STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 161 



tie snow on the ground all winter, so that the ground froze to the 

 depth of from one to two feet or more, and this was not followed l)y 

 killing of the a})})le trees, nor even by a lack of fruit. The influ- 

 ence of the lake is further seen on its west side by an increase of 

 original forest west of Chicago, and a better condition of a])j)le trees 

 now as fnr west as Elgin than at places west of that point. 



Before proceeding further it may be well to note the condition 

 of apple trees to the west of us, where the treeless condition is 

 more pronounced than it is in Illinois. During the summer a trip 

 was made from Kansas City, tlirough Southern Kansas and Colorado, 

 to Pueblo, and thence to ])enver, the return being through Southern 

 Nebraska. In the vicinity of Topeka trees that were left to shift 

 for themselves did not differ materially from the same kinds in 

 the same latitude in Illinois. Those in tow n that were sprayed about 

 their roots during the dry weather showed no signs of premature 

 deca}', though many of them were quite large trees. In south- 

 eastern Kansas a number of fine-looking young orchards were 

 noted, but all were protected by wind-breaks. They were too young 

 to form an opinion of what the effect of the climate would be on 

 older trees. About Lincoln, Nebraska, the condition of trees was 

 more favorable than I had expected to find them. Some trees had 

 died duririg the past few years, but those remaining and those put 

 out in the places of the dead ones, were looking thrifty and vig- 

 orous. It seems that during the past season, while nearly every por- 

 tion of the eastern United States has been suffering from drouth, 

 this state has had frequent rains. This, it would seem, is not the 

 case every year, as otherwise we should have forests here instead of 

 a prairie. 



Without doubt soil and position have much to do with the lon- 

 gevity of trees. Much has already been said on this topic. In a 

 trip through the northern part of the state it was very' apparent, as 

 before stated, that as we approach Lake Michigan trees had suf- 

 fered less than in the vicinity of Free})ort. A writer in the Pni'ni( 

 Fanner for August 14, 1886, says: "In the east, as a rule, the land 

 is broken; side-hills and elevations abound, affording good natural 

 drainage, while in many parts of the prairie state the land is (piite 

 level, or only moderately rolling. It is a fact that a fruit tree 

 will not long remain healthy if the soil around the roots is water- 

 soaked for any considerable portion of the year. This, then, will 

 doubtless be accepted as one of tlie causes of the failure of orchards 

 in the west. The second cause will probal)ly not l)e so readily ac- 

 cepted, but, in the opinion of the writer, is a most potent one. It is 

 that the soil is too rich. * * * The usual advice is to select a 

 rich spot for the orchard, and uianure heavily as for a garden. This 

 is probably the correct thiug for the side-liills of the east, but is [ler- 

 nicious advice to the farmer or fruit-grower of the west. It will 

 especially be found that iu tlu' west fruit trees make too rank a 



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