TRANSACTIONS OF KANKAKEE COUNTY HORTRUI.Tl.RAL SOCIETY. 389 



I have no fault to find with my father in this matter, and cannot charge him with 

 neglect — for times at that early day were not as they are now — hut shall ever feel grateful 

 to him that he supplied his family with fruit at the earliest practicable moment. But there 

 were men then, as there are now, who are almost criminally negligent in these matters; 

 not so much willful negligence, perhaps, as carelessness; and to jog their memory now 

 and then is legitimate work for the Kankakee County Horticultural Society. 



At this point considerable miscellaneous discussion was had on vari- 

 ous topics. 



Mr. Cunningham was desirous of planting several varieties of grapes, 

 and would like to know if any one present had had any experience with 

 the Perkins. 



Dr. Small said, if he would call at his place he would show him the 

 vine, and at the proper season the fruit ; considered it hardy and desirable. 



President Barnard said that showed the need of a Society like ours; 

 that Mr. Small had the Perkins grape some time in bearing and Mr. Cun- 

 ningham his near neighbor knew nothing about it. 



Mr. Hempstead, of South Haven, Michigan, being present, was called 

 upon to say something about the fruit region of Michigan. Mr. Hemp- 

 stead replied that he did not come to make an address, but to learn, but 

 that he would gladly answer any questions that might be asked. 



Secretary. — What is the nature of the soil in your best fruit-producing 

 district? 



Mr. Hempstead. — Various; next to Lake Michigan and for two or 

 three miles back, light sandy, then a heavier sand ; after that a sandy 

 loam, then clay. 



Secretary. — What is the native timber? 



Mr. Hempstead. — Most all kinds of hard wood, with some pine and 

 hemlock. 



Secretary. — What do you consider the best strawberry? 



Mr. Hempstead. — On our light sandy soil, Wilson's Albany is by all 

 odds the best ; Monarch of the West next ; for ordinary soils, Bidwell's 

 Seedling is the best. He said he had seen in some of our reports, some 

 time ago, that we did not deem it expedient to raise more than one crop 

 on the same ground without rest. With him they raised strawberries year 

 after year on the same ground, but he would not favor that practice. He 

 would not take more than two crops from the same land without giving 

 it rest of one year or more ; would set strawberries in rows, about four 

 feet apart and fifteen inches in the row. 



In answer to a question about raspberries, Mr. Hempstead replied 

 that, for black-caps, the Mammoth Cluster, with them, is by far the best, 

 a very prolific bearer, of good quality, and hardy. Of reds, the Phila- 

 delphia was a great favorite. The Herstine is a noble berry, but poor 

 bearer, not profitable ; would like to know what we considered the best 

 raspberries here. 



Several members answered that they thought the Turner, Clark and 

 Gregg as good as any. 



Adjourned to meet in Supervisors' room on Saturday, January loth, 

 1880. 



