54 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



winter in good condition, and comes through the winter sound. If I can 

 grow cherries, you can grow them ; you have the same soil at Warsaw 

 that we have."^ 



J. S. Johnson (of Hancock county) — It has been noticed in the 

 case of pear trees, which die in the top, that the roots, on examination, 

 are found to be dead, and some have come to the conclusion that the 

 roots die first. Now, I want to ask the question : What causes the roots 

 to die? 



Mr. Starr — Let us drop this subject of pear blight and pear grow- 

 ing, if you please, Mr. President. If any man here has a pear tree, let 

 him hold on to it, but don't buy another one, to set out, to disappoint 

 you. We can not grow pears in this country and make any money out 

 of them. 



Mr. Ph(KNix (of Bloomington) — Is there a man here who has suc- 

 ceeded in growing pears? If so, I hope to hear from him. I want to 

 protest against Mr. Starr's declamation against the pear, and cracking up 

 cherries instead ! It is awful ! I don't like to hear that. Pears are and 

 can be grown successfully in Illinois. If a tree dies, set another, but 

 don't let us give up the pear. 



Mr. Starr — I still will maintain my ground. I set out one thou- 

 sand pear trees, and have some pears from them every year, but nothing 

 in comparison with the expense ; and they are going — dying — and soon 

 they will all be gone. Because there is an isolated one who succeeds, is 

 no reason why you and I should plant pears, and hope to reap reward. I 

 know pear trees fifty years old, but what are the pears worth when you get 

 them ? Such trees have nothing else to do but put on life and live through 

 the centuries; but the trees we set do not live; they die, and die early, 

 and we are desolate. 



Mr. Bryant (of Princeton) — I, too, must take issue with Mr. Starr, 

 on the assertion that, "wherever the chestnut will thrive, sweet cherries 

 may be grown." I have grown the chestnut, and can grow it, but I can 

 not grow the sweet cherries. Another thing — I think the cold does kill 

 the cherry trees. In the winter of 1855-56, I had cherry trees killed by 

 the cold, and also more than seventy bearing apple trees killed from the 

 same cause, and it was nothing but the cold that killed them. I think a 

 great deal is due to the soil. Our soil is too rich for sweet cherries. I 



•■• A deep, loess soil. — SECRETARY. 



