68 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Only one of the bird kind should be completely destroyed, and; 

 that is the English Sparrow. Its utter uselessness and pure cussed- 

 ness is conclusive that it should be exterminated. 



Eusts and mildews are subtle enemies of our fruit growers, and 

 how to battle them, or how to avoid them, cfui only be known when we 

 know more of them. A new field has been opened to our scientists,. 

 and they are studying this life closely. It is a life study, and it will be 

 some years probably before we can understand them. Bat we are 

 learning rapidly, and it is to be hoped we may find the causes of these 

 dread foes and remedies to counteract them. 



The extreme winters of the last few years have played sad havoc 

 with many of our trees, and the peach will have to' be replanted before 

 we can expect a crop of peaches again. Our old trees are nearly ruined 

 and only those under three or four years planted can ever make healthy 

 trees. And, although the outlook is discouraging, still I believe the 

 fruit grower is no worse off than many other class of men. The peach 

 is easily and quickly grown and we can plant again. In fact, in order 

 to have the best results we must plant them continually ; every year 

 must see a few trees or a new orchard planted. 



Our apple trees have come out of the trial conquerers. We have- 

 this year a wonderful show of fruit, and the only thing to fear now is 

 that our trees will carry too big a load and cause the same trouble of 

 two or three years ago. I tell you friends, we must thin our crop of 

 apples if we would not have a repetition of the failure of our trees, and 

 of winesap especially. 



Our small fruits, although injured somewhat, yet we are satisfied 

 with the results, and the vines are soon replaced. What we need is 

 some good blackberry of good size and quality that will not rust and is 

 hardy. 



OUR REPORT. 



Our report has been delayed by the State i)rinters, and instead of 

 having it in April we have just received it now in June. I believe it 

 to be the most valuable of any one yet published, not only for the 

 reports, essays and discussions, but because of the "Flora of Missouri, 

 an appendix by Prof. Tracy." He has been buisy on this for years 

 and it is the only complete or nearly complete list of plants of Missouri 

 ever published. What it will accomplish in th^ march of horticulture 

 time will show. More complete arrangements should be made if pos- 

 sible so that we can get our report earlier. The manuscript has been 



