410 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



in conjun<tion with this exhibition. Mr. William Minor was elected 

 recording secretary in place of Mr. Elliott, who had removed from the 

 State. 



The second annual meeting was held at Saint Louis, on the Sth day of 

 January, 18G1. Many varieties of fruits, wines, &c., were exhibited at 

 this meeting, and such exhibitions have since annually occurred. Dr. 

 C. W. Spalding was elected president at this meeting for the ensuing 

 year. The third annual meeting was held in the same city, on the 14th 

 day of January, 1862, as were also the fourth and fifth annual meetings 

 of the two succeeding years. No material changes were made in the 

 officers of the society at these meetings. Since the year 18G4 the asso- 

 ciation has more than doubled in numerical strength, and now numbers 

 among its members a majority of the leading fruit-growers of the State. 

 The later history of the society is not given. 



During the afternoon session of the society a debate occurred on the 

 subject of peach culture and the varieties best adapted to the climate 

 and soil of Missouri, at the conclusion of which the following-named 

 sorts were adopted and recommended for general cultivation : TrothV, 

 Early, Yellow Rareripe, Stump the World, Old Mixon Free, and Salwav-. 



Mr. Foster read a brief paper on the subject of pear culture. Tie 

 stated it as a fact that of the half million pear-trees sold and planted 

 annually in Illinois and Missouri, scarcely one in a thousand survives 

 the tenth year. This, he thinks, is owing to errors committed in the 

 early stages of pear culture. He advises great care in the selection of 

 seeds; for, if collected from fruit of diseased trees, they are cer'.ain to 

 carry the germs of disease with them. Sound and perfectly healthy 

 se€ds can be procured only from trees three or four hundred y^.-ars old. 

 Trees from such seeds will invariably prove healthy. In Saint Louis 

 county there are trees over two hundred years old which are ytill sound 

 and healthy. They are over 70 feet in height, and bear proDiically. 



First-class seedling stock, properly cultivated, will cofit oO cents 

 per tree in the nursery. Bad stock causes more trouble; and disap- 

 pointment in pear culture than all other causes combine/i. The trees 

 have the foundation of disease in them from the beginn'iig — a disease 

 fruitful of blight and mildew. The blight commences i'.i tbe leaf and 

 descends through the branches to the body of the tvee, and thence 

 rapidly to the roots, when the tree dies. The writer said there were 

 three conditions essential to the health of the tree, viz., sound, good 

 stocks, from healthy seeds of long-lived trees, prope; working, and an 

 ample supply of food essential to the growth of the tree. Lime, ashes, 

 cinders, and bones all contain elements of value to the growth ana 

 longevity of the tree. Trees should be well grown in the nursery before 

 planting out, and the soil well drained. 



In the course of some remarks on the same subject, Mr. Malinckrodt 

 said : 



I was raised on tbe bankfi of tlie Rhine, where pear-trees grow like oaks. There are 

 two principal causes why culture in general and pear bnlture in particular is more diffi- 

 cult in this country than in Europe. One is the great prevalence of insects here, the 

 other the uncertainty and severity of the climate. Still another is found in the soil ; 

 it is too new, too recently reclaimed. Two years ago a piece of land near mo was in 

 timber ; now it is in fruit-trees, largely in pears. In Europe they have small plantar 

 tions, and give much more care in cultivation. From the Black Sea to Najdes the pesr- 

 tree grows like an oak, and 40 to 50 bushels per tree is quite a common product. In 

 Europe they take a long time to do everything, and try to do it well. They very fre- 

 qnenlly plant the seed where they want the tree to stand. This gives a vigorous, 

 hardy tree that is abie to resist the attacks of insects and other troubles, and bear 

 heavy crops of fruit for several generations. 



