8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



able dismay, as everybody supposed that thousands of trees would be 

 ruined; but, in most cases, instead of being a daijiage, it proved a ben- 

 efit, as in the case of deciduous ornamental trees, breaking away the rank, 

 straggling growth, which necessitated some trimming up to put into good 

 shape, leaving the trees in better form than before. The ice remained 

 eight days, doing little or no damage to fruit and evergreen trees. 



In our vicinity the only insect enemy we have worth mentioning, 

 aside from the Curculio, is the Canker-worm. There is something pecul- 

 iar in the habits of this pest. Where it once gets a foothold, if not 

 eradicated by artificial means, it will, in time, ruin an orchard, although 

 it does not seem to extend its ravages from one orchard to an adjoining 

 one, unless everything is favorable. As far as my observation extends, I 

 think the Canker-worm will not work or will not put in an appearance 

 where the ground is kept under good cultivation ; furthermore, I will 

 say, that in our immediate vicinity this pest has been less destructive the 

 past season than since it first commenced work, some eight years ago. 



Despite all the drawbacks, we have been blessed the past season with 

 such a bountiful crop of fruit that we have reason to rejoice and look 

 upon the bounty with Joel Benton, wlio says: 



"Twice a year some powerful fairy holds her wand of enchantment 

 over the benignant orchard until the hill-side stands fairly transfigured. 

 Who"will be rash enough to say when it gives us the most delight — when 

 it holds up its mammoth bouquets in May, or when it bears for us its 

 solid bounty in October? At the two gateways of summer it stands with 

 outstretched arms, proffering in the left hand a flowery benediction, in 

 the right a glowing cornucopia — in both a spectacle of wonder. What 

 a burden of subtle associations cling to this period. The flowery apple 

 bough may well baffle the skilled florist, with all his art, to match it, and 

 it is a theme which, best of all, befits the artist's easel. 



"In the fall we pass the same spot to find the enchantment merely 

 changed. The trees are now opulent with their shiny, waxy freight, or 

 the ground around the venerable boles is up-piled with pyramids of 

 beauty. It is the hazy October day ; there is a wild hush in the air ; a 

 halo covers the off-lying hills as with a garment ; the work of the year is 

 ended ; and from the ancient boughs, redolent of the memories of 

 past generations, and ripe with the sunniness of a hundred summer days, 

 sweeps down upon you a breath that might have come from the Fortunate 

 Islands. Nature furnishes nowhere else in all her gallery two more mem- 

 orable match-pieces than those of the orchard in May and October. It 

 needs no subtle seer, like Swedenborg, to read the parable or divine the 

 moral correspondence. Happy is he whose life exhibits the same glory, 

 or who shall be able some time to say, with the delicious quaintness of 

 Marvel : 



" ' What wondrous life is this I lead ? 

 Ripe apples drop about my head ; 

 The luscious clusters of the vine 

 Upon my mouth do crush their wine ; 

 The nectarine and the curious peach 

 Into my hands themselves do reach.' " 



