47S! MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



To determine the true character of Missouri as a fruit producing 

 state, it should be considered by districts. Were an observing stranger 

 to cross the northwestern portion of the state at fruit harvest he would 

 conclude naturally that Missouri produced fine apples, whereas, if he had 

 instead ciossed the Ozark mountain at its southeastern slope, he would 

 have called Missouri a peach orchard, and in the mineral belt, where iron 

 predominates, he would find the land for pears and grapes and the whole 

 list of berries or small fruits, all which can be grown largely and profi- 

 tably in Missouri, if classified a'^ nature has classified the capabilities or 

 adaptation of altitude, soils, slopes or exposures, etc., and plant ac- 

 cordingly. If we would grow the peach largely for profit, then we may 

 find success in the peach belt covering the hill country of South and 

 Southeast Missouri — the Ozarks — especially their southern and south- 

 eastern slope. Here is just sand enough in the soil to make both culti- 

 vation and success with small fruits easy. Every county in the state 

 will produce fine apples — some better than others however. Larger and 

 heavier on the deep, moist soil. The highest colored and best quality 

 possessing most sacharine matter are found on lands of best altitude and 

 nearest the sun with no malada. 



I doubt if another state in the whole country can grow so many, 

 and so well, the fruits which succeed in Missouri. The adaptation to the 

 apple and other fruits is no longer a question in Missouri, but the extent 

 of the fruit resources of Missouri is a problem. Already millions ot 

 bushels of Missouri apples are ani.ually grown and there are millions of 

 acres of her best fruit lands unsubdued — in brush, woods, vines, briars, 

 and grass to-day — cheap lands, too. 



I have no fruit lands to sell, sir, and no axe to grind when I call 

 attention to the Ozark plateau of many miles in length and the timbered 

 hills on the long slope on both sides of this plateau where small money, 

 large muscle, a good will and an active brain would achieve an annual 

 success, when richer bottom lands, valley or prairie, better for agricul- 

 ture, would not, from fogs and frosts, gives crops of fruits so sweet nor 

 so surely. Similar rough lands in other portions of the state, ignored 

 because rough and hilly, will yet be planted to fruit and found the best. 



It is but a question of time— a short time — when Missouri must 

 stand in the front as a fruit state. The result of scientific and practical 

 experiments being made and yet more and more to be made at 

 Columbia, will hasten such results. The faithful work of the Missouri 

 Horticultural Society, with auxiliary societies in the counties, will help 

 to solve the problem of Missouri's fruit resources and help to fulfill the 

 prophecy in a few years just made tor Missouri. 



