STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. I'J 



most of our orchards on dry aoil the water will rise in a wet season within three or 

 four feet of the surface, while in a dry season, on the same soil, water will recede as far as 

 forty or fifty feet from the surface ; therein resembling our prairies. Peaches do well on 

 the samp soil, but prosper most on a hillside or the abrupt bank of a deep ravine. Pear 

 trees prefer a richer and more porous soil, but yet many good trees are found on clay 

 soil where there is good surface drainage. 



The good effect of protective timber belts, whether natural or artificial, is most evi- 

 dent in prairie orchards ; protection from the north and west being the mo>t beneficial ; 

 a belt of timber even a half mile di>tant from an orchard still exercises a salutary effect 

 on the same. Most of our orchards are seeded down with grass or clover, the latter 

 being preferred ; after two or three years the sod is turned under and put in small grain 

 for one season, generally oats, which is mostly cut green and the ground left in grass or 

 clover again. Good farmers manure their orchards every few years with well-rotted sta- 

 ble manure. 



The oldest apple trees in this county are now nearly forty years old, and some of 

 them are still in good bearing condition ; though most of these pioneer trees have been 

 badly neglected. 



I have no doubt that there is no part of a cultivated farm which, with an equal 

 amount of labor brings as large an income to the farmer as that part on which his or- 

 chard is planted. .An orchard is a source of money, pleasure, and health. 



There has been a marked improvement within the last thirteen years in the quality 

 of fruits , the trees in this vicinity have for years been sold to farmers by a conscien- 

 tious nursery agent. The varieties were generally recommended by the agent, and.con- 

 trarv to general experience, proved to be true to name and mostly well adapted to the 

 locality." 



A. C. H.AMMOND, of Warsaw, correspondent for Hancock County, 

 writes me the folloAving brief notice of this year's success of Horticulture 

 in his county. 



"The latitude (if liaiinnk Co., the facilities it possesses for shipping cheaply by 

 river north and south, and west by rail, and the thirty miles of bluff — peculiarly adapted 

 to fruit growing — that borders the Mississippi river, is destined to place it in the front 

 rank as a fniit growing locality. 



Oitr Apple Crop has been very large, but on heavy clay soils badly cracked and 

 scabbed ; on sandy soil ihey were more perfect in form and larger in size. Wincsap 

 was a cnm))lete failure, as the few s])cciinens that were found on the trees were so badly 

 scabbed as to be worthless, except for cider. Ben Davis is the leading variety grown 

 for market. It is now selling twenty per cent, higher than much better apples, such as 

 Rawles' Janet, Baldwin, and Rambo. But I would advise the planter to "make haste 

 slowly," with thi-- variety, as the lime cannot be far distant when the popular taste will 

 become "^o far educated as to demand a better ap]ile. Never in the history of orchard- 

 ing, in this county has so large a ])ortion of the api)le crop been sent to the cider mill. 

 On tenacious clay soil scab has ])revailed to an alarming extent, Early Harvest, Red 

 June, Winesap, R.awlcs' Janet, and some other varieties being nearly all unlit for 

 market. 



The rcaih Crop was satisfactory, both in (|uanlilyand r|uality, and good prices were 

 obtainefl for the best fruit. A peach mania seenics to be taking jiossession of our peo- 

 ple, antl countless thousands of trees have been planted tluring the last two or three 

 years. Unless a cold winter like that of 1855 — 6 blots them out of existence, those 

 that have planted to supply the local markets will soon find that they have "an elephant 

 on their hands." 



/Vfir Orchards have been remarkably free frnm blight, probably owing to the excess- 

 ive drouth of the fall of 1871, which caused the wood to ripen without making a second 

 growth. It may be safely predicted that we shall — from the same cause — be measurably 

 exempt from this scourge next year. 



The Crape Crop has been a partial failure ; in some vineyards, the Concord pro- 



