STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 101 



(ogether. Wine Sap small, and aftected with the bitter rot. Rawles' yanet, Rome 

 Beauty, Huhbardson, have ilone well. 



" Peaches, Cherries and PIuhis were a failure, except seedling peaches, which were 

 (]uite full. 



" Grapes — Concord, half a crop; rotted more than I ever knew. Other varieties I 

 do not grow largely. Catawbas, a small crop ; no rot. 



" Small Fruits and Vegetables, but little grown. 



" I have noticed, for a few years jjast, the loss of young black oaks. They die 

 out, and I do not know the cause. Large quantities of timber are being cut, anil the 

 land cleared for cultivation. No timber planting, except by Mrs. Ames, who is plant- 

 ing largely of larch anil evergreens. 



CALHOUN COUNTY. 



" Orcharding not extending. The orchards of Mr. Williams, of Kruitland, gave 

 only a moderate crop of Apples. Other fruits a failure." 



MACOUPIN COUNTY. 



E. Aug. Bechtel, of Staunton, Macoupin county, sends me the 

 following : 



" It appears to me that in consequence of the hard times t)ie planting of trees, 

 vines, shrubs, etc., of all kinds, has been very light the past year, as far as my knowledge 

 goes. 



" The season again has been very wet at times, although the water did not do as 

 much damage as the year before. The annual growth of all kinds of grape vines, shrubs 

 and trees, including the Evergreens, has been wonderful. Vegetables of enormous size 

 were produced. Even the Celery (generally a vegetable very difficult to raise in this 

 climate) did well. 



" The Apple orchards did, generally speaking, better than last year, although the 

 fruit was not much better in quality. The Red and White June and Rambodid well again; 

 so did the Hubbardson, Non-Such, Penn. Red Streak, Ben Davis, Milam and Wine 

 .Sap. The Rawles' Janet bore well, but the hitler rot was as bad as ever. The cause of 

 this disease I have not yet ascertained, although to all appearance an insect is the origin 

 of it. 



" Pears blighted badly, and the fruit was scarce and high-priced. 



" Peaches an entire failure again. 



" Cherries bore full, but were injured by the curculio as bad as the year before. 



" Vineyards were, in most parts of the county, an entire failure also, a few young 

 plantations being the exception, and the fruit of them brought good prices. The Ives, 

 Martha and Morton's Virginia proved again to be the healthiest vine in regard to fruit 

 and foliage. 



" All kinds of Small Fruits bore well, and the fruit was of excellent quality; the 

 Mammoth Cluster and Philadelphia Raspberries and the old Red Dutch Currant were 

 the varieties that did best with us. 



" The ' Snyder' Blackberry bore wonderfully, and it seems to be extremely hardy. 

 I believe this berry will be the best for family use ; it is not quite so large as the Kit- 

 tatinny, but it has less hard pulp and the plant is hardier. It is altogether a very 

 promising variety. Respectfully yours, 



" E. Aug. Bechtel." 



MADISON COUNTY. 



F. Hayden, of Alton, Madison county, communicates the following : 



"I may report a tolerably full crop of Apples, with very low prices — I think I may 

 say with little or no profit to the grower. Ben Davis and Smith's Cider are the most 

 profitable. Some bitter rot among the Rawles' Janet. 



