1 8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



We have greater irregularity of climate here than in the States east 

 of the lakes, and to this fact is mainly due their advantage over us in 

 growing orchard-fruits. 



Mr. Minkler. — Is it not true that a large portion of fruit sold as 

 "California fruit" does not come from California? Ben Davis apples 

 grown in Illinois are sold as California apples. The fact is that the 

 largest and most showy apples, no matter where grown, are very often 

 sold as " California apples." 



As to the cause of decay in our apple-trees, I agree with Mr. 

 McWhorter that it is climate rather than soil. Our hogs do not get the 

 cholera from over-feeding, neither do our trees get sick because the soil 

 is too rich. When the climate is right we get good crops on either prairie 

 or timber lands; but when our trees go into winter with the ground very 

 dry, and the winter proves severe, our trees are damaged. If it was the 

 nature of the soil or the mode of treatment which causes the early decline 

 complained of we could in a measure remedy it, but it is not easy to 

 manufacture a climate to suit us. 



Mr. Holdridge. — I have no experience in under-draining orchard 

 lands, but have in tile-draining lands for farm crops, and know that such 

 lands withstand the extremes of both wet and dry weather far better than 

 undrained lands ; they never are muddy or mushy in wet weather or 

 lumpy in times of drouth. I could tell land that has been tile-drained by 

 walking over it blindfolded. I believe tile-draining will greatly benefit 

 orchards, for the reason that has been stated here that trees freezing very 

 hard in a dry, lumpy soil are liable to damage ; draining prevents the 

 extreme dryness of soil. 



Mr. Galusha. — Mr. President, this is one of the most important 

 subjects in practical horticulture. I believe in draining all tenaceous 

 soils and in giving good cultivation ; but before we condemn our prairie 

 soils as not adapted to orchard culture we should use our brains in ascer- 

 taining what elements are needed to make these soils good fruit soils, and 

 our muscles in applying the remedies. This is an old story, one which 

 came up in the early history of this Society. It was then claimed, as it 

 is now, that our virgin prairie soil is surcharged with ulmic acid, which, 

 when in excess, is detrimental to healthy growth of fruit-trees; but this 

 is only true of comparatively new soils. After they have been turned up 

 to the light and the warmth of the sun, for a few years, they become 

 sweetened and better suited to orchard growths. The trouble is not that 

 new soils are too rich, but that they contain too much of this humic (or 

 ulmic) acid. I have several times called the attention of this Society to 



