STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV. 71 



trees are ruined ; but I have a few seedling Apple trees that came through all right. 

 Rambo and Yellow BelUlower are badly killed. Our fruit crop is veiy light and of 

 poor quality. Nearly all the trees and i)lanls set last spring perished; in fact, I think 

 they had but little vitality when taken from the nursery. I think nurserymen should be- 

 particularly careful to have their trees and plants properly taken from the ground, 

 handled carefully, and delivered in good condition, and so have the good wishes of 

 their patrons as well as their money. 



" Grace's are not largely cultivated in this part of the county. I find it a good plan 

 to give my vines a good shower of soap-suds every wash day. 



" To keep Apples successfully, I gather carefully, and spread them in a cool out-room 

 for some weeks, until cold weather forces me to put them in the cellar; in this way 1 

 have often kept fall apples until near spring. 



" I am confident that it will pay well to protect our orchards with belts of timber or 

 hedge. I have my orchard shielded in the south witli Soft Maple, and on the west and 

 north with Osage. Low-headed trees succeed best with us on the prairie. 



"C. C. PERKINS. 



" Princeville, Peoria Co., III., Nov. 6, 1873." 



m'donougii couxty. 



" The fruit crop of McDonough county this year is small and not of the best quality. 



"Peaches failed entirely, the older bearing trees being mostly frozen to death. 



" Of Apples there is probably less than half an average, and the few that have been 

 brought to market are, as a rule, knotty, unsound and very small. In many localities 

 there has not been enough for home supply, but those who have a small surplus realize 

 good prices — ranging from $l to $1.50 per bushel. 



"Almost no Fears have been sold in this vicinity — probably very few have been 

 perfected. 



" The same may be said of Cherries, for even the hardy and prolific Early Richmonds 

 and Morellos made a failure in filling out. 



" As for Grapes, the trusty Concord has well maintained its high character for hardi- 

 ness and persistent bearing, and the cjuality and size of the fruit this year seems fully 

 equal to that of former years. In consequence of the absence of other varieties, they 

 have retailed very readily at ten cents per pound. 



" Small fruits have done moderately well, but for these — such as Gooseberries, Cur- 

 rants, Blackberries and Raspberries — the home demand has been at least equal to the 

 supply. 



" The damaging effects of the past unusually severe winter upon fruit trees — especi- 

 ally Peach and Apple — while veiy discouraging to horticulturists, has stimulated inquiry 

 as to best methods of winter protection. It has been generally conceded that in ordinary 

 winters the less hardy varieties of trees, berry bushes and vines, derive unmistakable 

 benefit from sheltering groves of timber, hedges, etc.; but with such a temperature as 

 we experienced the last winter — the mercury ranging from zero to 36° below — it was not 

 very surprising that they should succumb to the frost-king. The observable fact that 

 young Peach trees have come out unharmed by the long-continued freezings, may lead 

 to some doubt as to the greater hardiness of well-ripened wood, and should at least 

 prompt all lovers of this delicious fruit io plant every year, io insure a continuous supply. 



" Those orchards that are closest planted, with lo-!u heads, most sparingly pruned, and 

 most sheltered by adjacent trees {ceteris paribus) seem to best withstand the rigors of 

 winter, and the parching droughts of summer. 



*' Yours, etc., 



"ANDREW HAGEMAN." 



STARK COUNTY. 



" But little information can be given of the progress made in or the develoj^nent 

 of horticultural matters in Stark county the past season. Energetic eftort, as usual of 

 late years, was put forth in the spring to accomplish something in a practical way, but 

 it has proved, to a considerable extent, labor in vain — work without a proportionate 

 reward — the effects, it is supposed, of the cold winter of 1S72-3. It would probably be 



