\g^ TRANSACTIONS OP THE TLLTNOtS 



injured bv the winter. We have a few standing in nursery rows protected 

 by other trees, which have stood the winter. 1 think it would be a good 

 •plan to plant some hardy trees with them for protecteon. Plant the sil- 

 ver maples, for instance, alternately with the chestnuts, and when they 

 get some size, cut out tlie majiles. Ceasing cultivation early in the sea- 

 son, would also prevent their being so liable to winter-kill. When a 

 plantation is once established it is good for all time; when cut down 

 they will grow uj) from the stunii)s and be ready to cut again in fifteen 

 or twenty years. Why would it not be a good idea, as our markets are 

 becoming glutted with other fruits, to plant them for the nuts ? The nuts 

 are now worth from six to eight dollars in market, per bushel. 



The Osage and Catalpa bid fair, with us, to be classed with our best 

 timber trees ; as far as growth is concerneil they are satisfactory, but like 

 some of the other Hist growing trees, are liable to have their tops winter- 

 killed. Sto])ping cultivation early in the season 1 think would prevent 

 this objection. One thing in their favor is their cheapness and easy propa- 

 gation ; they are very easily transplanted while young and very few die. 

 We planted them last year (eighteen sevenfy-one,) and last spring cut 

 them off' at the ground, to get a good straight growth, and have succeeded 

 well. The wood of both is valuable. It is said the Osage never rots ; 

 therefore it must be very valuable for posts and grape stakes. 



Another tree that is very easily grown is the Silver Maple, a very 

 fast grower, and when kept growing rapidly, is troubled very little, if any 

 by the borer. Mr. Bryant, in his " Forest Trees " says : '' I know of no 

 forest tree, except, perhaps the box-elder, that will make so speedy a 

 return of equally valuable wood for fuel, as the silver maple. It is pre- 

 fered to oak for kitchen fuel, particularly for summer use." The cheap- 

 ness, easy propagation, and rapid growth ought to recommend it for this 

 purpose, as kitchen fuel is always in demand. 



The White Ash is making very satisfactory growth with us. I think 

 it Avould be a very good plan to jjlant some cheap tree, something that 

 would make good fuel, stakes, etc., with our more costly ones, as nurses; 

 as they eventually have to be thinned out. The first cost of some trees 

 deters a great many from planting them. The European Larch and a 

 good many of our evergreens are inclined to spread out at the bottom, 

 and if some of those cheaper trees were planted between them it would 

 give them a more upright growth. Care would have to be taken that 

 the nurses did not outgrow the others. 



We have European Larches planted on high and low land and they 

 seem to be doing better on the high land. 



Respectfully, 



H. K. VicKRoy. 



LISTS OF FRUITS. 

 In addition to the lists of fruits reported by the Vice-Presidents in 

 the several districts, the following have been received from gentlemen of 

 well known reliability and experience in fruit culture. 



