414 



Missouri Agriciilhiral Fcport. 



shown the oiitcDiiic (>r similar effort, and have placi'.l in tlu'ir liaiuls the 

 material with which to work it. It is l()<iical. It is likely. 



On January 23 and 24 a special agricultural ti-ain was run over the 

 Kansas City, Clinton and Springfield road ; February 21 to 25, inclusive, 

 one over the Frisco's Missouri tracks; March 7 to 11, another over that 

 part of the Burlington in Northwest Missouri ; March 21, 22 and 23, an- 

 other traversing the Wabash system in the State. 



A Motor Train — "State Dairy, Poultry and Good Roads Special." 



It is doubtful if any other trains in any other state have ever ap- 

 proached these in eoml)ined interest, enthusiasm, attendance and good 

 accomplished. These splendidly equipped trains, furnished free by the 

 railroad companies, but at an operating cost totaling thousands of dol- 

 lars, represent the development and growth of a Missouri idea. 



A number of years ago when John T. Stinson, now Secretary of the 

 Missouri State Fair, was connected with the Fruit Experiment Station at 

 Mountain Grove, he conceived the idea of fitting up a box car as a labora- 

 tory whereby orchard owners might be given lessons in the mixture and 

 use of sprays, and in which spraying apparatus might be transported. 

 The Frisco railroad was quick to co-operate to the extent of putting the 

 plan into practice — and crude as was the beginning, it marked the birth 

 of the demonstration car idea in Missouri. 



The agricultural trains, such as have recently been run, represent 

 the gratifying growth of an idea of proven worth and one pregnant with 



