106 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



" The crop of Apples was considerably below an average, and winter apples are 

 very scarce. Of summer and autumn varieties there was a moderate crop. As usual, 

 in seasons of late spring frosts, the yield, in favorably situated orchards, protected by 

 timber, was best. 



" Observed no indications of bitter rot. Apples were rather more perfect than last 

 season. 



"Most varieties oi Small Fruits grovin in the county were abundant enough to 

 supply the home demand, except CJierries, of which there was a small yield of the 

 Morello on trees in favorable situations. Where much exposed the blossoms of that 

 hardy variety dropped. The more choice varieties were an entire failure. The same 

 may be said of Plums, except the common native red plum, which was more abundant 

 than for several years previous. 



" Very few Strawberry beds have been renewed since the plants were killed a few 

 years ago." 



" Grapes yielded below an average crop. The Concord and Clinton yielded the 

 most fruit, but both varieties rotted more than usual. Virginia Seedling did well, but 

 there are only a few small vineyards of that variety, and no large vineyards of any kind 

 in the county. 



" Not much advance has been made in fruit growing for several years. More 

 apple than any other fruit trees have been planted. The trees seem to be in a healthy 

 condition, and generally grew well, but it is questionable whether the yield of fruit 

 compensates the labor expended. Cold north and northwest winds in the spring, and 

 late frosts, are beyond the control of man, and are the greatest drawbacks to successful 

 fruit growing in this section. 



ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



Col. Adolph Engelmann, of Bacchi-Ara, near Shiloh, St. Clair 

 county, gives the following raport : 



"The mild weather in February, 1876, started vegetation, and on March li many 

 peach buds had opened into blossoms, whilst other fruit buds were proportionately 

 advanced. On the morning of March 12 there was snow and severe frost. Cold 

 weather continued to the end of the month, culminating on the 2ist in 7° F., being 

 25° below the freezing point. Only a few late peach buds survived. The Black-heart 

 cherries were all killed. The Bigarreaus bore one-third of a crop, and only the Early 

 Richmond bore a full crop. The Morellos were full of black spots and worms. Pears 

 yielded about one-fourth of a crop. Apples, grapes and small fruits suffered less. What 

 was spared by the cold was severely tasked by a very wet summer. This made sad 

 havoc amongst all vineyards that had not a very dry situation. Rot took the growing 

 crop, and several kinds of mold (fimgi) destroyed the foliage to such an extent that 

 many vines could not mature the bearing wood for next year's crop sufficiently to stand 

 the cold of a common winter. 



" Apples would have made a good crop, but for the ravages of the larva; of the 

 codling moth, which has increased in this county to such an extent that but few apples 

 can be found which are not infested by one or more of these larvae. The result is that 

 most of the fruit drops prematurely, and what hangs to the trees will not keep. Since 

 the codling moth some years ago made its appearance I have not heard many complaints 

 of the bitter rot, which before that time was very prevalent. The bitter rot, however, 

 still injures some varieties of apples. The last summer was also very severe on pear 

 trees, which blighted worse than ever. Of my peach orchard of seven acres about half 

 a dozen peaches were obtained. Of as many acres of apple trees I did not get fruit 

 enough for family use. Of fifty pear trees, the survivors of an orchard of three acres, 

 I got about one-fourth of a crop ; the Beurre Ditremberg doing best. 



" The summer of 1875, having been as wet as that of 1876, had also been severe 

 on grape vines, the foliage of many varieties dropping early, and before the year's 

 growth of wood had matured. Foreign varieties, Hybrids, Labruscas and ^-Estivalis, 

 had all suffered, the first mentioned most. Riparia had escaped almost unscathed. 



