24 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



BANCROFT'S REPORT. 



L. Bancroft, of Pontiac, sent in a report on Berry Culture, which 

 was read by the Secretary, as follows: 



The past winter was mild and warm; at no time freezing ice the 

 thickness of six inches but once during the winter. Small fruits and plants 

 came out in the spring in fine condition, and promised well for a large 

 crop of fruit ; with strawberries and raspberries we were not disap- 

 pointed. 



The varieties of strawberries cultivated here are Wilson's, Downer's 

 Prolific, Charles Downing and Green Prolific. The season of fruit 

 time was favorable, and we had an excessive crop of large, fine berries. 

 Downer's Prolific, on timber soil, is immensely productive; berry full 

 medium to large, of good quality, fine color, and will produce at least 

 one-third more berries than Wilson's. Charles Downing, productive 

 enough for market, fruit of uniform large size through the season, color 

 and quality good ; will ship nearly as well as Wilson's, and sell for more 

 money. I3oyden's No. 30 and President Wilder are No. i in quality, 

 show well in boxes or on the table, but with me are not productive enough 

 for market. The Monarch of the West, with one year's trial, promises 

 well; produces some monstrous berries, but not enough of them. 



Raspberries. — The Doolittle and McCormick Blackcaps, Turner's 

 Seedling and Philadelphia are the only varieties cultivated here ; all of 

 them made good returns. The season of fruiting was wet, which appeared 

 to exactly suit the Turner's, and they really beat themselves. 



Blackberries. — With the Blackberry we were sadly disappointed ; it 

 is not the first time; we are getting used to it. Lawton is worthless here. 

 The Kittatinny is the only variety that has been grown here to any degree 

 of success ; it looked fine in the spring, bloomed full, but on black soil 

 it failed to set fruit; on timber or clay soil it produced about one-third 

 of a crop. A good number of the Snyder were planted last spring; 

 none fruited yet ; when they do, we expect to have blackberries the year 

 round. 



Currants, about one-third of a crop. 



Gooseberries. — Houghton and American Seedlings were a failure. 



We have one insect that troubles our vines ; it is a small green worm ; 

 it makes it appearance on the raspberry the latter part of May, on the 

 upper side of the leaf, which it riddles, eating all but the larger ribs, 

 aud disappears about the middle of June. It has not, as I could discover, 

 seriously damaged the berry. 



L. BANCROFT. 

 THE STRAWBERRY. 



Mr. Wier (of Lacon) spoke flatteringly of the extensive strawberry 

 plantations of Mr. Leslie, of Ipava, and he gave a history of the visit of 

 Mr. Galusha to that place, and what resulted from it. He was sorry that 



