STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 73 



insects, and they were as abundant as the most sanguine could \vish for, 

 and too much so to be profitable. It is a serious question with the most 

 of us as to enlarging our fruit farms for profit. Are we not investing 

 against our own interests? If wc had no hope of a change it certainly 

 would look unprofitable; but every year confirms what has often been 

 said in our meetings, that to be successful we must labor ; and to those 

 who do not expect to make a business of fruit-growing, and calculate on 

 hard work and close attention, I would say there is no field so open to 

 failure as Horticulture, as many can attest who have tried it and failed ; 

 but to those who make it a business and take pleasure in their occupa- 

 tion, I still believe there is every reason to hope for a fair remuneration 

 for their labor and capital. 



The cry of an overstocked market has not yet, in my experience, been 

 realized. The only fiiult I have to find is, I can not get enough fruit, and 

 now, as California has entered the arena as a producer, it might be interest- 

 ing to some to know how pears raised here compare in prices with theirs. 

 My experience for two years leads me to say that they do not interfere at 

 all, and I would be willing to furnish pears, at least some varieties, for what 

 their freight and expenses cost them. To be sure we understand as yet 

 they can produce them cheaper than we can, as the country' is new and 

 they have no insects; that they will have in the future, is reasonable to 

 suppose, for such has been the history of all fruit regions. Apples were 

 fiiir, but owing to the season they were at least two and three weeks ear- 

 lier than usual. Winter fruit is not keeping well. There are but few in 

 my county tliat grow many pears. Mine weie very good and a fair 

 crop ; prices first-rate. Blackberries a good crop and extra prices. No 

 currants nor gooseberries. Market gardening is attracting considerable 

 attention, and I think will prove remunerative. I believe we shall suc- 

 ceed, provided we do not confine ourselves to specialties, but make mixed 

 Horticulture a business and attend to it. The Alton Horticultural So- 

 ciety is in a flourishing condition, and there are others in our district 

 doing missionary work. I expect to submit the letters and reports of 

 local societies with a request that so much as is found of interest may be 

 published in our reports. 



Respectfully submitted, 



H. J. Hyde, 



Vice-President 6th District. 



The following are the letters referred to in Mr. Hyde's report, and 

 are appended as a part of the same : 



Jerseyville, Jersey County, Dec. 5th, 1870. 



H. J. Hyde: — Dear Frietid: — I am happy to comply with your request, as far 

 as my knowledge extends. First, Grapes. Mr, J. G. Schwartze has 5,000 vines, 

 and has made, this year, 720 gallons of wine, and made an outlay of $10,000 for 

 wine-making purposes. Mr. William P. Jarbo has 2,500 vines; has made 394 

 gallons of wine, and expended for wine-making fixtures, this year, $200. Mr. Cyrus 

 Walters has planted, this year, 2,000 vines, expending $600 for vines and fixtures. 

 Mr. F. Burtman has 2,000 vines, and has made 740 gallons wine this year. 

 Warren and Pogue have 3,000 vines. This is the first year of bearing with this vine- 



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