STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 237 



HORTICULTUEAL HISTORY. 



EDGAR COUNTY. 



This county was represented in tlie last Transactions of this Society as having a Hor- 

 ticulture, but that no farther intelligence could he ohtained of it. I propose to hreal- that 

 silence, and to enlighten the fraternity a little as to what has been done in that line, in 

 tliis part of the Eastern Egyiit of Illinois. I am a native of this county, my life has been 

 devoted to its Horticulture since my earliest recollection, and not the study of the 

 language, by which I may convey that intelligence to others. 



The first orchard planted in this county was that planted by Daniel Lane, of Mass. , 

 (three miles east of Taris.) in the year 1817, with seedling, yearling apple trees. At that 

 time grafted trees could not be obtained west of Ohio. These seedlings were grown 

 from seed taken from apples brought from Mrs. Vandeburg's orchard, at Yincennes, 

 Indiana, in the fall of 181">— planted at Terre Haute— where Mr. Lane lived two years 

 before he came back to this x)lace. 



The original plat contained 178 trees, of which ;!!» are now living; are in moderate 

 vigor, apparent health, and productive. One-third of these are sound, and look as if 

 they would stand while several generations of men pass away. The largest tree now 

 measures seven feet six inches in circumference one foot Irom the ground; another six 

 feet nine inches; one six feet four inches. A Golden Willow, at this place, in perfect 

 health, supposed to have been planted about the time the imjjrovement was made, 

 measures eleven feet and six inches around the body, anywhere six feet above 

 ground . 



This was a productive orchard, and proved remunerative to the planter by the sale of 

 fi'uit, until orchards of gralted varieties came into plentiful bearing; after which there 

 was no sale for the seedlings, and he made them into cider. In this he was particularly 

 successful. He possessed a recipe or process by which he prepared the liquid, that it 

 kept in Its original purity or .sweetness for years, as many yet bear witness. This 

 process was known to him alone ; his most intimate Iriends and acquaintances could not 

 prevail on him to gi\ e his management. At his death his family were uninOnmed as 

 to it. 



He used to argue that seedlings were about as good as any, and the most profitable; 

 but when the fine fruit drove his out of the market, (about the year 1842) he aban- 

 doned that notion, and the writer, then a boy, was engaged to graft a few hundred 

 seedling stocks that stood in his garden, with which he intended to plant a new orch- 

 ard, which was done with the best varieties. AVhile thus occupied, he frequently 

 brought out his pitcher and glass of that excellent cider, (to which we did full Justice) 

 remarking that the Curtis' could beat him with apples, but he guessed he could beat 

 them on cider. The orchard was in grass at my earliest recollection. Martin HousomCr 

 the present owner of the place, says it has been thus treated since his knowledge of it. 



