., on $625 at eight 

 per cent., and on $833 at six per cent. It looks to me that money could 

 in no way be better invested than to set out orchards on our cheap lands 

 in Holt County, since we have by experience learned what apples are the 

 most profitable and best suited to our climate and soil. The amount 

 per acre can be largely increased. I have it from good authority that 

 Missouri took all, or nearly all, the largest premiums on apples at the 

 World's Fair in New Orleans in 1884, Holt County being represented by 

 about three barrels. At our State Meeting at Boonville last winter, N. 

 F. Murray, of Holt County, Missouri, took first premium on largest and 

 best collection of apples and the first premium of five best winter varie- 

 ties and first premium on best new variety for market (the Babbitt), also 

 quite a number ot plate premiums. Dr. Goslin, of Holt County, also 

 took quite a number of plate premiums. In 1886 the Kansas City Fair 

 awarded N. F. Murray first premium on largest and best display of fruit 

 by any one individual ; also first premium on best five winter varieties. 

 Mr. N. F. Murray also made an exhibit of Holt County peaches at the 

 great fruit .show held in St. Louis in 1880 by the Mississippi Valley 

 Horticultural Society ; large premiums were offered and nineteen States 

 were represented. Michigan had a fine display of peaches made by their 

 State Horticultural Society, but the first premium was awarded to Mur- 

 ray Bros., of Holt County, Missouri, and second to Michigan. 



All corresponcence from parties wi.shing to handle apples will be 

 promptly attended to by any of our orchardists. We never had such a 

 prospect for a large crop of apples as we have now. There are a great 

 many young orchards just commencing to bear. California may have 



