STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. , 233 



tlieiii very nearly relateil. Some elaiin that they are of a dift'erent species altogether. 

 "Whether this be so or not, those interested in the cultivation of the strawberry are anx- 

 iously looking: forward to another season to see if they are to continue their depreda- 

 tions. I observe much less of the pear and apple blight than formerly. 



' ' The correctness of the opinion expressed by Dr. Hull, our State Horticulturist, 

 that the spur blight on our apple trees (especially tlie Wine Sap variety) and the 

 deformed and imperfect fruit, were occasioned by the apple tree aphis, is about to be 

 demonstrated. There are no eggs of tliis insect to be found on the trees at this date; 

 audi hardly think there will be any deposited after this, should this prove true, and 

 the Doctor's opinion correct, we will have no spur lilight next season. Last fall, our 

 trees, at this time, were lined with the eggs of this insect. In the spring, as soon as 

 the buds began to push out, they hatched apparently as by magic, and covered every 

 shoot and fruit bud on the tree. I notice that this blight is spreading more and more 

 to other varieties than the Wine Sap; Rome Beauty, Red Baldwin, and others are ])e- 

 coming badly affected with it. P'ruit orchards genei'ally promise well for next season. 



"B. PULLEN." 



Dr. N. ^y. Abbott, who owns a large farm near Kinmundy, in Marion county, has 

 sent me the following statement in reference to his orchard, manner of cultivation, 

 varieties of fruit, productiveness, itc. : 



LETTEK FROM DK. N. W. ABBOTT. 



* * " In relation to my orchard, I have to say, that at the time I bought the farm, 

 there was a mnall orchard otlan/e trees, several of which are the large Romanite. The 

 trees are fifteen to eighteen inches in diameter. They bear annually large anil fine 

 crops. I generally gather about forty bushels from each ti'ee. There is never anything 

 the matter with the large llomanite. 



" I have set on the fai-m aliout l,riOO apple trees since 1862. Most of them are now 

 in bearing. My manner of cultivation is as follows : I plow a ridge by back furrowing. 

 I start with the ' Peiler plow,' which consists of two plows on one beam; one fol- 

 lowing the furrow of the other. It plows a fiuTow twelve to fourteen inches in depth. 

 It reiiuires four heavy horses. I plowed a space of some eight feet in width. In the 

 center of this I set my trees, twenty-five feet apart each way. I might tell about my 

 method of setting, &c., but will not, as that subject has been discussed so often. I 

 cultivate corn for the first five years between the rows. 



"My trees have grown finely. The "Willow Twigs have so far done better than any 

 other variety, not only as to growth, but as to bearing qualities. INIy Willow Twigs 

 have for the last three years been loaded down with large, fine-looking apples, of 

 quite uniform size. They keep well until June or July. The Snow apple has been 

 next to this in productiveness. It is a fine apple in its season (fall). The Fall Pear- 

 main has done well with me. It is a splendid apple. The Yellow Mewtown Pippin 

 is slow in coming into bearing, but is a fine, showy apple when you get it. The 

 Yellow Bellefleur is a shy bearer with me. I have some trees fifteen years old, bearing 

 very sparsely good, first-rate apples. One cannot att'ord to grow them for sale. On 

 the contrary, the Maiden's Blush is a'good bearer, and there is no apple that brings a 

 better price in Chicago. It is not a first-rate eating apple, but looks well and cooks 



