110 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Acres Orchard 

 Square Miles. Orchard Acres. to Sq. Mile. 



Bond 378 1,938 5.1 



Calhoun 255 2,368 9.3 



Clinton 489 35432 7.0 



Greene 546 not given. 



Jersey 365 1,926 5.2 



Macoupin 864 5?984 6.9 



Madison 748 10,900 14.4 



Monroe 381 2,007 5-i 



Montgomery 702 3)928 5.5 



Perry 444 not given. 



Randolph 577 2,647 4-5 



St. Clair 665 6,879 i°-3 



Washington 556 4,666 8.5 



I subjoin reports that I have received from seven of these counties : 



CLINTON COUNTY. 



Dr. M. M. HooTON, near Centralia, reports as follows : 



" Trees have not grown as well as might have been expected ; but appear to be in 

 good condition for the coming winter. The extremely wet weather through June, July, 

 and August, rather retarded growth than otherwise. The change from wet to dry 

 weather was very sudden, and extreme; yet, notwithstanding these unfavorable con- 

 ditions of weather, the prospect for fruit another year is better than it was last autumn. 



" Small fruits are in average condition. Insects are more scarce than for many 

 years. The apple and peach crops were light this year, especially the latter, which was 

 quite a failure." 



JERSEY COUNTY. 



Mr. James E. Starr, of Elsa, Jersey county, writes: 



" There are but few commercial orchards in Jersey county ; among them, however, 

 are some remarkable for the number of trees cultivated, and others for their specialties. 



" The apple orchard of A. Swan, near Elsa, contains five thousand bearing apple 

 trees. 



"The cherry orchard of S. S. Ellis, near the same place, and that of E. A. Riehl, 

 on the Mississippi bluff, are both examples of success in the culture of the finer varieties 

 of cherries. The success, if measured by the amount of money made, will, I think, 

 compare favorably with that of any agricultural product. The past four years have not 

 been favorable: scab, late frosts, etc., have cut off or greatly injured the crops. 



" Peaches, along the bluffs, are as successful as in the immediate vicinity of Alton. 



" Grapes were extensively planted some four years since, and for a time the pros- 

 pect of good results was very flattering, but the low price of both wine and grapes has 

 checked and almost destroyed this branch of horticulture. 



" Small Fruits are not much grown. The farming community evince much interest 

 in the culture of all varieties of fruits, and as they find themselves growing into the pos- 

 session of means, they surround themselves with the beautiful and useful in horticul- 

 ture. Little Jersey is particularly adapted to fruit culture ; thousands of acres invite 

 the intelligent pomologist to test them in this line. Our County A. & M. Society, by 

 offering liberal premiums for fruits, flowers, etc., has done a good work in awakening 

 the public to their importance." 



