26 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



but in October I am afraid that even Brother Pearson will have some 

 weeds. 



Thirty-three years ago your Society held a meeting in this city, 

 at which a list of apples was recommended for the different portions 

 of the State, which has been worth millions to our people. You 

 have made progress in this third of a century. You are doing a 

 grand work, and should be liberally aided by the State. 



AD-INTERIM REPORT FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 

 BY ARTHUR BRYANT. 



Having had no expectation of acting on the Ad-Interim Com- 

 mittee until very late in the season, and being very much pressed 

 with other duties since that time, I have had but little time 4;o pre- 

 pare anything for a report, and must beg the indulgence of the 

 Society while T read a few notes, which I have hastily put together. 



A report like this to be thorough, means a considerable time 

 spent in travel and a more detailed study into the matter under con- 

 sideration, than I have been able to give it since the duty devolved 

 upon me. 



Consequently my remarks apply to the district in general or else 

 to the particular locality in which I reside. 



As all know, during the past few years the fruit interests 

 throughout the Northwest have suffered severely. In many cases 

 not only the large, but also the small fruit being affected. However, 

 where orchards and fruit plantations were healthy, this season has 

 been a fruitful one, and the agriculturists throughout the North- 

 west have had a bountiful harvest. 



The apple crops has been the largest for many years, and the 

 fruit is very much sounder than usual, on account of the codling 

 moth not being so plentiful as formerly. 



The past year has been more favorable to tree growth than for 

 several previous seasons. 



In old orchards that have had attention, the trees look better, 

 many of them putting forth new branches. 



They seem to be renewing their vigor and in most localities the 

 major part of them have borne a good crop of fruit. 



With us, both in the nursery and orchards, the leaf roller, 

 skeletonizer and many other insects that prey on our trees, have 

 made a marked decrease in their numbers, and have been much less 

 destructive than usual. 



In the nursery, I sprayed a part of my trees once, and some 

 twice, with London Purple, with a view of destroying the leaf 



