2^34 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



of plants by the drouth of the previous year, and by an insect known as the 

 Crown-borer, which is becoming very troublesome in some parts of the 

 district. Plantations set last spring have generally failed for the same 

 reasons — as the past season had been much drier than that of eighteen 

 seventy-one. 



There are some who believe that the Wilson's Albany plant is 

 degenerating, or losing much of the vigor which enabled it, for some 

 years after its introduction, to grow and bear abundant crops of fruit 

 with but very little attention. Whether this be so or not, or whether it 

 is the result of bad seasons, the fact seems to be that it is more difficult 

 than formerly, to secure a stand of plants and that they do not yield 

 those great crops of fruit to which we were formerly accustomed. 



As a result of the small supply, prices were good through the 

 season. 



Jiaspbernes—T\\exe was a good yield of fruit where good cultivation, 

 had been given, and prices were satisfactory. 



Blackberries are not largely grown in my district, but those who had 

 the bushes gathered abundant crops of very fine fruit, and obtained good 

 prices for it. 



Cherries — There was a fine crop of Early Richmonds — the finer 

 sorts do not succeed with us. 



Grapes — I have no information except as to my own neighborhood 

 and Massac County. The crop was very fine, especially when good cul- 

 tivation and care had been given to the vineyard. There was but little 

 rot. One vineyard of some two thousand vines in my neighborhood, 

 which had for two years before yielded good crops, was seeded to clover 

 a year ago, and the fruit this season nearly all rotted. 



Those who marketed their fruit early, that is, as soon as it was fair- 

 ly colored, made it quite profitable, but later in the season prices were 

 low. The variety most popular with us now is Ives' Seedling. The 

 vine is viogrous, healthy, and prolific, while the fruit seems to resist rot 

 more perfectly than any other sort. It is also an admirable shipping 

 grape, adhering well to the stem and having a tough skin which does 

 not break easily in packing. 



Fears — The Pear crop was a good one both in cjuality and quantity. 

 Prices, except for the very earliest, were very low, on account of the 

 large amount of the fruit on the market. 



Peaches — In my report from the Committee ad interitn a year ago, 

 I expressed the opinion that, if all the peach orchards in the State 

 should concur in producing u full crop, the fruit could not be disposed 

 of at a profit to the growers. This contingency happened the past sea- 

 son, and the residt ])roved the correctness of my judgment. The 

 markets were absolutely glutted, and a large proportion of the crop, in 

 some localities, was not sent to market at all, but allowed to perish on 

 the trees or was fed to the hogs. Besides this it is probable that half 

 the crop in my district, was destroyed by insects and rot. But there 

 was another cause for the low price of this fruit be sides. the excessive 



