10 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



cord, with me, failed to become entirely ripe, although grown on warm, 

 sandy and thoroughly drained soil ; and this has b%en the case generally, 

 so far as my information extends. 



The season of 1875 '""^^ been the most remarkable ever known to me 

 in an experience in Cook county, dating back in 1S38 — first for its low 

 average summer temperature ; second, for abundant and timely rains. 

 The preceding three years having been continuously dry, the organic and 

 inorganic materials of vegetable growth have been brought up from great 

 depths and deposited near the surface ; the abundant moisture of the 

 present season has thus made them available. The result has been an 

 overwhelming crop of every kind not seriously affected by low tempera- 

 ture. This is especially noticeable in garden vegetables, which were so 

 abundant in the Chicago market as to be constantly a drug, and often 

 below the cost of production. Notwithstanding this, consumers have 

 not realized the benefit therefrom they ought to have done. The selling 

 price of dealers has not been in a corresponding ratio to the buying 

 price. 



Of my correspondence with persons in various localities in the First 

 District — some twenty letters sent — I have received but two direct replies, 

 although I have been promised others which may be received in time for 

 transmission to the Secretary before the printing of our annual transac- 

 tions. 



Mr. Edward H. Beebe, of Geneva, writes : 



" The drought was excessive in the summer and autumn of 1S74. This was suc- 

 ceeded by a cold, dry winter — the thermometer ranging from 15° to 30° Ijelow zero in 

 January and Februaiy, 1875. 



^^ Apples. — The extremes have been very injurious to the apple trees; almost all 

 varieties fiaving been more or less injured, and many of the old trees killed. The crop 

 was a failure. 



" Cherries. — Trees of Early Richmond and Leib varieties were uninjured, but the 

 fruit buds were killed by early frosts. 



" Plums. — Plum trees were not injured. The only varieties cultivated here are 

 foreign ones, and the Curcidio gathers the fruit. 



" Concord Grapes. — The vines being annually covered over winter, received no 

 damage from cold, and set a full crop, which, however, did not mature before frost, so 

 that the crop was a total failure. 



'■^Blackberries were a total failure — the buds of every variety, where exposed, being 

 killed to the ground. 



" Strmvberries were also a failure ; the plants were all right but did not fruit. 



" Currants of the old varieties of Red and White Dutch bore good crops. 



"Raspberries. — The canes of almost all varieties oi Raspberries v^'erc injured to such 

 an extent that they produced not more than an eighth of a crop. One variety, said to 

 have been brought from Europe, by Wm. B. Ogden, has proved perfectly hardy here, 

 and a prolific bearer. It is a Red Raspberry, too soft for shipping when fully ripe, and 

 equal to Philadelphia in quality. 



" Vegetables of every kind have been abundant, as the season has been very favor- 

 able to vegetable growth. 



"Young trees of eveiy description have done well, and should the coming winter 

 not prove an excessively cold one, the damage dune by the last one will in a great 

 measure be compensated for. 



