STATK II(>HTI('I'I,TI H.Vl, SOriK.TY. 115 



little care or attention. Our farmers, however, still buy trees from the tree peddler, 

 and, if one in ten of such trees reach the bearing age, we shall still have fruit to sell, 

 though no one may wish to buy. I suppose that the jjrospect for the coming year is 

 good, as the trees seem to be healthy." 



E. Aug. Boehtel communicates the following from Staunton, 



MACOUPIN COUNTY : 



" The interest in planting fruit trees has not materially increased this last year in 

 this district, though the interest in planting ornamental trees (mainly evergreens) is 

 awakening considerably, as the people learn to plant them and to take care of them ; 

 also, the raising of flowers and shrubs is increasing, especially among the female portion 

 of the population. The season has been very wet, and, on dry land, trees, shrubs and 

 all vegetables made a wonderful growth ; but, on low, flat ground, fruit trees got 

 injured in many instances. 



" The Apple crop in this county and parts of the adjoining counties has been nearly 

 a failure ; fall apples were more jilenty than winter varieties ; the Rambo seemed to 

 bear full in eveiy orchard ; the Ben Davis, Rawle's Janet, and Winesap seem to be 

 the most reliable bearers we have ; the Janet is, of late, very liable to rot. Winter apples 

 sold from sixty to eighty cents. 



"/'^'flr^were more plenty this season, although the blight was very bad on the 

 trees. In this part of the State the Duchess of Augouleme seems to be the most 

 reliable pear in every respect ; the Howell is a very good bearer, but is subject to blight; 

 the Winter Nelis seems to be a healthy tree and a good bearer too, but the fruit is 

 knotty. 



" Peaches were an entire failure in this county, on account of the fruit buds being 

 winter-killed. 



" Cherries were also very poor, as the Curculios were very numerous. 



" Miner and Chickasaw Plums were very abundant, although the Curculio worked 

 on them considerably. 



" Grapes bore plenty in young, thrifty vineyards ; on old vines the rot was very 

 bad, mainly with the Concord. lona, Delaware, Roger's Hybrids and other tender 

 varieties mildewed badly. The healthiest of all the vines seemed to be the Ives, and 

 next to it the Norton's Virginia and Martha. The interest for small fruit seems to be 

 decreasing ; Strawberries, on that account, were scarce, while the crop was good and of 

 fine quality wherever found. 



" Currants and Paspberries produced well. 



" Blackberries did not do so well. The Kittatinny and Snyder seem to do best. 



Jonathan Huggins, of Woodburn, Macoupin county, reports as 

 follows : 



" I am hardly in a mood to write on the growth of horticulture in our county. The 

 horticultural road, for several years, has been a hard road to travel. It has been too 

 cold or too hot, too dry or too wet; insects have swarmed by the millions in our 

 orchards; they have worked on the foliage of our trees, on the limbs, the bodies, the 

 roots ; they commenced on the tender buds of early spring, and worked faithfully 

 throughout the frosts of spring, the heat of summer, the rains of autumn, and were not 

 idle during each warm spell of winter. Our pear trees blighted, our i)cach fruit buds 

 were killed by untimely frosts, our apple blossoms blasted, and our fruit trees generally 

 refused to give us fair paying crops. But nevertheless we to-day report those among us 

 who are full of hope, believing that the unfruitful seasons are past, and that those who 

 have in the past properly cared for their orchards may in the near future look for the 

 reward, bound, sooner or later, to follow the eff"orts of the intelligent labors of the fruit 

 grower. We find those orchards in our county, notwithstanding the many drawbacks, 

 which have been cultivated, properly pruned, etc., are in good condition for a croj) the 



