1 6 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



occurring while the earliest blossoms were open destroyed a large portion of them, and 

 in consequence such early-blooming sorts as Domine generally failed; and it was also 

 true that the latest blooming sorts, such as Rawles' Janet and Northern Spy, were 

 almost destitute of fruit. 



In my own orchard Maiden's Blush, Roman Stem, Benoni, Golden Russet and 

 Triumph bore good crops; Domine, Snow, Keswick Codlin, Sweet June, Carolina 

 Red June and Rawles' Janet, moderate crops, while nearly all other sorts, comprising 

 those recommended by your Society for cultivation in Northern Illinois, were almost 

 entirely barren. 



I saw in Mr. Galusha's young orchard whole rows of Ben Davis, Willow Twig 

 and Jonathan which were loaded with fruit of the best quality, many of the trees 

 having their branches propped up to prevent breaking. This orchard is on a sandy 

 loam and had been moderately manured and cultivated. The Duchess of Oldenburg, 

 Roman Stem, Ramsdell's Sweet and some other varieties also were bearing good crops; 

 but trees in his orchards generally seemed as capricious as elsewhere, most of them 

 holding but little fruit. 



The crops of berries and grapes have been fully up to the average in quantity, 

 though the size of all species as well as that of apples was diminished by the severe 

 drouth. The earliest and medium-ripening strawberries were seriously damaged by the 

 great drouth which extended over the last half of May and the first half of June ; the 

 later strawberries, also raspberries, were much benefited by timely, though insufficient 

 rains. 



From the eleventh of June till the first of October there were occasional rains, though 

 at no time sufficient to produce an average growth of tree and fruit; but with October 

 came intense heat — the thermometer for six consecutive days marking from 90° to 

 94° in the shade. This in connection with severe drouth caused premature ripening 

 of late-keeping winter apples and a quite general dropping of the fruit. 



To the drouth of May, quite as much as to the severity of the weather in winter, 

 is no doubt due the killing of Snyder blackberry canes, which reduced the crop nearly 

 one-half in this county, as the foliage withered and dropped, and the canes died after 

 they were in leaf and many while in full bloom. 



Kittatinny blackberry canes were dead and dry in the spring. 



All the older varieties of raspberries were somewhat injured, and Philadelphia 

 nearly all killed. 



The extreme heat of October caused very many buds of raspberries to break, and 

 great damage to canes must ensue if the present winter proves severe. 



Recent rains have revived the strawberry plants so that they may produce a fair 

 crop next year. 



Fruit trees appear in good condition and promise well for 1880. 



The timber in the groves of this county is decreasing and tree-planting scarcely 

 keeps pace with the destruction; so that, on the whole, I think the leaf-surface is 

 diminishing from year to year. There seems to be, however, an increasing disposition 

 to plant trees, especially evergreens for ornament and shelter. 



After reading the report the Secretary remarked : 



Mr. President, the gentleman reporting from Grundy county is not, 

 and never was, a nurseryman. 



The President. — Nor a tree-peddler. (Laughter.) 

 Mr. Galusha. — We would infer as much from the tone of the paper. 

 His fruit took the first premium at the late State fair, over strong com- 

 petition. He is a successful orchardist. 



