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TRANSACTIONS OF THE CENTRAL 



AFTERNOON SESSION— FIRST DAY. 



The Secretary presented the following report : 



The Secretary lias to report, that as soon as the annual election of officers took place at Decatur, 

 last February, he received the books and papers from the then Secretary, Mr. J. D. Van Norman, 

 against his protest. It was doubtless the duty of the old Secretary to finish up all the work pertain- 

 ing to the annual meeting, before passing the books over to his successor. I make this statement to 

 account for any errors which may have been made iu writing up the proceedings of the last annual 

 meeting. 



About the first of May circulars were sent to at least one person in everj- county in the district, to 

 enquire if they were willing to make observations on horticultural subjects and vineyards, in 

 accordance with a resolution passed at our last annual meeting; twenty-three favorable answers to 

 fortj'-five circulars were received. AVhere other persons were known to be engaged in horticultural 

 pursuits in those counties from which no reply was received, I sent other circulars, and received 

 some replies. 



About the first of September the Executive Committee met at Tuscola and ordered the blanks to 

 be sent to the different persons, and nineteen reports have been received. As it would take some 

 time to read these reports separately, I have taken the liberty to condense them. The questions and 

 answers are in the following form: 



Query 1. What kind of soil? has been replied to, either prairie, loam, or clay. 



2. Timber or prairie? Both. 



3. Is there any kind of fruit grown in your county for market— what kind, where sold ? has in only 

 six cases been reported as sliipped largely, in four cases shipped some, and in eight counties not 

 enough raised to supply home demand. 



4. About what time were orchards first planted, and wliat were the principal varieties ? 



The replies vary from ten to fifty years. The principal varieties planted thirty years ago were 

 WinesaiJ, Rawles' Janet (or Jeniton), Ben Davis, Maiden's Blush, Yellow Belleflower, "Winter 

 Pennock, Little Eomanite, Milam, Fameuse or Snow, Red June, Early Harvest, Eambo, Red 

 Astrachan, Black Gilliflower, Esopus Spitzenburg, and Vandevere Pippin. 



Nearly all these varieties are still popular, and most of the apples sent to market are of those 

 varieties, altliough many of the later varieties have been largely jjlanted. Among these are the 

 Fall "VVine, Willow, Rome Beauty, Sops of Wine, Fulton, Domiue, Stanard, Golden Sweet, The 

 Russets, Wagoner, White W. Pearmain, White Pippin, Smith's Cider, and others. These varie- 

 ties have all given satisfaction in some localities, and have been thought worthless iu others. But 

 few of them receive commendation from all sources. Those spoken of that have been tested long 

 enough to develop their good and bad qualities, are: Sops of Wine, Keswick Codling, Rambo, Wine 

 Sap, Yellow Belleflower (on clay soil), Ben Davis, Maiden's Blush, Gilpin, Willow, White Pippin, 

 Stanard, and Smith's Cider. This list seems to be as near perfect as one can be made. 



5. Is fruit of any kind trovibled with insects or disease ? Has been answered in the affirmative by 

 nearly everj' correspondent. The curculio attacks nearly every fruit, except berries. The codling 

 moth infests both apples and pears, the peach-borer in peach trees, and some few reports speak of 

 apple-tree borers. Gi'apes are troubled with rot, mildew and leaf blight, the latter doubtless caused 

 by the leaf-hopper. Pears are reported as blighting in most counties, and some cracking of the 

 fruit. Apples are reported as having scabbed badly in most localities. Prof. Turner, of Jackson- 

 ville, says: ' 'If the Lord knows of any disease or insect tliat fruit is not troubled with, I am sure I 

 do not." Mr. Huggins, of Macoupin county, reports that the apple tree louse (ai)his mail) has been 

 very numerous. The grape crop lias rotted badly in most localities. 



6. Are some varieties of fruit less troubled by insects than others? Has been answered in the 

 affirmative in nearly every case. Among apples that do not seem to be so much troubled by the 

 codling moth as others, we find the Sops of Wine, Keswick Codlin, The Russetts, some of the 

 Spitzenbui-gs, Northern Spy, Orange, Maiden's Blush, and Ben Davis. Those varieties reported as 

 being most exempt from scab are: Red Astrachan, Benoni, Trenton Early, Maiden's Blush, Jona- 

 than, Y. Belleflower, (and Willow, in Fulton county). Mr. Robison, of Tazewell county, observes 

 that trees having large, thick, dark colored leaves appear to be the most exempt from scab. Mr. 

 McLain, of Coles county, reports the Janet, Wine Sap, Yellow Belleflower, Little Romanite, Eai-ly 

 Harvest, Red June, and Red Astrachan as most exempt from insects and diseases in his locality. 



