STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. .181 



of Girard, Til., which is hardy, of very fine quality and three to five 

 days earlier than the a])()ve. The Gregg is the largest back cap, hut 

 somewhat tender with us and very quickly afEected with drouth. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



Of the newer kinds we have nothing to report. All kinds were 

 nearly ruined with drouth, excepting Early Harvest, which matured 

 a fair crop. 



GRAPES 



of all varieties were badly damaged with drouth in our vicinity. Of 

 the recently introduced, Niagara and Empire State promise well for 

 the fir?t fruiting. Noah, Moore's Early and Maxatawny, Ives and 

 Worden have friends among amateur growers in our part of the 

 State. Grape growing in Southern Illinois has not proven profitable 

 for market purposes, with perhaps a few exceptions. 



CURRANTS. 



The growing of this fruit for market purposes has met with 

 poor encouragement. The Fay's Prolific has fruited and thus far 

 exceeds our expectation — knowing that the currant is decidedly a 

 cold country fruit, and that Southern Illinois is about as far south 

 as it can be successfully grown. Some of the black currants can be 

 successfully grown, but there has thus far been little or no market 

 for them. They are one of the most wholesome and desirable fruits 

 when made into jam, with sugar and the juice of red currant, or 

 common black cherry. 



GOOSEBERRIES. 



Downing and Mt. Seedling have proven desirable, hardy market 

 varieties, of better size and quality than Houghton. Of the four 

 or five varieties more recently introduced, we have on trial the 

 Champion, Triumph, Industry, and one from California not yet 

 fruited. 



STRAWBERRIBS. 



The ''Queen of Berries." May King, promises well. Jewell, Jersey 

 (}ueen and Bubach Xo. 5 have made a poor show with us. I fear 

 neither of them will succeed in our soil and climate. 



A ray of hope is now looming up through the gloom that hangs 

 over strawberry growing in Southern Illinois. This small ray is 

 centered in a berry that can be shi])ped a long distance. We feel 

 confident we have it in \V arfields No. 2, a chance seedling originat- 

 ing and eared for by B. C. Warfield, of Marion County, Illinois. 

 For two seasons past we have watched its growth and vigor, tasted 



