STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



29 



J. T. Johnson. — Do you think there is any decrease in orcharding 

 in your locality ? 



Mr. Pearson. — I don't know but there may be, possibly. 



With us peaches pay wonderfully when they bear. 



The Secretary. — How often is the curculio-catcher used in your 

 peach orchards? 



Mr. Pearson. — We don't run the curculio-catcher at all. The 

 curculio will take Amsden and the first early, then work on the nnedium 

 early to a certain extent, but the late ones will be all right. 



A Voice. — How about the plums? 



Mr. Pearson. — We grub up the plum-trees to keep the Curculio in 

 check. 



Mr. Robison. — I felt satisfied the subject would be exhausted by 

 others, but since Mr. Pearson has given his experience I will say a few 

 words in reference to my locality. 



In planting apples it is advisable to learn what varieties to plant in 

 order to meet with the best success, and in planting select those best 

 suited to the market, and which observation or experience has taught us 

 would succeed. With us, where judicious selections have been made, 

 the apple crop has paid far more than the wheat crop. I think that on 

 an average it has paid one hundred dollars to the acre. It must be 

 understood, however — and I wish to emphasize this point — that some 

 varieties may do well on some soils, while others may do as well on some 

 other kinds of soil ; yet reverse the order of setting, that is, change the 

 trees but not the soils, and they might both prove worthless as to pro- 

 ducing fruit. Jonathan, Ben Davis and Rawles' Janet will do nothing on 

 wet or very moist land, yet on such land the Willow Twig succeeds won- 

 derfully. Now, some varieties that otherwise might do well are disposed 

 to drop their fruit or have it blown off by heavy winds; one of these 

 varieties is the Winesap. On the day of the great Chicago fire we all 

 know that it blew rather lively. Well, that day, from three acres of 

 Winesaps which were very heavily loaded, every apple blew off — three 

 thousand bushels lying on the ground the next morning. 



Yellow Bellflower on the prairie grows big trees, but not any fruit, 

 while on clay land it is profitable; Smith's Cider is another apple that 

 does well with me. I have been somewhat amused at the idea of growing 

 new seedlings to take the place of our standard sorts, for the reason that 

 they are running otit. Apples ^/^w'/ deteriorate if you have them on con- 

 genial soils. The apples of a thousand years ago are as good now as 



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