ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 203 



MAY MEETING. 



The Society met at the residence of Mr. John Riggs, near God- 

 frey, on Saturday, May 8th, with President Pearson in the cliair. 



Mr. Riggs has a pleasant home, fronted with a nice lawn, which 

 contains numbers of shade and ornamental trees, both native and 

 planted. Mr. Riggs has everything in apple-pie order, and in this 

 respect a good example for some of our members to copy. The 

 small fruit plantations were in the very best condition and promised 

 profitable crops. 



ORCHARDS. 



The general report of the members was that the outlook for a 

 crop of all fruit, except peaches, was never better. The foliage of 

 apple trees was reported unusually healthy; and the weather at 

 blooming time was all that could be desired, dry and warm. The 

 blossoms had fertilized properly, and the young fruits had set and 

 are growing nicely. Peach trees were reported as still dying from 

 the effects of the past cold winters. 



Mr. Riehl predicted that the time would come again when 

 peaches would do well here, and when we do again have a crop, those 

 that are taking care of their trees now, will make more money than 

 has ever been made out of peaches before. The neglect of peach 

 orchards, caused by the loss of the crops the past four years, is very 

 general, and good healthy peach orchards are scarce, and, when we 

 again have a crop, the few growers, having good orchards, will have 

 a big paying monopoly. 



The question being asked as to the planting of trees the past 

 few years, it appeared that apple orchards were about on a stand 

 still, the small fruit growers not planting any, some even grubbing 

 up their orchards, as small fruits promised quicker returns. Some, 

 however, believed apple growing one of the surest and best paying 

 branches of fruit growing, and were planting all they could. The 

 point was made that to succeed in apple growing the proper varieties 

 must be selected (mostly winter), and the best land on the farm de- 

 voted to the orchard. 



The peach orchards seemed on the decrease; the old orchards 

 were mostly dead or dying, and most growers thought it hopeless to 



