70 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



the opinions and sentiments of this body hundreds and thousands of 

 times, and it is very much to the advantage of your Society to do it. 



The resolutions were then put to vote and adopted without a dissen- 

 tient. 



REPORT OF VICE-PRESIDENT FOR THE THIRD DISTRICT. 



Dr. a. G. Humphrey, the Vice-President for the Third District, 

 then presented the following report : 



Mr. President and Brethren : 



The year 1873 ^s as memorable for the terrible destruction of 

 orchards and nurseries, in the West, as was the year 1871 for the great 

 fire of Chicago, where a great part of that beautiful city was laid in ashes. 

 To the astonishment and wonder of the world we have seen, in the last 

 two years, that city rebuilt more grand and beautiful than before. I am 

 confident that the horticulturists of the West are men of like material, and 

 possessed of as much enterprise and unyielding perseverance as were the 

 business men of Chicago ; so in the next two or three years at most we 

 shall see our orchards and nurseries teeming with a larger supply, and a 

 hardier and better quality of stock, than we have ever had before ; so 

 that we shall but be thankful for the wisdom and accumulated experience 

 growing out of the calamities of the year. 



I submit the following from several counties of my district, as 

 exceedingly valuable for our future reference : 



FULTON COUNTY. 



" The past unprecedented cold winter, freezing up as it did, very dry, has killed 

 outright very many orchard trees of tender varieties, and so injured others that the 

 orchards of this county will never recover. 



"Fear trees in some localities are nearly all dead. I had about two hundred trees 

 (dwarf and standard) which had just commenced to fruit finely, and seemed perfectly 

 hardy. I discovered very little blight a year ago this fall ; but the winter so nearly 

 finished them that I have not ten sound trees left. 



"Quinces that have borne for years were entirely killed. 



"_Many tender Grapes perished ; Concords came through better than was expected, 

 yet have borne but little fruit. They are, however, making a good growth for next 

 year's fruiting. 



" Small fruit has done moderately well — Raspberries better than usual. 



" We observe that the sheltered orchards have killed less and fruited much lietter 

 than those unprotected. We must now plant new orchards, and surround them with 

 belts of timber. White Pine, Norway and Austrian Pines are all good, but if too ex- 

 pensive. White Maple will do veiy well. By the time the orchard liegins to bear it 

 will be well sheltered. 



" Our advice to the good people of Fulton county is to plant anew. Get only 

 sound, hardy trees of a reliable nureryman, and immediately commence the work. 



"N. OVERMAN. 



" Canton, III., Nov. 15^ 1873-" 



PEORIA COUNTY. 



" The horticultural interest of this section is any thing but flourishing. The past 

 winter and spring has been veiy damaging to fruit trees and to the fruit crop. My Pear 



