TRANSACTIONS OF KANKAKEE COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 377 



killed by our unusually severe winter I cannot now determine. As varieties greatly 

 ditiler, in the decree of cold they can safely endure, some may stand the storm. 



The Perry Russet has probably the greatest number of fruit buds, but the excess is 

 no doubt largely owing to the killing of a part of the fruit by the cold weather of last 

 spring. This variety produced a smaller crop last year than usual for the bearing sea- 

 son, hence left much of its vital force free, to be expended in the growth of fruit buds 

 for this year's crop. If these buds live through this winter, and escape damage from 

 spring frosts, I predict that those who have the Perry Russet in this locality will be 

 rewarded this fall with a fair crop of fruit. 



If I were asked to name two good varieties for fruiting every year, with my present 

 limited experience, I would select Duchess for summer and Northern Spy for winter. 

 The extreme hardiness of the first, and the second blooming late, both are likely to 

 yield crops of fruit when other varieties fail. Further experiments by interested parties 

 will doubtless prove many more varieties worth adding to the list. 



For those having bearing orchards, in order to test the truthfulness of my state- 

 ments, it scarcely remains necessary to remark that the coming fall or early part of next 

 winter will be the proper time for manuring; not the present winter, as enriching the 

 soil now will increase the number of fruit buds the coming spring for crop of next year, 

 which will, in our locality, be the regular year for fruit. 



Where an orchard is already very rich in all the essentials necessary for the growth 

 of wood and fruit, the chances of success will probably not be so great as in one that is 

 poorer; in such cases, plowing early in the bearing season, with frequent summer har- 

 rowings to destroy weeds, would probably assist in accomplishing the desired object. If 

 some mechanical contrivance, as a rake with short comb-like iron teeth, could be used 

 for removing a portion of the young fruit, this of itself might enable the tree to grow 

 fruit buds the next year, and the fruit left would grow larger and be better for taking off 

 nearly half of it soon after forming. 



I do not wish it understood that I believe success will in all cases be attained by 

 following out the views just given. Seasons are likely to be in the future, as they have 

 been in the past, favorable and unfavorable. I have only stepped into a field where 

 much remains to be cleared, where theories can be formed and afterward submitted to 

 the "crucial test of truth." Time will determine which is right; and here, in conclu- 

 sion let me remark, becomes apparent the advantages of our Society, for a truth discov- 

 ered by one of our members through the medium of our organization becomes the 

 property of all. 



President Barnard made a report on library. 



H. S. Bloonri presented the following resolution : 



Resolved, That the raising of small-fruits here, for market, is not profitable. 



O. W. Barnard said he had raised gooseberries quite extensively the 

 past summer, but thought the people farther south had the advantage of 

 us by being able to get into market ahead of us, and by the time our 

 small-fruits were ripe the markets were generally glutted, and hence we 

 could not realize near the cost of production. The variety he cultivated 

 was the American Seedling, which has no blight ; requires an open loca- 

 tion and plenty of sunshine. In picking, used shallow boxes about four 

 inches deep, and from twenty to thirty inches square ; set them under the 

 bushes, and with gloves on stripped the branches of their fruit, of course 

 gathering some leaves also, but they were easily separated from the fruit. 



Mrs. Mary Barnard thought currants could be raised with some 

 degree of profit, as they were used quite extensively for making jelly and 

 for canning, also for making currant wine, but the lady did not approve 

 of using them for the latter purpose. 



