STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 29 



Williamson Duklkv, of Hennepin, Putnam county, sends the fol- 

 lowing : 



" I said in my report for 1872, that Putnam county had produced the largest crop 

 of apples that had ever been produced in any one year. 



" I believe the crop this year has been the nearest a failure of any year since we 

 have had orchards in l^earinj^, probably caused principally by the past severe winter. 

 In almost every bearing orchard in the county some varieties have been killed, and 

 many others are very much injured, and, I think, will never recover to make good 

 bearing trees again. Amongst the varieties that have been killed of bearing trees, are 

 the Fallawater, and Milam; and those that have been materially injured are the Red 

 Baldwin, Fall Pippin and Belmot ; and those that have been partially affected are the 

 Gilpin, R. I. Greening, Rawles' Janet, Sweet Vandevere, Sweet Bough, and on clay 

 soils, the Yellow Bellllower. The varieties that have matured fruit this year are the 

 Red June, Early Pennock, Maiden's Blush, Fameuse, Fall Winesap, Fall Wine, 

 Priestly, Roman Stem, Pennock, Smith's Cider, Willow Twig, and, in some localities, 

 Yellow Bellflower. 



"■^ Pears were almost a failure; all were veiy knotty, with the exception of the 

 Washington and Napoleon, which matured well; and I would just say that I consider 

 the Washington a valuable pear in its season, (September), a good bearer, and No. i in 

 quality. 



"Peach trees were mostly killed. 



"Cherries were a failure, with the exception of the Early Richmond, which bore 

 a fair crop. 



"Grapev, were a fair crop — the Concord being the most prolific variety. 



" All the srriall fruits were a short crop; and Blackberries an entire failure. 



" In regard to the influence of adjacent or surrounding groves or belts of timber upon 

 orchards, I have not perceived any difference, in the effects of the past winter, between 

 orchards that were protected by groves, and those that had no protection. 



" My mode of planting and cultivating an orchard is to plant in the Spring, when 

 the ground is in good condition to plant corn, and cultivate the orchard in hoed or 

 plowed crops for at least ten years ; after that sow to clover, and pasture with hogs each 

 year until August. 



" The best mode of gathering apples is to have plenty of ladders and half bushel 

 baskets, with hooks attached to the handles to hang the baskets to the limlis. 



" Apples keep the best for me in clean barrels, headed up and put in a cellar, just 

 cool enough so they do not freeze. 



" From an experience of thirty-five years in the culture of fruit, particularly apples, 

 the varieties I have found most profitable for market, to succeed each other through the 

 season, are the Red Astrachan, William's Favorite, Early Pennock, Porter, Maiden's 

 Blush, Fameuse, Wagoner, Sweet Vandevere, Smith's Cider, Ben Davis, Domine, 

 Rawles' Janet, Winesap and Willow Twig." 



Verry Aldrich, of Arispe, Bureau county, writes as follows : 



" I herewith send you a few horticultural notes for the past year. 



" Apple Trees came out of last winter, seemingly, in good condition, and I did not 

 notice any serious damage until they were in full bloom. They all blossomed very full, 

 even those that fruited so very full last year, and then ])oth blossoms and leaves began to 

 dry and turn brown — some trees on one side only, others all over the tree — showing that 

 the vitality was nearly or quite destroyed. Now and then a tree withered away and 

 died, while others remained about statu ipio — with not life enough to make any growth, 

 and not weak enough to die outright. These two classes were not very numerous in my 

 orchards; the great majority put out their leaves about one-half the common size, and 

 remained so throughout the season, making very little growth. 



" In the latter part of the season they .assumed a more healthy appearance, matured 

 well, and I think promise a bountiful crop next season. Those that seemed half-way 



