350 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



number of other growers are not very far behind him, with a great many 

 smaller producers, who, with the exception of Mr. Baldwin, find sale for 

 their entire crop here at home. 



During the past two years the Deleware grape has been acting badly; 

 covering itself with fruit, and, just before bringing it to maturity, the 

 leaves fall and the entire crop is a failure. As the foliage had been 

 entirely free from insect attacks, the excessive wet weather prevailing just 

 at that time was supposed to have been the cause of such misbehavior. 



The varieties of grapes considered worthy of cultivation in this 

 county are annually becoming less, and those recommended by nursery- 

 men for planting at present may be counted upon the fingers of a single 

 hand. The Concord is always first in consideration; the Hartford Pro- 

 lific has many friends; the Ives Seedling is growing in favor gradually; 

 the Clinton is getting to be highly prized for its reliability and heavy 

 crops, and the people have learned that it is not fit to eat until very late 

 in the season, and then it really is good. 



There is one oYchard in this county which contains a hundred differ- 

 ent varieties of apples, and there are many others which run past the 

 fifties considerably. Experience has proven that for profit these lists 

 might be greatly reduced. 



Beginning with the early apples, my experience has been, that during 

 the past five years the Red Astrachan has produced three very heavy 

 crops, and they have always commanded the very highest market price. 

 The Early Harvest is an excellent apple, and, as it fruits annually, it is 

 considered the most desirable. The Red June is gradually losing its 

 good name. As the trees of this variety acquire age, the fruit becomes 

 inferior in size, and it will not sell when brought into competition with 

 the former varieties. 



For fall apples, the Maiden's Blush, Rambo and Snow (or Fameuse); 

 winter, Wine Sap, Rawles' Janet, Pryor's Red and Newtown Pippin. I 

 include the latter variety (although it scabs very badly) for the reason that 

 it produces annual crops, keeps until May, and is admired by every one 

 who loves a good apple. 



The Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening, Yellow Bellflower, Spitz- 

 enberg and Seek-no-farther, are all good apples, but very shy bearers, 

 and will not keep longer than December, and the main part of the crop 

 falls and is wasted before the picking season arrives. 



If asked by any one, except the N. Y. Farmers' Club, to enumerate 

 the worst enemies of the fruit-growers in this locality, I should head 

 the list with birds. In early spring the robins come down upon us by 

 the hundreds ; the brown thrush, though not so numerous, is represented 

 by a large family ; the orioles take entire possession of some plantations ; 

 while the catbird is everywhere, and the blue-jay can be heard squeal- 

 ing his squall in every tree in the land ; while the air is thick with wood- 

 peckers of every style and color. To be sure, they destroy a great many 

 insects during the early part of the season, but they make no distinction 

 between our insect friends and foes. So that the value of their services, 

 even at that season of the year, is a matter of considerable doubt. The 



