lO TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



REPORT OF LASALLE COUNTY, NORTH— By Sam'l Edwards. 



H. C. Graves, Sandwich, 111. — Dear Sir, — The past season, like all others, has 

 given some peculiar experiences to horticulturists. The mercury went 30° — last winter. 

 Peaches and blackberries were generally killed ; the only exceptions known to me are a 

 choice seedling freestone peach grown by W. E. Chapin, at LaSalle, which has not 

 failed to bear for several years, and the Snyder blackberry. Wallace and Taylor black- 

 berries, which have been sent out as hardy, were so much affected as to fail in fruit, 

 though they are hardier than Kittatinny and Lawton. 



In some instances the hardy raspberries were somewhat injured by winter, but in 

 sheltered locations escaped. Apple-trees generally, in nursery and orchard, were not 

 damaged, but from some cause the crop of fruit was light. In a few instances the yield 

 was good. Maiden's Blush, Duchess of Oldenburg, Lowell, Warfield, Perry Russet 

 and Stark bore well with me, while Willow Twig and Ben Davis, noted as profuse 

 bearers, gave only a few specimens. The remark is often made that apple-trees do not 

 bear as well as formerly. Is it owing to drier seasons and to seeding down orchards, thus 

 robbing them of moisture? This theory has been raised in my mind, and the remedy 

 would seem to be frequent cultivation of the surface soil and mulching through the hot 

 season. Codling-moth was not as plenty as usual. Bark-lice are disappearing. Wash- 

 ing trees in June with diluted carbolic acid and soap did not prevent deposit of eggs 

 for the borer; it may need frequent repetitions in a rainy season; I intend to give it 

 further trial. As first apple orchards are failing and few trees planted now, our 

 markets must soon be supplied from other localities. 



Pears gave a better crop than apples ; no blight observed. 



Miner P/ums, as usual, blossomed full, but set no fruit. Younger trees of Wild 

 Goose bore well. 



Early Richmond and English Morello Cherries gave good crops. 



Strawberries were injured materially by May frosts. Downer's, Downing and 

 Green Prolific were most abundant in our market and give good returns ; Sharpless is 

 very promising, vines vigorous, bore well, of good quality, large size, with a small part 

 of the crop coxcomb-shape, larger than any other berry ever grown in this vicinity; 

 Crescent is very robust and healthy in foliage, bears well and fruit is of good quality; 

 Forest-Rose foliage browns badly; Miner's Great Prolific is rather promising — of fine 

 quality; Col. Cheney and Capt. Jack are good; Wilson does not succeed well with me 

 and I have excused it ; Prouty does not bear well with ordinary field-culture. 



Turner Raspberry is the best red raspberry tested for this locality ; Pride-of-the- 

 Hudson is an unmitigated humbug ; Florence is hardy and productive ; Gregg is hardy, 

 good, and from the large size of the fruit it must take the lead as a market berry. 



Snyder Blackberry is still considered the most valuable fruit of its species for the 

 family or market. Liberal mulching for the hot weather is advised for all small-fruits. 



Currants bore a moderate crop. 



Gooseberries were a failure. 



Concord Grapes were plenty, and are being planted for family use by our farmers 

 more generally than any other small-fruit, except Snyder blackberries and chenies. 



Vegetable gardens among farmers are slowly improving, with no serious pest except 

 the green cabbage-worm, for which salt and hand-picking have proved effective reme- 

 dies, but in most cases the crop has been abandoned and lost. 



Planting of Evergreens for screens is yearly increasing; very few planting for 

 timber; barbed wire has nearly given, a quietus to hedge-planting. 



All fruits ripened earlier than usual. Bellflower and Domine apples, generally 

 used in January and February, are now (Nov. 27) in fine eating order. Of late-keepers 

 the Salome, from E. C. Hatheway, of Ottawa, is decidedly the best apple, succeeding 

 here, known to me. It was in perfect condition in June. 



