STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 79 



given to orchards after the second year as possible, at least until the orchard has borne 

 several full crops. After this there may be some want of stimulants and culture ; but 

 the application must be made cautiously, so as not to induce a second or fall growth, 

 which is liable to be caught as it was in the autumn of '69, with such disastrous conse- 

 quences. 



" On the fourth, there is room to say a great deal, as it covers extensive ground, on 

 a variety of subjects. 



" In regard to planting, I have found that it is useless to plant varieties of trees not 

 adapted to our soil. 



" Ten years' experience has satisfied me that we should plant with more regard to 

 the hardiness of trees than any other single point. This ])oint having been gained, we 

 may seek for ciuality in other respects — such as quality of fruit, appearance and keeping, 

 bearing quality of trees, etc. 



" The past season has been an exceedingly discouraging one to the fruit-grower 

 and orchardist in this locality. The year '72 flattered us so that we were poorly pre- 

 pared for the reverse which followed so soon. 



"The trees which survived show indications of an intention to give us a full crop 

 next year; but it is safe to say that not over one-half the Apple trees in our county are 

 in condition to give us even another crop of fruit ; and of Cherry and Pear trees, there 

 are only a few that will survive in good condition. 



" Peach trees are all injured, and indeed mostly killed. 



" Small fruits were scarce, and poor in quality. 



" E. DAGGY." 



W. H. Mann, of Iroquois, reports the following 



" The Apple and Pear crops were almost an entire failure. 



" Cherries and Grapes a moderate crop. 



" Strawberries good, and paid from three to 'n\^ hundred dollars per acre profit. 



" Many Apple orchards were very much damaged by the winter. We must confine 

 ourselves to fewer varieties, selecting the most hardy, though the fruit may not be of the 

 best quality. Every thing has entered winter quarters this fall in good condition, so that 

 the prospect for fruit appears good for next season, where the trees are not too much 

 injured by the past winter. 



" Kittatinny Blackberries were an entire failure. 



" Raspberries were one-fourth of a crop. 



" Some three years since, friend Douglas, of Waukegan, sent me a Blackberry bush, 

 unnamed, to test ; it proved perfectly hardy and was well loaded the past season with 

 small but sweet fruit." 



J. B. Reeve reports a similar condition of things in Shelby county, 

 and adds : 



" Some Apple and Pear trees which were injured by the winter have been dying 

 during the summer. The damage is worse on Hat than on inclined lands. Where trees 

 were protected by buildings or timber there was more fruit and less injury to the 

 trees." 



M. Y. Coleman reports that in McLean county nearly all the Apple 

 trees are so much damaged that the hearts are black and seem to be dried 

 up — the English Russet trees, four years old, being the only ones free 

 from this appearance ; that young trees, in nursery, have made but little 

 growth this year; and that heading them down did not induce them to 

 throw up strong shoots ; that many bearing Apple trees have died, while 

 others have barely lived througii the season. He noticed no advantage 

 of a proximity to timber belts. The Grape vines in the county where 

 protected (covered) produced about the same as last year. 



