4S TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



blow it has received ; but it is bebevcd that, in the hands of careful cul 

 tivators, and by planting largely of our hardy, approved seedlings — and 

 we have a number that are not excelled b)- any of the named \arieties — 

 partial success may be secured. 



Pear orchards have suffered by the winters above referred to, but 

 more seriously by blight ; and, as we look upon the dead and blackened 

 trees that disfigure our orchards, we are compelled to acknowledge that 

 pear growing has more drawbacks than incentives, and that we can offer 

 no inducements to any one to engage in it. The only pear orchard of 

 which I have any knowledge, that has entirely escaped the blight, is one 

 that I have referred to on a former occasion, and belongs to Mr. Ek Mc- 

 Cune, of Hancock county. It is about thirty years of age ; has been in 

 blue-grass sod about twenty-five years, and, during most of that time, has 

 been entirely neglected ; and the suckers and water-sprouts permitted to 

 grow up from the roots, and also about the trunks of the trees. It is now 

 suffering from old age, and the effect of the three cold winters through 

 which it has just passed, but is entirely free from blight. 



Mr. E. Daggy, of Tuscola, communicates the following facts in re- 

 gard to the condition of orchards in his section : 



" Our orchards have proved almost a total failure; they have been on the decline 

 since the October freeze of 1S69. The cherry ti^ees are all gone, and the pear trees 

 nearly so. There is, really, but one pear tree of vk^hich I have any knowledge, that is 

 sound and healthy, and has borne a fair crop this season. It is a Flemish Beauty, 

 grafted on a seedhng, about two feet from the ground, some fourteen or fifteen year 

 ago. Whether others would have done as well, if of this make up, I know not. 



" We also, have a few trees left on the lawn, in sod, among the evergreens, but 

 they have not given satisfactory i-esults, either in fruit, or growth of tree. Out of about 

 one hundred and fifty trees, planted on this lawn twelve years ago, there are now less 

 than twenty sickly trees left. They have been declining for five years. 



" Now I come to the apple orchard. Of the six hundred trees, of many sorts, 

 planted twelve years ago, among nursery stock, less than two hundred are now sound. 

 As the trees grew, (thirty feet apart), the nurseiy stock was reduced to the centre, with 

 the intention of clearing it all out, at about ten or twelve years, but the result has been 

 that nearly half of* the apple trees have been taken out already, and many more are on 

 the sick list. 



" The trouble with the apple trees also began about six years ago, and a succes- 

 sion of dry summers, with quite a good supply of severe winters, has kept up the ten- 

 dency to decline. Many of them are dead, on the southwest, while the northeast 

 half, in many cases, is sound, and bears a fair crop of fruit. 



" Trees are generally in better condition on clay, than on prairie loam." 



L. C. Francis, of Springfield, says : 



" As to the failure of the fruit crop, I suppose it was caused by the injury the trees 

 received that excessive cold winter. The trees that suffered least were most fruitful 

 this season. The Rawle's Janet, though generally badly injured, in extreme cold win- 

 ters, scarcely showed any damage by the last cold winter, and generally bore well with 

 us. The Northern Spy, on timber land, also bore well. The greater proportion of the 

 apple and other fruit trees were badly injured by the winter three years ago, and many 

 are too feeble to mature fruit under any but favorable circumstances. 



" Plum trees that survived the winter bore well, but, with the exception of the Wild 

 Goose, rotted badly on the tree." 



