114 TRANSACTIONS OF THK 1T,LTN0IS 



much larger size in bunch and berry than their mother's, of very fine appearance, though 

 hardly better in quality than Concord ; both ripening late, about the last of September. 

 I got, also, a white Seedling of Norton's Virginia, which is very late too. It did not 

 ripen this fall, ere the first heavy frost came on ; but last year it was very fine and sweet. 

 Its bunch is rather small, the berry same size and form as Norton's ; the vine very hardy 

 and healthy, and about as good a bearer as its mother. It may prove valuable for the 

 South, as a good wine grape." 



Prof. B. G. Roots furnishes the following concerning 



PERRY COUNTY. 



" I had no fruit of value, and knew of none. Upon diligent inquii7 through the 

 county, I believe Peaches to have been one-twentieth of usual crop ; Apples one-fifth ; 

 while other fruits were too scarce to estimate. More trees have died than have been 

 planted within three years past. The cultivation of vegetables ( Tornatoes mainly) for 

 export, has increased a very little. 



" PiNCKNEYViLLE, Dec. 6, 1875." 



Isaac Snedeker, of Jerseyville, writes as follows of horticulture in 



JERSEY COUNTY : 



" We think that horticulture is steadily progressing, but not very actively. There 

 are but few persons in our county who make fruit growing their principal business. 

 The fruits and vegetables grown in the county are mostly consumed here, though there 

 are annually sent abroad a few thousand barrels of apples, a few hundred barrels of 

 cider, and a few hundred barrels of wine. All that is done in Pear culture is to keep 

 the number of trees good which are killed by blight. The Apple crop this year was 

 about half an average crop ; though a neighbor, David Ross, made about a thousand ■ 

 barrels of cider. 



" Nearly every farm in the county now has its apple orchard, with cherry and peach 

 trees and a full list of fruits ; but in small numbers, or about sufficient for home con- 

 sumption. I think there are about fifteen commercial orchards and vineyards, but mainly 

 connected with some other business. 



" Insect depredations are the great drawback to successful fruit-growing here. 



" The following is fair statement of the comparative fruit crops for 1(^75 : 



^^ Apples, half a crop; Peaches, none or nearly none; Cherries, a fifth of a crop; 

 Grapes, a fair crop; Pears, a fair crop; Berries of different kinds, about one-fourth a 

 crop; Quinces, about one-fourth crop; Vegetables, a good crop, although there was 

 some loss on wet ground. 



"You, no doubt, regret as deeply as I do the death of our friend and co-laborer. 

 Dr. E. S. Hull. He has gone to his reward, but his usefulness has not ended here ; 

 his work was for the good of the country at large." 



Mr. E. Gaskins, of Mulberry Grove, writes thus from 



BOND COUNTY : 



" In answer to your questions, 1 will say that the past season has been one of short 

 crops in this county. There were no Peaches, and but a limited crop of Berries and 

 Grapes ; the Apple crop was also short — perhaps not over one-fourth of the usual crop. 

 Orchards generally are much neglected — indeed, usually left to take care of themselves 

 — perhaps from the fact that there is no money in apples when we have them. I know 

 of no person in this county that makes a special business of growing fruit, and I believe 

 it is generally conceded by all those that grow fruit that it does not pay. Veiy many 

 farms in this county have orchards of a limited number of trees, but, as a general thing, 

 the owners attach but little importance to them ; consequently, give to the trees but 



