STATE HORTIGULTURAL SOCIETY. 9 



I have corresponded with parties in the twelve counties composing 

 my district, but have received but the following six reports : 



Mr. L. E. Daniels, of Centertown, Grundy county, writes: 



"As regards Apples, the crop was heavy and of splendid quality, large size and not 

 wormy. Orchards here are mostly in grass, and a portion of them used for hog pasture 

 in the early season. 



" Cherries were an enormous crop, and as our soil is a deep black muck they do 

 best in grass. 



" There was a large crop of Small Fruits. In this section the Philadelphia and 

 Purple Cane Raspberries taking the lead. Good tultivation paying in all small fruit 

 crops. No noxious insects to do any damage, except the Tent caterpillar in the early 

 season." 



Mr. D. C. ScoFiELD, of Elgin, Kane county, writes : 



" I hoped to have had opportunity to have rendered you more effectual aid by more 

 inquiry, but will afford you such as I have been able to collect. 



" The Apple crop has exceeded any former crop in abundance in all localities ; 

 while orchards on prairie lands have exceeded their usual crops, yet even this excess has 

 been small as compared with orchards on "barren" or "timber" land, where the crops 

 were very abundant. In some of the orchards of the latter class the Newtown Pippin 

 and Northern Spy are regular and abundant bearers, in some instances the Northern 

 Spy trees averaging more than twelve bushels per tree. The location and soil, not the 

 special cultivation, affected these two named varieties of fruit, as the crops of these 

 kinds are abundant, more or less, annually. 



" The Canker-worm has been less destructive the past year than in several previous 

 years, owing, probably, to the excessive rains in the early season, or that their time of 

 visitation is drawing to a close." 



Mr. S. G. MiNKLER, of Oswego, Kendall county, writes : 



" The Apple crop has been a bountiful one, though some varieties disappointed 

 growers ; prices ranging from ten to twenty-five cents, and hundreds of bushels not 

 gathered. 



" Cherries, heavy crop, and very fine; no sale; went to market once, and could not 

 get enough to pay for picking, and gave it up. 



" Had probably fifty bushels of Curratits and the same of Gooseberries. 



"Not worth while to mention Pears. 



" Less insects and less blight this year than formerly. Climate, past season, all 

 right." 



Mr. H. C. Graves, of Sandwich, DeKalb county, writes : 



" The Fruit crop in this county has been good. Apples in some localities were 

 scabby, and some varieties were so everywhere; but, altogether, the crop was the largest 

 for several years. 



" Very few Pears, from the fact that the late hard winters and the blight, together, 

 have left us but very few trees. 



" Early Richmond Cherries in abundance. 



" Grapes a medium crop, with but few perfect bunches; the wet hot weather caus- 

 ing them to mildew and drop off. 



" Blackberries plenty, large and fine. 



" Raspberries, full average crop. Turner's Seedling very popular with those that 

 have it. 



