90 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



fruit, and if the weather is warm and wet they will spoil before they 

 can be put on the market. Our customers send us word to-day that 

 they are too hard and to-morrow that they are too soft, and again 

 that they are too small. 



Mr. Pearson — Prior to 1882 we had seven crops in twenty 

 l!| years, but the past seven years has broken the record. When we 



get one crop in three years we are doing well. If we had annual 

 crops everybody would go to raising peaches and the markets would 

 be glutted. I find that it is about impossible to get a good peach 

 two hundred miles from its home. I once saw some Alton peaches 

 in Chicago and thought they would certainly be good, but was sadly 

 disappointed. 



Mr. Riehl — Peach trees make no spurs but bear on the twigs. 

 Cutting back increases the bearing wood, and those who keep their 

 trees in proper shape will find it very profitable to thin the fruit. 

 The expense is much less than is generally supposed. 



EEPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EASPBERRIES AND 

 BLACKBERRIES. 



BY H. K. VICKKOT, NORMAL. 



Raspberries and blackberries, the past season, have generally 

 produced fair crops, for which we have received medium prices. In 

 our immediate vicinity, the season has been very favorable, having 

 frequent rains at the righ't time, for ripening a good crop of berries, 

 and making and maturing a fine lot of canes for another season's 

 fruiting. 



The varieties of raspberries for profitable marketing can be 

 counted on the fingers of one hand. For early, Tyler and Souhe- 

 gan, and Ohio for late, and in well-sheltered locations, I might add 

 Gregg. There is but but little difference between the Tyler and 

 Souhegau; if any, it is in favor of the Tyler. The Ohio is a very 

 strong grower and very hardy; fruit not so large as Gregg, but of 

 better quality. "The Turner and Cuthbert are the leading red varie- 

 ties. The Shaffer's Colossal is growing in favor with the con- 

 sumer. When the Shaffer was first put, upon the market, it was 

 nearly impossible to sell it on account of its color; since people 

 have become acquainted with it, there is quite a demand for it. 

 It is a splendid berry to can. 



I have fruited five varieties of blackberries this season: Snyder, 

 Stone's Hardy, Barnard, Taylor and Agawam. They stand in value 

 in the order named. The Snyder and Stone's Hardy are more hardy 



