SOCIETY OP NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 357 



beginning of winter till spring, I care not how cold, if thirty or 

 forty degrees below zero. Why I have known it in the state of 

 New York not to thaw at the eaves of the house for six weeks, 

 and there was no complaint of winter-killing of apple trees. 



The calamity that has overtaken us has happened once in 

 fifty years I Well, what shall we do under the circumstances? 

 Or what would you do if a crop of corn or potatoes should fail? 

 Would you plant again? Certainly you would. Then plant an- 

 other orchard. Do not try to renovate the old one by planting 

 where trees are missing; it will prove a failure. 



Brethren, do not expect something for nothing. I have said 

 the orchard is the most abused piece of ground on the farm. 

 What do you say, friends? It is said that experience is a dear 

 schoolmaster ; nevertheless you have learned some things that 

 will be beneficial to you. You have learned what varieties to 

 plant that are adapted to our soil and climate and what the 

 market demands. 



Now, Mr. President, if this paper solicits discussion I will be 

 satisfied. It is the discussion that is valuable and not the paper. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Goodrich, from Southern Illinois — We find it impossible 

 with us to get fertilizers enough for our orchards, though we ship 

 it in large quantities from Chicago, St. Louis, and other places 

 wherever it is to be had. I would like to ask Mr. Minkler where 

 we are going to get the necessary fertilizer. 



Answer — Sow your orchard ground to clover, and when you 

 have a good strong growth, plow it under. Then seed it down 

 to buckwheat, and plow that under. 



Question — What varieties of apple are the best to plant? 



Answer' — Ten varieties are plenty for family or market use. 

 For summer, Benoni and Early Harvest; for fall, Duchess, 

 Cayuga Ked Streak and Maiden's Blush. The Cayuga Eed 

 Streak is the best. It is always marketable, and will always 

 pay. The Duchess is a Russian variety; very hardy; what 

 you would call iron-clad; a good bearer, and sells well. 

 For winter, Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Minkler and Ben 

 Davis. The latter, though despised by some, is always a 

 good seller and a profitable apple. The hard winters of 

 a few years ago killed them out over this part of the 

 State, but that may not happen again in fifty years, and we can 

 afford to lose them once in a while. 



