206 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society. 



Reported by F. C. RIEHL, Secretary. 



FEBRUARY MEETING. 



The Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society met at the 

 office of H. G. M'Pike on Saturday, Feb. 9th, 1889. 

 Meeting called to order by President Wm. Jackson. 



ORCHARDS. 



Jas. Davis — All orchards are in the very best condition at pres- 

 ent. Thmk I never saw peach buds in as good shape at this time 

 of the year as they are at present. If we get no late spring frosts 

 those who have good trees may expect a fine crop of peaches. 

 The coddling moth has now become so plentiful here that I 

 think apple growing must soon become a total failure with us, un- 

 less we resort to spraying. Now is the time for pruning all 

 orchard trees. 



E. A. Riehl — I have been cutting out the dead limbs of my old 

 pear trees. Think this will help them. But this should not be 

 done oftener than once in four or five years on old trees and never 

 on young ones. Are any of you acquainted with the Le Conte pear ? 

 I have a young orchard of them and they grow finely, but seem 

 very subject to blight. I have also been informed that they are 

 'liable to rot at the core before ripening. 



J. S. Browne — I have one tree of Lo Conte, which is now five 

 3'ears old and about fourteen feet high, and has as yet borne but 

 two pears. I think it grows so fast that it has not time to bear. 

 But the pears have a fine appearance and are of good quality. 



Mr. Riehl — In our location we must grow early pears for profit. 

 For with these, as with grapes, eastern and northern growers 

 supply the market with large quantities later in the season and 



