l88 TRA^'SACTIO^•S of the ILLINOIS 



Porter, Rambo, Fameuse, Fall Pippin, Mother. For Whi/er — Rawles' Janet, Ben Davis, 

 Willow Twig, Newtown Pippin, Milam, Rome Beauty, Grimes' Golden, Ladies' Svvtet, 

 Carthouse, White Winter Pearmain and Domine. Crabs — Transcendent and llyslup. 



We have lost nearly all our pear-trees by blight; the Seckel has been abtut the 

 most satisfactory next to the Hosenshenk, which we find most exempt from blight and 

 very productive ; it is a very good early sort, of good size. The Duchesse d'Angou- 

 leme has done about the best of any as a dwarf; Buerre d'Anjou, Bartlett and Flemish 

 Beauty have yielded good crops some seasons, but this year all have been nearly a total 

 failure. 



The curculio has settled the Plum question ; there is no use in planting the 

 European varieties of plum here, unless some systematic plan is adopted to "head off 

 the bugs." The Wild Goose, of which we have several trees, did not furnish us a single 

 perfect specimen this year ; last year we had a few that were passable, but on the whc le 

 I have no very exalted opinion of native varieties of plums. 



About the only Cherries we had were the common Morello. The English Morello, 

 which is about twice the size of the common, is, I think, worthy of more attention 

 than it receives. 



I consider the Mahaleb the best stock for the cherry. I would not accept a cherry- 

 tree worked on the Mazzard or Morello stock as a present — they are too troublesome in 

 the way of sprouts. I would prefer plums worked on peach for the same reason. 



We have fruited the Lieb cherry and think well of it; we would also recommend 

 the Early Richmond, and for some localities the May Duke ; the heart or sweet cherries 

 rarely succeed here, but there are a few large old trees in our place which are in good 

 condition and bear good crops. 



Quinces and Apricots are very uncertain. We occasionally have good crops, but 

 the trees are short-lived. 



Of Grapes the Concord has as usual produced the heaviest crops. Grapes were 

 abundant this year, and were retailing in our markets at two cents per pound. We are 

 pleased with the Ives and Martha, and think that they will become favorite sorts. The 

 Hartford, Perkins and Telegraph have also done very well with us; some of Rogers* 

 Hybrid, if slightly protected in winter, will yield good crops of most excellent fruit. 

 Of these we would recommend Nos. i, 3, 4, 15 and 41. The Clinton, for cooking, for 

 jelly or for wine, is excellent ; and, by the way, I know of nothing which is so good for 

 jelly as grapes. I consider them far superior for this purpose to currants. 



The Raspberry crop was very good, especially the Turners ; these, planted about 

 four-and-ahalf or five feet apart and plowed each way, will prove a most remunerative 

 investment ; they are strong growers, requiring no stakes. But four or five canes should 

 be left to each plant, and they might be tied together at the top with a bit of twine or 

 willow and the ends clipped off, which would put them in good shape for cultivating 

 and picking ; all sprouts should be treated as weeds. We find the improved black- 

 cap raspberries very profitable to grow for market. 



Blackberries were killed to the gound the past winter, consequently we have no 

 crop. 



Of Strawberries the crop was light; some very fine specimens of the Monarch of 

 the West were produced in our village, and we think highly of this variety. 



Of Potatoes the crop was very light and the tubers very small, owing to the bugs and 

 the dry weather. The Cabbage crop was ruined by the cabbage-worm. If a reward 

 was offered for the capture of the butterfly which causes the cabbage-worm, children 

 might be induced to catch them in nets made of mosquito-bar attached to sticks, or such 

 nets as naturalists use to catch specimens. A concerted effort all over the country might 

 do much to lessen the evil, and unless something is done to save the cabbages I fear we 

 will have to give up sauerkraut or import it from Germany. 



A gentleman who has an orchard with a northern exposure, and timber on the west 

 and north, says he never fails to get good crops of apples. 



A single row of Norway spruce planted about ten feet apart and a good distance 

 (say twenty feet) from the orchard trees would, I think, be the best shelter that could 

 possibly be planted for an orchard ; they would in a few years make a living wall of 

 perpetual green, which would mitigate very materially the force of the wind, which 



