^2 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



laid very deep among the trees, however. Along the bluffs there are 

 what are called "draws," or ravines cutting deeply down through the 

 high lands at right angles to the river. Along these run small streams, 

 and on the low lands along the streams were some very fine orchards, the 

 trees of which had been planted from twelve to fifteen years. Last spring 

 the trees in these orchards commenced dying, and during the summer 

 they nearly all died. The trees were very fine specimens, and appeared 

 unusually healthy before the cold weather of last winter. They com- 

 menced, seemingly, to die in the extremities of the branches, and 

 gradually died downward to the ground. Along these little streams the 

 most intense cold prevailed, the thermometer ranging much lower than 

 on the high lands adjacent. 



In reply to a question, he said he did not know whether the roots of 

 the dead trees were affected, as he did not examine them. 



Mr. Spalding. — What was the greatest degree of cold through these 

 ^' draws?'' 



J. T. Johnson. — From 28° to 30° below zero, and perhaps lower; it 

 was at least 25° below every day for a week. 



Mr. Hammond. — In my orchard I lost twenty-five per cent, of 

 Janets ; they bore heavily the year before ; Ben Davis and Winesap died 

 also, but Maiden's Blush trees were not injured at all. 



The President. — Any trouble with the bark ? 



Mr. Hammond. — Yes ; I found it loose in the spring. 



Mr. Holdridge. — We did not have it as cold in LaSalle county, 

 yet we lost Janets, but no Maiden's Blush. I never saw a dead tree of 

 Maiden's Blush that was large enough to bear fruit. 



Mr. Wier. — I recollect that we lost a great many trees in 1876; this 

 loss was caused by the cold winter of 1873-4. Wagoners and Janets bore 

 heavily in 1873, ^^^ have been dying ever since ; we have also had dead 

 trees this year ; the severe winter of seventy-three and four damaged them, 

 and the intense cold of last winter finished them. 



Mr. McWhorter. — We must congratulate Mr. Wier on his ability to 

 cover up something we don't know anything about. 



Upon motion, the Society adjourned, to meet again after Prof. 

 Swing's lecture. 



At the close of the lecture, it being late in the evening, the Society, 

 upon re-assembling, adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 



