352 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



dwarfs the best, and has settled down to two varieties, viz. : Bartlett and 

 Flemish Beauty. The profits have not been large thus far, but probably 

 as good as from the same number of apple trees. 



Grape growing is receiving a considerable attention. A few years 

 ago our local markets were not supplied with this fruit, and fifteen to 

 twenty cents per pound was readily obtained for Concords; but so abun- 

 dant have grapes become, that this season only three to ten cents could 

 be obtained. Concord is the leading variety grown, and the spiral sys- 

 tem usually adopted in training the vine. Several vineyards of Ives' 

 Seedling have been planted, but the first three or four years the amount 

 of fruit produced has been small ; but as the vines become older, they are 

 more prolific. 



Among the new varieties of fruit that promises to be valuable the 

 Snyder Blackberry takes the lead. It seems perfectly hardy and bears 

 annual crops, when the Lawton and Kittatinny fail. 



The Charles Downing strawberry bears well, but ripens the berry in 

 so imperfect a manner as to render it rather unsalable. 



The Alexander peach is deserving of notice, having originated in 

 this district, and promises to be valuable on account of its earliness. 



The Codling moth has not been as plentiful as usual, owing, we 

 presume, to the scarcity of fruit last year. 



The Tent caterpillar was quite plentiful, and did a great deal of 

 harm where left unmolested. Care should be taken to destroy the nests 

 as soon as discovered. 



The Canker worm was seen in some localities this year and last, and 

 occasionally we hear of an orchard being badly damaged by this insect. 



The Apple-tree twig-blight was quite prevalent, and injured the 

 appearance of orchards very much. 



Mr. J. B. Phinney, for several years past a member of this Society, 

 and one of the largest orchardists in Central Illinois, died at his residence, 

 near Champaign, in August of this year, after a protracted illness. Mr. 

 Phinney came to Illinois, from Boston, in 185 8, bought a large tract of 

 prairie land, and engaged in farming and fruit growing. His orchards 

 cover about one hundred and fifty acres and are surrounded by artificial 

 belts of timber. 



In his death horticulture loses one of its best workers, and the com- 

 munity an excellent citizen. 



