170 TIIANSACTIONS UF THE ILLINOIS 



Peaches (all tender). — Grosse Mignonne. Seedlings succeed best. 



Cherries. — Early May, syn. Early Richmond ; English Morello. 



Grapes. — Clinton, Concord, most popular; Oporto, poor quality ; 

 Delaware, on clay soil ; Isabella, Catawba, tender. 



Currants. — Red Dutch, Red Grape, White Dutch, White Gondoin. 



Gooseberries. — Houghton's Seedling, American Seedling. 



Raspberries. — American Blackcap, McCormick, syn. Miami ; Doo- 

 little, Purple Cane, tender (?-Ed). 



Blackberries. — Kittatinny, Lawton, syn. New Rochelle. 



Strawberries. — Wilson's Albany, Downer's Prolific, Necked Pine, 

 McAvoy's Superior, Early Scarlet, Wizzard of the North. 



REPORT FROM T. McWHORTER, OF ALEDO. 



* * * The discouragement that at the present time hangs over 

 the fruit-growing interests of out section of country, renders it a painful 

 task to comply with your request for Pomological reports. 



About five years ago, the Illinois State Horticultural Society took 

 action to prosecute inquiry "concerning the causes of the failure of 

 the apple orchards in the East." The tables are turned: It now 

 devolves upon us to institute the same inquiry concerning Western 

 orchards ! 



While, as horticulturists we would gladly pass over these unfruitful 

 seasons as silently as possible, it seems unfortunate for us that the Ameri- 

 can Pomological Society holds its session in Chicago at the very time to 

 compel us to publicly face these questions. 



Twenty-five years ago, with what buoyancy the Northwestern Fruit 

 Growers' Association held its annual gatherings, and filled their long 

 tables with the beautiful, perfect specimens that were the products of our 

 first orchards ! It will not be forgotten that we then indulged in a little 

 pride in seeing our fruits on the tables in contrast with Eastern collec- 

 tions. If we were then a little vain, it may be proper that we are now in 

 some measure humiliated. 



We have passed through the same or similar experience that follows 

 the settlement of most new countries. On the first settlement of every 

 section of country the insects and diseases that infest the fruit trees of 

 older regions do not at first appear ; but the pests are sure to follow ; 

 fruit growing seems always attended with more difficulties as the country 

 grows older. But the most serious disasters that for the past few years 

 have affected the interests of fruit growing in Central and Northern Illi- 

 nois, have resulted from a succession of unfavorable seasons. The most 

 serious difficulty in fruit growing, in the whole northern portion of the 

 Mississippi valley, is in the vicissitudes of our climate. Our fruit trees 

 were seriously injured by the winter of '73; added to this, for three 

 successive seasons previous to the present summer, we had an extreme 



