62 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Mr. Harry Wallace notes the fact that at Anna the increase in 

 plantin<^' apple orchards is ten thousand trees, plainly showing that 

 it has heen a profitable season for apples at that point. Varieties 

 preferred — Red Astrachan, Benoni, Saps of Wine. Ben Davis, Wine- 

 sap. Buckingham. Rome Beauty, May of Myers, Jonathan and 

 American Summer Pearmain. 



At Cobden there is but little increase of apple orchards. Red 

 Astrachan, Benoni. Winesap, Saps of Wine. Ben Davis and Jona- 

 than most in favor. 



Makanda is increasing her apple orchards this season twenty-five 

 per cent. Varieties in favor are Saps of Wine, Red Astrachan, 

 Rome Beauty, Ben Davis and Winesap. Makanda is also increasing 

 the acreage of peach trees — Rareripe, Old Mixon. Troth, Smock, and 

 Stump being the leading varieties. 



Cobden is increasing its peach orchards annually, with the Mis- 

 souri Mammoth, Ead's August, and Smock most in favor. 



But Anna leads in peach-tree planting as well as in apples, the 

 leading varieties being Old Mixon. Ward's Late, Heath Cling, 

 Mountain Rose, and Smock; two-thirds of the new planting being 

 of medium or late varieties. 



The favorite strawberries at Anna are the Sucker State and 

 Crescent planted together. Twelve and one-half per cent, increase 

 of acreage this season. The Sucker State is a favorite at Cobden 

 also. Cobden growers say the Phelps needs farther trial, while Ma- 

 kanda growers say the Phelps is the best berry they have. Makan- 

 da plants largely of Wilson and Downings, as well as Phelps. Tw^en- 

 ty-five per cent, increase of acreage this season. 



Red ras])berries are being more extensively planted, and are con- 

 sidered jirofitable. Brandywine. Cuthbert and Turner head the list. 



At the centre of fruit-growing, Makanda, Cobden, Anna, and 

 Villa Ridge, there is an increase of perhaps ten per cent, this season 

 of fruit-growers, recruited from the ranks of the grain farmers 

 mostly. 



More people are turning their attention to gardening, especially 

 at Anna. Sweet potatoes, melons, asparagus, and radishes are said 

 to pay well. The Japan aud Little Gem melons are the favorites. 



Pear, grapes, cherries, plums, blackberries, and black raspberries 

 are all considered poor paying crops at Makanda, Cobden, and Anna, 

 while grapes pay fairly well at Villa Ridge. 



In the above notes you have the condition (l)oiled down ) of the 

 fruit interest in the great centre of fruit-growing in Southern 

 Illinois. Villa Ridge is dealt with in G. W. Endicott's paper, so that 

 I need not speak of that point in these notes. 



At Alton the present season has been a fairly successful one for 

 the majority of fruit-growers. Apples were generally good on young 

 orchards, and on old orchards in some favored localities, and the 

 prices obtained very fair. 



