ANNUAL, MEETING AT LEXINGTON. 263 



We hope that your meetino- in Lexington may result in profit and 

 pleasure to all, and that your June meeting may be held in our city — 

 Springfield. 



D. S. HOLM AX, 



Secretary. 



EEPORT OF BATES COUXTY SOCIETY. 



HENRY SPEER, BUTLER. 



To the Officers and Members of the State Horticultural Society: 



The Bates county Society reports, that as a society the last year 

 has been the most prosperous of any since its organization; its meet- 

 ings have been well attended, particularly the summer picnic meetings 

 around among the members ; its membership has constantly increased 

 until the secretary has on his roll one hundred and twelve names, 

 about one-haif of them being active members ; it has widened its sphere 

 of usefulness so that it now reaches nearly all parts of the county and 

 a few from beyond the border ; its papers and discussions during the 

 year have covered a wide range of subjects and have been of practical 

 benefit to many if not all its members, and its influence is being felt 

 and acknowledged throughout the county; it has come to stay and my 

 prediction is will last and carry on the good work after its originators 

 have passed to that bourne from which no traveler returns. 



The fruit interests of our county are on the increase and more in- 

 terest is being taken in the culture of fruits and ornamentals from 

 year to year, for which our so'ciety claims a share of the credit. 

 The crop of small fruits the past season was large, everything doing 

 well except blackberries, some rust and afi'ected somewhat by dry 

 weather. Y'et some patches did well. 



Prices of all kinds of small fruits were rather too low to leave 

 very much margin to the commercial grower, but to the farmer and 



