488 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



northeastern corner of Ralls county. It is safe to say that no two coun- 

 ties in the state lying in their latitude arc better adapted for fruit-grow- 

 ing, and few so well. 



While a great portion of these counties seem to have their "backs 

 up," so to speak, and some of their apple trees growing on the bluffs 

 might have their fruit gathered with an ordinary ladder on one side of 

 the tree, yet you would need one about five hundred feet tall to reach 

 from the ground to the top of the tree on the other side. Still it is 

 doubtful if there is an acre of ground in either so situated as to raise any 

 other crop, but would also raise some of our fruits more profitably than 

 anything else that could be planted on them. 



I herewith submit letter from Mr. W. E. Flanders in regard to fruit- 

 growing in Monroe county, which will be found interesting: 



Paris, Mo., January 28, 1889. 



y. G. Kinder, Scci'ctary, Nevada, Mo.: 



Dear Sir: — Your letter to postmaster here was handed me to 

 answer. Monroe county has about an equal amount of prairie and tim- 

 ber land. The prairie is mostly black loam, the timber land light loam. 

 The timber land is the best adapted to fruit. 



Apples are a successful crop; pears do well, also plums and cher- 

 ries; peaches are a failure; grapes do well. 



Strawberries and all other small fruits succeed finely. All varieties 

 of apples adapted to Missouri do well here. The Bartlett, Flemish 

 Beauty and Duchess pears ; Wild Goose and Miner plums, and Early 

 Richmond cherry are the most reliable varieties. In grapes nearly any 

 kind does well. • Yours truly, 



W. E. FLANDERS. 



I herewith submit report on Randolph county from Mr. Chas. P. 

 Baender, of Moberly, which presents her advantages better than I pos- 

 sibly could do: 



Moberly, Mo., February 4, 1889. 

 J. G, Ki7idcry Secretary Vernon County Horticnltiiral Society : 



Dear Sir: — Your letter of enquiry to postmaster here has been 

 handed to me for answer, which I will undertake, however, with trepida- 

 tion, knowing my inability to write for the public. 



This town (Moberly) is situated on the Wabash Western and M. 

 K. & T. Railways. It is the highest point between Kansas City and St. 

 Louis, located on rolling prairie on the edge of timber. We have a popu- 

 lation of 10,000. 



