64 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



wood, and the outlook is fine for a good crop the comin<^ year. The 

 early varieties. Alexander, and Hale's, and all that class of peaches, 

 will be left out in future plantings. They are so poor in quality and 

 rot so badly, that they are not profitable. Acreage increasing 

 rapidly, and more care given to pruning and cultivation. 



(Trapes were a partial failure on account of rot, but there was a 

 fair crop marketed from the county this year, and fair prices through 

 the season, better late than early. Crop all went to Chicago. Acre- 

 age increasing about fifteen per cent annually. The Ives is grown 

 more than all others, but there are many other varieties grown here 

 with fair to good success, and graj)e-gr owing seems to have come to 

 stay. 



Strawberries about one-half crop, and many of them of poor 

 quality. The Fall of 1882 showed the finest stand of plants ever 

 seen in this county, and many growers thought the crop of 1883 

 would be double that of any former year, but the severe and sudden 

 freezing and thawing broke many of the roots, and a large part of the 

 plants were "' heaved "" partially out of the ground, and were in a bad 

 shape to withstand the severe drouth of early spring; and to cap the 

 climax the ''tarnish plant bug'' appeared by millions and sucked the 

 young fruit dry on the stems. The bug seemed to have an appetite 

 for the larger and sweeter varieties, and by their actions showed that 

 they would have the last berry "if it took all summer."" At this date 

 the prospect is good for an immense crop in 1884. Acreage increas-- 

 ing about twenty-five per cent, annually, with more Crescent Seed- 

 lings being planted than any other variety, with Wilson & Downing's 

 next. Some of the newer kinds are coming to the front, the Sucker 

 State in particular. All varieties have rusted more or less for the 

 last two years, except the Crescent. 



Blackberries are not cultivated in this county for market^ and 

 the same can be said of the Black Cap Raspberry. But the Red 

 Raspberry is grown to some extent for market, and has always been 

 a profitalde crop. The Turner has been more extensively planted 

 than all others. Acreage gradually increasing. 



Cherries and Plums are not grown much here as a market crop. 

 The Chickasaw class of plums are the only kind grown, and the Early 

 Richmond Cherry has been more successful than any of the other 

 fifteen or twenty varieties jilanted here. Not many young trees 

 being planted. 



As to vegetables, the Sweet Potato leads all others, and is looming 

 up as a market crop. Acreage increasing each year. 



Next to the sweet potato. Wax Beans are the leading vegetable, 

 and this county can beat the State on them. 



Zhiion County. — Apples a fair to good crop, especially in the 

 Northern part of the couuty, where the "caterpillar' did not reach. 

 The early apples, with a medium crop, sold for outside prices^ and 

 gave the shippers good satisfaction; and Fall and Winter fruit sold 

 for good round prices all through their season. 



