STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 69 



fall, was affected with rust, which caused the leaves prematurely to 

 shrivel and drop off. I sent a few of the leaves to Prof. Burrill, and 

 in reply received the following: " The rust on the Cuthbert raspberry 

 is a well-known fungus called Uredo rubonim, but believed to be an 

 early state of another species Fhraf/midiuin speciosum. This latter 

 is black, powdery, but thinly scattered over the under side of the 

 leaves. I see nothing of it here.'' 



Black caps require clean culture for success. The following 

 varieties being most generally j)lanted for market: Tyler, Ohio, 

 Mammoth Cluster and Gregg, the last named variety winter kills 

 badly with us and is giving way to other varieties. 



Blackberries do well where carefully cultivated and judiciously 

 trimmed. The only variety marketed here to any extent is the 

 Snyder, which seems to be iron-clad, and has not failed in eight 

 yeai's to bear abundantly. They must be cut back severely and kept 

 so to get the best results. Dry weather is the greatest enemy to be 

 feared and blights many a fair prospect; this, I am glad to say, we 

 have overcome, b}' irrigation, successfully. 



I do not deem it necessary to say anything regarding the man- 

 nier of culture, as the methods used by horticulturists are pretty 

 much the same. Clean culture, judicious trimming and proper 

 fertilization generally tell the tale. 



President — Mr. Dennis will now read the 



AD-INTERIM ilEPORT FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 



BY C. B. ROCKWELJ.. 



Mr. President: The object, as 1 understand it, of ad-interim 

 work is to find the exact condition of all fruit. As a member of 

 this committee I have visited the principal fruit farms, or talked 

 with their owners, in Hancock and Adams counties. I will try to give 

 this society their condition. 



Strawberry plants have not made a very good growth, owing to 

 the extreme dry weather in July and August. Old beds did not 

 n)ake any growth whatever. I do not think that there was twenty- 

 tive per cent, of the usual acreage planted. 



Black raspberry canes made a fair growth where they were well 

 cultivated. I have examined them with some care and find the tops 

 of the canes very much injured. The upper sides of them where 

 they turn over are dead. They will have to be cut back very severely; 

 and, should we have a very cold winter, many growers think the old 

 plantations will have to be taken out altogether. I think the cause 

 was the extreme heat. I do not know of any increase in their acre- 

 age. The principal varieties are (jregg and Mammoth Cluster. 



Red raspberries made a fair growth and I do not think they are 

 injured in the least. 



