130 



them or near them is not sufficiently covered, and, in conse- 

 quence, perishes. After the seed is sown, it should be rolled 

 in. Grass seed of all kinds, and even wheat, requires the 

 ground to be compact around it, else it is greatly endangered 

 by the light showers we so frequently have in the fall and 

 spring, which are sufficient to sprout, but not to beat down 

 the earth around the seed. 



Our meadows are usually timothy mixed with clover. This 

 preference is given because the clover keeps the ground loose, 

 and when timothy alone is sown, moss grows more freely, 

 which is destructive to the grass. Our best farmers harrow 

 their meadows every spring. In addition to this a liberal 

 dressing of rotted manure ought to be given. 



The average quantity of hay is not over one and a quarter 

 tons to the acre. None is exported, and the present price, at 

 Bloomington, is $7 50 per ton. 



14. Fruits. — This county is progressing, not, however, as 

 rapidly as it ought, in the culture of the apple. The nursery 

 of Mr. Turner, near Bloomington, furnishes a home supply 

 of the best. Our soil is admirably adapted to fruits of all 

 kinds, and the slopes of the hills furnish any number of excel- 

 lent sites. We have grafted apples of the usual kinds, but I 

 am unable to state the comparative excellence of each as 

 grown in our soil and climate. Mr. Turner, the chairman of 

 the committee on fruits, will furnish full statements on this 

 subject, for the next annual report. Peach trees are plenty, 

 but not grafted ones. These are more hardy, but still the 

 crop is very uncertain. The common cherry is the Morello, 

 but these are not so good bearers as the May Duke and Early 

 May. The latter are now coming in use, and prove to be 

 hardy, large fruited, and full bearers. Various varieties of 

 the Biggarreau, Heart and Duke, have recently been brought 

 into the county, but are not yet in bearing. The plum is not 

 much cultivated, on account of the depredations of the Cur- 

 culio; and the pear but little, as it is so often destroyed by 



the blight. From observation, I am inclined to believe that 



it' 



