ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 205 



for their fruit from tliese dealers as they could by shipping them- 

 selves. The smaller growers who are not posted as to markets, and 

 who do not ship enough to establish a reputation, will generally do 

 better to sell to dealers. 



JUNE MEETING. 



The Society met at the residence of H. G. McPike, on Saturday, 

 June 5th, with President Pearson in the chair. 



Mr. McPike lives in an elegant mansion, situated on one of the 

 hills overlooking Alton, surrounded with trees, shrubs and plants, 

 for ornament and for fruiting, all planted by the owner's hands, the 

 whole combined forming a very pleasant home. The day was fine, 

 and a large company assembled to take part in the proceedings. 



ORCHARDS. 



All the members agreed that the prospect for a good fruit crop 

 still continued favorable. Pears were reported only a moderate crop, 

 the cherry very abundant. 



In answer to a question from the President, Messrs. Browne and 

 Jackson said cherries cost fully twice as much as strawberries, yet 

 sold for about the same price. 



Mr. Riehl had grown and picked a good many cherries, and tak- 

 ing the crops as we get them in a series of years, thought they cost 

 at least three times as much, and at present prices did not pay, and 

 had grubbed up an orchard of some two hundred trees. 



It was stated that California cherries had spoiled our market 

 for sweet cherries, and less than half the prices obtained in former 

 years were now obtained. 



The Secretary read a letter from Prof. Forbes, stating that he 

 had discovered the Curculio breeding in the apple about Champaign 

 and Warsaw, and doing considerable damage to the crop. From 

 this it would seem we will have to plant plums near our apple 

 orchards, and catch the ''Little Turk" in order to have smooth 

 apples. 



Small fruits were reported in good condition, raspberries and 

 blackberries promising an excellent crop. 



