232 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



EEPOETS, ETC., EECEIVRD AFTER THE MEETING. 



VICE president's report of 11th district. 



The large extent of territory wMch includes the 11th District, together with my ab- 

 sence at the East during the late autiimn, precludes my furnishing a report of any but 

 a small part of the District, and that of my own locality only. 



The season has been a singular one. The spring was backward and continued rains 

 delayed plowing and planting. We were not, however, troubled with such excessive 

 rains as were experienced in a more Northern portion of the State during the summer. 



Perhaps it would not be out of order to say something in reference to the success of the 

 fruit growers' operations in this vicinity (Marion county) during the past season. I am 

 the more inclined to do this, as the whole matter is ready furnished to my hand, in the 

 shape of a letter wrilten by our President and published in the Western Rural, who, 

 from his own experience and knowledge, is so much better qualified to give a reliable 

 statement, that I shall ofler no apology for appropriating it : 



* ■;■:- a ^e have had an abundant crop of all kinds of fruit gro-s^ai here, except 

 peaches. The loss of this crop is not so much felt as formerly. The more hardy fruits 

 are coming into profitable bearing. Our apple crop I do not think could be excelled 

 either for quantity or quality. The early and severe cold caught many on the trees, 

 and rendered them worthless except for cider. Pears were a full crop, but rather 

 under size on accoiuit, I think, of overbearing. We have much to learn here about the 

 management of this fruit, if we wish to obtain fine fruit and preserve the trees. Over 

 bearing is against both. Thinning out must be resorted to. A better knowledge of 

 the time to gather this fruit, and more careful handling, will add much to the net 

 profits of the producer. 



" Although we did not have a full crop of peaches, yet a great many have been 

 shipped from this place and points near by. A few orchards have borne full crops of 

 very fine fruits ; nearly all had more or less fruit, there being but very few entire fail- 

 ures. All cherry trees -were loaded with fruit. The Early May varietyMs almost ex- 

 clusively grown here. The weather during the ripening season was very unfavorable, 

 and they rotted badly. Grapes, a full crop, but damaged much by rot; strawberries, 

 raspberries, gooseberries and currants, all full crops. Prices obtained were generally 

 satisfactory; so you see we have not much to complain of. 



"The most gratifying news I have to chronicle is our comparative escape from the 

 depredations of msects; even the birds that usually take the lion's share of our 

 cherries passed us by unmolested. Curculios were not near so niunerous as last year. 

 Codling moths have done us but little damage. Last year it was alxaost impossible to 

 find a sound peach or apple. This argues well for the futiu"e. A new insect, to us 

 here, has appeared on our strawberries for the first time the past season, damaging the 

 crop very much. It resembles somewhat the chinch bug, so destructive to our wheat 

 and corn, and judging from the pecuhar odor they emit on being mashed, should think 



