TRANSACTIONS OF ALTON irORTFClLTURAL SOCIETY. 309 



DISCUSSION ON ORCHARDS, ETC. 



The discussion on " Orchards" was opened by A. A. Hilliard, of 

 Brighton, who declared that he was discouraged in his efforts to grow 

 apples for the markets. The business had ceased to be profitable. The 

 failure of crops, insect depredations, drought, frost and climatic changes, 

 had rendered orcharding uncertain and unprofitable. If there was any 

 profit, it was in the line of converting the apple into cider. 



This rather radical statement brought to his feet James E. Starr, of 

 Jersey county, who thought this question of very great importance. He 

 did not want this statement of "no profit " to go out without his protest. 

 He knew that Dr. Long, and other large apple growers, had come to this 

 same conclusion, that orcharding had ceased to be profitable. But this 

 was not his experience. He believed that apples could be grown for 

 twenty-five cents per bushel. The great trouble with our orchards is that 

 the varieties are not well selected, and locations are not good, hence the 

 unprofitableness of the orchard. Attention should be paid to varieties, 

 location, general cultivation and care, and then we will not have com- 

 plaints that the orchard does not pay. 



Further discussion, pro and con., was had upon the subject. The 

 conclusion of the whole matter was, that orcharding, well followed, will 

 pay — not otherwise. 



In answer to the question, "What varieties of apples to plant?" a 

 long discussion followed. There was a wide range of opinion, but all 

 agreed that the following were valuable varieties to plant for profit : 

 Smith's Cider, Pryor's Red, White Winter Pearmain, Porter, Winesap, 

 Janet, Limber Twig, Red Astrachan. These were mentioned, but are not 

 a complete list. I'he very best winter apple is the Newtown Pippin, but 

 is not always profitable for market. 



Mr. Snedeker said that the apple called Smith's Cider was not 

 particularly a cider apple. It did not take its name from any such sup- 

 posed fact. There lived a gentleman in the State of Pennsylvania who 

 chanced to have this seedling. It grew to be a large tree, and very 

 productive. It stood in a convenient location, so that the owner was in 

 the habit of rolling under this tree his cider barrels, from which fact the 

 tree came to be known as Smith's Cider. It is a profitable apple, of fair 

 quality. 



James Starr gave a glowing account of his recent visit, when in 

 Chicago, to Drexel Park. That which excited his admiration most was 



