1G3 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The best districts for the apple tree, says Loudon, through the Isle 

 of Britain and the continent, is where the soils are more or less cal- 

 carious, and in all districts most famous for their jjroductiou limestone 

 gravel and subsoil predominate. 



A clayey loam, porous enough to give good natural drainage, with 

 an underlying stratum, stiff and in some degree tenacious, so as to hold 

 the summer's moisture, gives the most perfect, best flavored and high- 

 est colored fruit. 



The hillsides, the valleys, we may say the blufi's that border the 

 Missouri river, possess these qualities in a high degree, in fact our 

 State orchard products are becoming more noted every year. 



The fruitful banks of the Hudson, the beautiful hills of the Oliio 

 and the limestone bluffs of the Mississippi, have long since attested to 

 these facts by the excellence of their productions. 



Soils, though rocky, apparently poor and possessing only small 

 proportions of loam, are well adapted to nearly all our fruit trees. The 

 continual disintegration of the rocks by heat and frost are constantly 

 producing the elements requisite for the development of trees and 

 fruit, besides there is warmth in such positions well adapted to special 

 varieties. 



In well sheltered locations we cannot see tliat the inclination of 

 the ground toward any point of the compass makes much difference ; 

 changes of seasons would be more noticeable in its effect upon these 

 points. When the season is a very dry one, the inclination from the 

 sun's rays would be most desirable, and vice versa. 



Should our springs be foul, cold and damp as a rule, south, south- 

 eastern and southwestern would be our choice to produce desirable 

 qualities. While the higher elevations are the best for all purposes, 

 many varieties will be found better suited to the lower parts than 

 others, the richer soils, damper atmosphere seeming to suit their 

 wants. Of these we have examples in the ^N^ewtown pippins, Eawles 

 Janet, Stark and others ; those of late blooming habits will be such 

 should be planted there, since they will more likely escape the late 

 spring frost such localities are subject to. 



In this latitude apples of northern origin, sucli as the Baldwin, Spy, 

 King and Jonathan, to prevent their premature dropping, it has been 

 thought that a northern exposure would be best. That the more 

 equalized dampness the soil held would equalize the ripening of the 

 fruit also. 



All low, damp, marsh;y ground and places holding water, though 

 uplands, are well known to be unsuitable locations. We have long 



