32 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



hill, have lost all the trees on the southern slope, while those on the north side of a hill 

 were vigorous and healthy. 



" The only enemy to apples, worthy of note, is the Codling moth, and that has been 

 so numerous this season that it is rare to find an apple which is not already pre-empted 

 by a larva. We shall tiy to protect our trees another year. 



•' Grapes have generally been reduced to one variety — the Concord. I have tried 

 to raise Delaware, lona, Rogers' Nos. 4 and 15, Walter, Martha, and Eumelan, and I 

 had them all in bearing ; but I have now only Concords, with a few each of Hartford 

 and Clinton. The Concords were tied to stakes and not pruned till spring, while the 

 Others weie covered slightly with earth. Concords have been plenty and veiy fine — 

 sold for five cents per pound. 



" A few Cherry trees were killed by diy weather and frost, but the Early Richmond 

 produced quite a good crop. Of Raspbei-ries, McCormick (Mammoth Cluster), Davi- 

 son's Thornless, and Philadelphia, gave as good crops as usual, while I hear some 

 complaint of injury to Doolittle's. Kittatinny Blackberry was badly injured. 



" Strawberries were generally winter killed, and the drought and small green worms 

 have destroyed nearly all of last spring's planting. Late Kentucky is perfectly hardy, 

 but I have not fruited it yet. 



" I think evergreens were uninjured last winter, but many Norway Spruce have dried 

 up late in the summer. We are just finding out that our sandy soil will not suit Norway 

 Spruce, Balsam, White Pine, or Larch, in a dry season. 



" More than one. thousand dollars' worth have been lost in this town within two 

 years, while I have never seen a Scotch or Austrian Pine that seemed to suffer from 

 either drought or cold. How they can live on a sand knoll which is diy as powder for 

 six feet deep, without a shower from the fifth of July till September (trees planted last 

 spring), is beyond my comprehension. 



" One and two years old nursery trees of Apples and Pears were veiy badly killed 

 out last winter, and many varieties of three and four years were killed back within two 

 feet of the ground. Rawles' Janet, English Russet, Winesap, Stannard, Haas, Seek-no- 

 Further, Bethlemite, York Imperial, Bellflower, Roman Stem, Fameuse, Porter, Fall 

 Orange, Autumn Strawberry, Red June, Duchess, Keswick Codlin, Tolman Sweet, 

 Early Harvest, Northern Spy, and Sweet June were not injured in my nursery, Ben 

 Davis, Stark, Domine, Wagoner, Willow, Fulton, Lowell, Red Astrachan and many 

 others were, in some instances, slightly injured in the nurseiy, but not at all in the 

 orchard. Grimes' Golden, Jonathan, Maiden's Blush, Minkler, Rhenish May, Rambo, 

 King of Tompkins, and some others were more injured in the nursery, by some of the 

 tops being killed ; but I have seen no twigs killed in bearing-trees. Maiden's Blush 

 and Grimes' Golden were tardy in putting out their leaves, but have borne well and 

 made good growth. I think Grmies' Golden will be all right for the orchard if it 

 proves to be a prolific bearer. I have a hundred eight-year-old trees which are begin- 

 ning to bear, and I shall soon know. 



" Out of over one hundred varieties of apples, in nursery and orchard, I have lost 

 no trees over three years old except Early Red, Smokehouse, Baldwin, R. I. Greening 

 and Rambo. 



"Forest trees, except Black Oaks and Pig-nut, were uninjured. Roses and shrub- 

 bery came out in the spring and bloomed as usual. Mine were not protected." 



J. B. Redenour writes from Woodhull, Henry county, giving details 

 of the same experience and observations as others in the preceding letters. 

 Among the varieties of Apple trees in orchard that have endured and 

 borne some fruit, he names the Ben Davis, Domine, Winesap, Red June, 

 Red Astrachan, Duchess of Oldenburg, Snow, Fall Wine, and Bailey 

 Sweet. 



The varieties most injured or killed are Yellow Bellflower, Northern 

 Spy, Rambo, White Winter Pearmain, Jonathan, Willow Twig, and 

 Tolman Sweet. He would plant these vatieties for market. 



