9S MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



sustains it too. Last winter 23" below zero blew out the life from all 

 the fruit buds in the trees. This spring we found several half broken 

 branches resting their tops on the ground and there we found blooms, 

 the only ones perceptible in the whole orchard of a thousand trees. The 

 same observation was already made in previous seasons. I would sug- 

 crest to this end to train low branched trees so the branches could be 

 bent down and fastened to the ground without breaking them. To do 

 this on a large scale perhaps not being practicable — the large scale at 

 least is better left behind in the peach business — to some extent we 

 might succeed in this way to save part of the fruit. One neighbor laid 

 down the trees in the fall some years ago, covering them with strawy 

 matter weighted down, and he had peaches the following summer when 

 nobody else had. But it was rough on trees. 



Question. What are the best peaches for evaporating.? Mr. Hol- 

 man spoke of the free-stones as best. 



Mr. Murray stated that the white varieties were hardier than the 

 yellow varieties. Of yellow varieties the Smock was best. It was bet- 

 ter than Beer's Smock. It was a dry peach. 



Mr. King of Amazonia had had large experience with peaches but 

 would depend on native seedling varieties. 



Secy Goodman said that Mr. Munson of Texas was the best author- 

 ity in the country. He recommended Elberta Smock and Salway. 



Mr. Gilbert asked if the Smock ripened at one time or if they con- 

 tinued for some time. 



Mr. Murray replied that Smock lasts as long as any other variety 

 and was one of the best for evaporating. 



Mr. Dnrkees. For family use might return to seedlings, or at least 

 would give them a place. 



Mr. King, of Amizonia, had tried trees from eastern nurseries and 

 had also gotten up several seedlings. 



The last year we had a crop and he had 1,000 peaches which bore 

 their first crop. For several years there was no crop, but last year he 

 entered thirty plates at the St. Joseph Fair and took first premium in 

 every class competed for. If we wish to succeed with peaches we shall 

 have to depend on home grown seedlings. 



