266 MISSUURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



counties could have done nearly as well as our best, if they had had the 

 men and money to do it, then we begin to realize how great and varied 

 arc the advantages of Missouri, for fruit growing. 



A committee of four persons were invited from other states, to p.iss 

 upon the.exhibits, and their report is submitted. 



The committee were; A. C. Hammond, of Warsaw, 111.; Frank 

 Holsinger, of Rosedale, Kas.; W. M. Samuels, of Clinton, Ky. and E. A. 

 Reihl. of Alton, 111. 



The following is their report. 



To the Officers and Members of the Missouri Horticultural Society : 



It affords us great pleasure to have the privilege of examining such 

 a collection of fruit and make such a favorable report. 



The Missouri Fruit exhibition, was a collection of fruit contributed 

 by about thirty-eight counties of the state, shown in the P^xposition build- 

 ing, by the officers of the State Horticultural Society. The show con- 

 sisted of about 3,000 plates of fruit; 2,300 plates of apples, 300 plates 

 pears, 200 plates grapes, 100 plates peaches and roo plates of plums 

 and crab-apples and some miscellaneous fruits. 



The exhibition was as good in arrangement and quality of fruit as 

 it was large, and in many ways showed the work of the careful, scientific 

 horticulturist, and plainly demonstrated that Missouri possesses some of 

 the finest locations for fruit growing on the continent. 



No better method of advertising the capabilities of the state, in the 

 way of fruit growing, and attracting settlers to her unoccupied lands, 

 could have been devised ; nor a better place found, in which to 

 make the show, as the Exposition is visited, not only by tens of thous- 

 ands of her own citizens, but by thousands from other states, who, seeing 

 what can be done in this line, will be attracted to her, and make their 

 homes on her fruitful farms. 



Such exhibitions are of incalculable benefit, not only do they at- 

 tract the right kind of settlers from abroad, but they show the citizens 

 of the state that makes them, their own resources, and stimulates fruit 

 tree planting, not only for commercial purposes, but also for home use, 

 thus adding to the health happiness and general welfare of the people. 



This exhibition clearly showed the good accomplished by local hor- 

 ticultural societies. 



Usually the largest, and always the best exhibits were from those 

 counties having a live horticultural society. Bates, Holt, Vernon, How- 



