166 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Concord grapes on the prairies, that they were sold last year (1874,) at 

 Centralia, for thirty dollars per ton, and nearly as low at other points, 

 for wine making. 



It is well known to all who have given attention to the geology of 

 the State, that the drift which formed its soil was from the North ; and 

 in consequence, as a rule, the farther north we proceed the coarser the 

 substratum is found to be. Hence, in Northern Illinois the soil of quite 

 a large portion of the territory is underlaid with gravel, which gives but 

 little nutriment to roots of fruit trees penetrating it ; hence, where the 

 soil overlaying this gravel is only of moderate depth the trees are not 

 long-lived, as they dry out and freeze out quicker than elsewhere, though 

 young orchards 0/ hardy varieties are usually productive. Much attention 

 has been given to the Siberian apples in the North, and to the production 

 of new varieties from seed. Among these, the Marengo and Whitney's 

 No. 20 are generally regarded as best, though the Coral and several of 

 Mr. Whitney's seedlings are very fine. The Tetofsky and Duchess of 

 Oldenburg are quite popular in this part of the State. 



The large commercial apple orchards of the State are generally 

 located near or adjoining timber land ; so located from the supposition, 

 probably correct, that such lands are better adapted to healthy orchard 

 growths than the open prairie lands. 



The largest pear orchard in the State is that of Parker Earle, of 

 Cobden, Union county, consisting of about twenty thousand trees. 



Cultivation. — The opinion was quite prevalent in past years, that the 

 soils of Illinois were too rich in humus to favor the production of orch- 

 ard fruits; and hence it was recommended to seed down orchards as soon 

 as the trees had become well established, say in three or four years after 

 setting, and in no case to manure orchards ; as it was supposed that it would 

 require nearly the life-time of one generation of trees to reduce the soil 

 to a condition favorable to fruitfulness. It has been found, however, that 

 apple "orchards in grass," especially a tough sod, become sooner dis- 

 eased, are more preyed upon by bark-lice and borers, and become sooner 

 unproductive than those which are judiciously cultivated ; and when a 

 decline- is perceptible are moderately manured. 



Scores of apple "orchards in grass," which had become sickly, un- 

 productive, and unsightly, have been rejuvenated and rendered productive 

 of fine fruit by the use of the plow and the cultivator and by enriching 

 the soil ; but as before intimated, it is impossible to make invariable rules. 

 The expression which has been repeated at the meetings of the State Hor- 

 ticultural Society, that human "brains make the best manure," is veri- 

 fied every year by careful, intelligent cultivators, who use their brains in 

 studying the conditions and wants of their trees, and bestir themselves 

 in producing suitable conditions, and in supplying obvious wants. 



The small fruits, especially raspberries, currants, gooseberries and 

 blackberries, richly repay the cost of good cultivation and mulching with 

 coarse manure. 



