STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ]^33 



ingly dry weatlier. Many predicted short crops; which was fulfilled in 

 regard to the berry crops, and particularly in regard to vineyards. 



The .S'//<r7<'/'^/v r crop, in particular, was very short, and consequently 

 prices were very high, and those i)lanlers who look good care of their 

 grounds, mulching early, or by frequent surface cultivation, or by use of 

 fertilizers overcame the natural difficulties, secured good crops and 

 better profits 



The Apple crop was, so far as I can learn, only fair, and prices have 

 been generally good ; the fall apples were sold low, but early apples and 

 late keepers have been well sold. 



The Peach crop was large, very large, and the peaches were small, 

 very small, and the prices were beautifully less. 'I'liat generally large 

 peach crop, so feared and deprecated by Judge Brown, came upon us 

 last year in full force. Ordinary culture or neglect of trees, and a free 

 field left for the insects relieved the owner from the labor of harvesting 

 and marketing, yet our best peach-growers, in the vicinity of Alton, ex- 

 press themselves well satisfied with the crop. They are getting to un- 

 derstand that " eternal vigilance is tlie price of" good i)eaches. The gen- 

 eral tendency is this, in our district. Raising fruit for market is gradually 

 getting into the hands of those men who will attend to it properly. The 

 average Illinois farmer cannot raise fruit for market at any advantage in 

 our district. I'he vinevards were injured, and did not do as well as 

 usual, yet there was a great crop, and notwithstanding all, they are better 

 paying crops than farm crops, and as good as any of the garden. 



Vegetable growing for market, has paid well, is getting to be a 

 specialty with some of our members, and has great claims trom the fact 

 that it gives rapid returns, and enables a poor man to live while his trees 

 are grow ing. 



We are not discouraged ; if we find new obstacles each year, we also 

 find new facilities. Respectfully submitted, 



J NO. M. Pe.'VRSON, Vice-Pres. 



REPORT OF THE SEVENTH HORTICULTURAL DISTRICT. 



On motion of Mr. Flagg the regular order of business was suspen- 

 ded, and Judge Brown requested to present his report of the Seventh 

 District, which he did — reading as follows : 



Mr. President : 



The correspondents selected by the Secretary for the several counties 

 in my district have, with remarkable unanimity, failed to respond to my 

 call for information as to 'die state of Horticulture in their respective 

 localities. 1 am, therefore, restricted to my own limited knowledge of 

 facts. 



The fruit crop was a general one throughout the south-western por- 

 tion of the State. 



Strawberries — The yield was uuu h smaller, in the aggregate, than 

 for any of several preceding years, chiefly on account of the destruction 



