STATE HORTICULTUIl^\X, SOCIETY. 149 



Mr. Pierson submitted a report from the Seventh District : 



The Vice President of the Seventh District would respectfully report on the present 

 condition and prospects of Horticulture in his district, as follows, to-wit: 



Tlie year has been one of striking peculiarities throughout. The spring opened 

 with a fine promise of fruit of every kind. Grapes were especially promising. But 

 early in May the heavy rains set in, and continued throughout the months of May, 

 June and July. The raiu-fall of those three mouths in the Seventh District was 

 probably as great as that of the entire year in ordinary seasons. This immense rain- 

 fall was also remarkable for the quantity that often fell in a very short time. On 

 several occasions three and four inches of water, by actual measurement, fell in less 

 than an hour. During all this long period the temperature was very low, and vege- 

 tation of nearly every kind, even weeds, made a feeble and sickly growth. Straw- 

 berries were about the only fruit that did not seem to sufier from the drenching rains 

 and the low temperature. This frait seems to delight in cool weather and frequent 

 showers. Some beds that were on ground that was constantly saturated with water 

 for weeks, suffered some, but more apparently since the fruit was gathered than 

 while it was maturing. Some vines thus situated that bore a heavy crop of fruit 

 have since died. But a large proportion of the strawberry vines in the region of 

 Onarga, and as far as I can learn, in the Seventh District generally, have produced 

 line crops of fruit, and when properly taken care of, have made an unusually fin© 

 growth during the fall. The prospects for a heavy crop of this fruit the coming 

 season are now very flattering. As the Seventh District is located midway between 

 Southern Illinois and Southern Michigan , and our fruit goes into the market between 

 the gluts annvially produced by the superabundant supply from those regions, our 

 small fruit usually brings good and remunerating prices. 



Ilaspberries have sufl'ered severely from the wet season. While the bushes were 

 well loaded with fruit, it matured very imperfectly. Some of the fruit soured on the 

 bush . 



The Purple Canes have done much better this season than the Black Caps, both in 

 fruiting and in the growth of new wood. H. J. Dunlap reports that the borer is at 

 work in the cane of the raspberry in Champaign county. There is also a white grub 

 at work on the root of the raspberr}^ in many locations. On the whole, the experi- 

 ence of the season has not increased our faith in the successful culture of this fruit in 

 the Seventh District. 



Grapes have been, to a large extent, a fitilure the past season. They promised well 

 in the spring; but an insect which I have not been able to identify soon commenced 

 its depreilations upon the fruit, leaves and vines. The fruit nearly all fell off early in 

 the season, the leaves rolled up, and much of the new wood died. A few vines on 

 well underdniined land produced fair crops, but the fruit was late in ripening, and 

 was not as sweet as usual. The fall growth of grape wood was fair. Young vines 

 set out last spring have not done well. 



The Pear Blight has prevailed quite extensively in the district, and many trees have 

 died. Some varieties seem to be nearly proof against this disease, and the experience 

 of the year suggests great caution in the selection of varieties. It is believed that a 

 dozen varieties embrace all the kinds that it would be worth while to plant for com- 

 mercial purposes. Among these the Lawrence, the D' Anjou, the Belle Lucrative, the 



