ANNUAL MEETING AT NEVADA. 359 



cent, paid their membership fee of $i this year, than ever before during 

 any one year in the history of the society. We hope to continue 

 the rate of increase in our membership, and to become if possible, the 

 largest county society in the state. 



Again, last spring, for the second time, this society, through its 

 executive committee, ordered berry-box and crate material for the use 

 of its members Two car loads were thus ordered and distributed, at a 

 cost of $741. We have derived no little benefit from buying this way, 

 direct from the manufacturers, and saving to ourselves, as we do, the 

 profits of middlemen aad in fact of transportation companies. 



Our berry crop was good. Strawberries and blackberries more 

 than commonly so, and prices realized were good, strawberries averag- 

 ing about 10 cents per quart all through the season. There were ex- 

 pressed from Carthage this year nearly 30,000 quarts of berries and 

 smaller amounts from Joplin, Webb City, and Sarcoxie. Comparing 

 this with six years ago, when not enough was raised to supply the home 

 demand, it will be seen that no inconsiderable increase in the berry 

 business has been made in Jasper County. Berry patches are generally 

 in good order, and promise a correspondingly large yield for next year. 

 The acreage of raspberries and blackberries to fruit in this county next 

 year, will be slightly larger than it was this ; of strawberries, it will be 

 at least 25 per cent greater. 



Apples have been a large crop, but they have not been up to what 

 they should be, on account of damage by drought and the fast increas- 

 ing army of insects, which prey upon them. The price, so far, has 

 been low, only about 25 cents per bushel being paid, in Carthage, for 

 good shipping fruit. 



In addition to large quantities of apples which have been canned, 

 evaporated, held over, made into cider, etc., there has been shipped out 

 of Jasper County this season, according to the estimate of a careful man 

 who is in a position to know, close to 500 car loads. Nearly all of our 

 orchards are young ; many are too young to bear. Thousands of trees 

 were set last spring, as predicted in my report one year ago ; many are 

 being set this fall, and more will be set in the spring. Orcharding, then, 

 is here but in its infancy, and notwithstanding the low prices of this 

 year, and the many obstacles to final success, the work of setting still 

 goes bravely on. We look for a great future in apples for Jasper 

 County. 



