250 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



who caught the inspiration vim-writers and speakers imparted to their 

 minds. 



The allurements of horticultural work have had much effect, as 

 well as the anticipated profits in inducing men to invest money and 

 labor in fruit-growing. Year by year the work has progressed ; the 

 slopes of the Ozarks have been cleared of oak and hickory, and in 

 their places apple, peach and pear trees and grape vines are growing,, 

 producing fruits that contribute to the health and happiness, and mor- 

 ality, too, of tens of thousands less favored than we of Missouri, with 

 our soil and climate so well adapted to growing the best things that 

 come from the earth. Within a few years Missouri has become one of 

 the first fruit-growing states, and she is to be the first if those who 

 have the most experience in fruitgrowing are not over sanguine in 

 their hopes. 



It can hardly be otherwise, friends, as the 70,000 square miles of 

 Missouri are adapted to fruit-growing. In the northwest corner of the 

 State our worthy Vice-President makes $100 an acre clear from his 

 orchard, and in Newton county apples pay as well. All along our lines 

 of railway, clear down into Arkansas, apple and peach orchards are 

 being planted from a few acres to a thousand acres. With the best 

 soil in America, and enough area to supply the country, Missouri is 

 sure to lead in small fruits. We must not forget another fruit, one of 

 the best good old earth has ever brought forth ; let us add the grape 

 to the list of fruits that will be grown most extensively in Missouri. 

 Have we not the testimony of New York's most eminent horticulturist, 

 Hon. Geo. T. Powell, that the soil of the Ozarks is unexcelled in 

 America for growing grapes. There is abundant reason to form this 

 opinion, for to what better purpose could the cheap mountain slopes 

 be devoted? Grape growing has passed beyond the experimental 

 stage. Vineyards of 10,000 and 20,000 vines have amply demonstrated 

 the fact that Missouri will lead in grape growing. 



Now, Mr. President, if this was a purely agricultural meeting, we 

 should make other claims for Missouri's leadership in industrial re- 

 sources. She is this year first in corn, is first in poultry, first in zinc, 

 and so near first in hogs that she soon will be in the lead, for this State 

 is rapidly gaining in farmer population, but her closest competitors in 

 porcine products have all they can do to hold their population up to 

 the census of 1890. One of these states actually lost last year in the 

 total number of her inhabitants. Missouri cattle are not outranked 

 by those in any other state, as was proven at the World's Fair. 



In short, Missouri is at the very front in the products of the soiL 

 Success and permanent pre-eminence, is, however, largely dependent 



