202 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Nebraska for nearly half a century. I am satisfied with 

 Nebraska. I would not give up my Nebraska home for a home 

 in any part of God's domain. The very fact that I have lived 

 here for fifty years is ample proof of the fact that I believe with 

 all my heart that Nebraska is the best spot on God's earth. I 

 thank you for your attention. (Applause.) 



The President: Next on our program is a paper on "Pears" 

 by Mr. J. O. Shroyer of Humboldt. 



PEARS. 



BY J. O. SHROYER, HUMBOLDT. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: In the early days of the 

 history of our state it was often hinted to the settler that his 

 family must forego the fruit that was considered a substantial 

 part of the product of his former home in the East. How well 

 we remember how we fought the gnats and mosquitoes as we 

 bent over the wild gooseberries along the creek, or trudged a 

 mile or two to get a pail of wild plums and even the tart wild 

 grapes that hung so tantalizing from the very top of some brit- 

 tle boxalder would cause us to risk life and limb to secure the 

 wherewithal to make a few pies. 



The friendly ties of the most social neighborhood was often 

 drawn to the tightest tension in the scramble for the posses- 

 sion of the wild fruit that grew along the streams, indeed we 

 remember one man who cut down a fine patch of plums because 

 his wife was every year so aggravated because the plums would 

 be attacked by gangs of the marauders that would pick the fruit 

 before it had a chance to ripen. 



Then later on apples began to be plenty and a few of the 

 bravest began to plant cherries, peaches, and other tame fruit. 

 Then the wild fruit had to be pretty handy or it was not picked 

 at all, and now a lusty vine can Haunt it's clusters of purple 

 fruit beside the road through all the autnmn days and no 

 hand is stretched to gather. We had an appetite for something 

 better, and we have proved that Nebraska's fertile soil has bid- 



