214 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ALTON-SOUTHERN 



NOVEMBER MEETING. 



The Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society met at the 

 residence of the S. G. Gardner, in Kane, on Thursday, November 4th, 

 with Vice-President Browne in the chair. 



Kane is a thriving, pretty town of some 600 inhabitants, sur- 

 rounded by a rich prairie country. 



Mr. Gardner was for many years engaged in merchandizing, but 

 some years ago sold out and engaged in horticulture and the nursery 

 business. The soil here seems to be well adapted to growing trees 

 as Mr. Gardner's clearly proved. 



As the attendance was small the meeting was not called to or- 

 der until after dinner. 



ORCHARDS. 



Messrs. Vandeburg and Gardner said that the apple crop about 

 Kane and Jersey ville had been very good, which statement was fully 

 proven by a fine collection exhibited. 



Mr. Fulkerson said that for some years he had treated an old 

 orchard as follows: plowed in fall and sowed in rye, and in spring 

 sowed clover on the rye; pastured with small stock during spring and 

 summer, and in fall plowed up and repeated the process, and, as a 

 result, the apple crop had improved very much, being almost as good 

 as on a young orchard. 



Mr. Davis, who had just returned from a trip through Southern 

 Illinois, said that the apple crop was such a total failure there, ex- 

 cept Early Harvest, Red Astrachan and Rome Beauty, that many 

 growers, having thousands of trees, had not enough apples for their 

 own use; said the trees seemed to be injured by cold of past winters 

 and this season's drouth. Peach trees in Southern Illinois were in a 

 very poor condition, and none were being planted except at Villa 

 Ridge, where there were some fine young orchards, and where a mod- 

 erate amount of planting was being done. 



VEGETABLES, 



Mr. Chadwell said the self-blanching celery was as nice as the 

 green varieties, nearly as strong a grower, and can be grown more 

 easily. Thought if earthed up some it was better in quality. 



