70 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Blackberries have made a good growth and are in a fine condi- 

 tion. The Snyder is the principal variety grown. 



Grapes have never been better than they were in 1880, both as 

 to quality and quantity. They were sold at extremely low prices, 

 yet they paid the grower as well as any other crop. The vines are 

 in very good condition. I am informed that there will be several 

 thousand planted the coming spring. 



Peaches — There has been quite an interest taken by fruit 

 growers in this locality ; and, as a result, there are several peach 

 orchards of from one hundred to one thousand trees. Some growers 

 have done more work and taken more pains with their trees than 

 others, and as a consequence their trees are in much better condi- 

 tion. T know that the prevailing opinion is that a man would be a 

 fool to plant them in Central Illinois, but I have as much faith in 

 them as in apples if planted upon good land and properly taken 

 care of. 



Apples — Hancock and Adams counties have been noted for 

 their large apple orchards. It was only a few years ago that 

 thousands of barrels of first-class apples were sold annually. Where 

 are they now? Fifty per cent, or more of the trees have been cut 

 into firewood, and many more will be this winter. Still, in the south 

 half of Hancock and the north half of Adams county, there are 

 some bearing orchards that are in very good condition, and have this 

 year yielded from eighty to one hundred l)arrels of prime apples per 

 acre. The orchards which bore these apples are situated upon dry, 

 rolling ground, and have been in clover which was not removed from 

 the ground. 



I examined the orchards of Mr. T. F. Leeper, which are on high 

 bluff land, and found them to be in first-class order. His apple.s 

 were of extra quality. His trees were thrifty, showing they were 

 upon good land, and that they had received good care and cultiva- 

 tion. Not a borer to be found in 1,700 trees! I have examined 

 some orchards situated on prairie land, where all that is left of a 

 once thrifty orchard is a few dying trees, 



Apple trees that are not more than ten or twelve years old are 

 in a fair condition, while there are many orchards of four to eight 

 years old that are perfect models of what an orchard should be. 



I would like to ask a question. Will some of the wise members 

 of this Society tell me just what constitutes an apple; how much 

 lime, potash, etc., is required? If we know what these constituents 

 are we might use them to advantage, as far as soil goes toward mak- 

 ing our trees ever fruitful. 



I believe that the main cause of our old orchards being unfruit- 

 ful is that they have exhausted the elements in the soil that go to 

 make this fruit. 



