72 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



the "little Turks." Curculio catchers were run in many of the orchards, 

 and laro^e numbers were destroyed. In some old orchards that did not 

 bear much fruit last year, and especially those that have been cultivated, 

 but few were found. A few persons still contend that it does not pay to 

 run the curculio catcher, but the larger jDortion of cultivators esteem 

 it a necessity. These men, however, also recommend plowing orchards 

 in summer and late fall, as well as keeping hogs at work. In fact, a 

 war of extermination must be kept up, and every method adopted that 

 will help to dispose of the rascals. 



Better Cultivation. — I am gratified in being able to report that 

 fruit-growers are adopting a more thorough system of cultivation. 



The old idea of planting trees and leaving them to shift for themselves, 

 is pretty generally played out. It is becoming very generally imderstood 

 that eternal vigilance is the price of fair fruit no less than of liberty. 



In conclusion, I will only add, that the present prospect for a full 

 crop of all varieties of fruit the coming year is favorable throughout the 

 southern portion of the Prairie State. 



Respectfully submitted, 



J. Warren Fletcher. 



Dr. Hull — The report says, that in some instances the running of 

 the curculio catcher did not pay. I would ask Mr. Fletcher, if, in these 

 instances, the forms of the trees were not such as to render it difficult to 

 use it? 



Mr. Fletcher — No ; but these parties cultivated their grounds, and 

 could not be made to see that they did not do as well as their neighbors. 



Mr. H. J. Hyde read the following : 



REPORT OF THE SIXTH HORTICULTURAL DISTRICT. 



Mr. President: 



It being so late in the season before I could get a list of the counties 

 comprising the Sixth District, I shall not be able to present as thorough 

 a report as I had hoped to at this meeting, but having written to leading 

 horticulturists of each county, and as yet having received answers from 

 three only, besides my own (Madison), I shall ask leave to submit to the 

 Society for publication these several letters as a part of my report. Thei'e 

 seems no lack of enthusiasm in Horticulture thus far in our district, 

 although from the larger part of it, the last year's experience can be said 

 in a few words to be a failure, and in looking around for a cause, we 

 come to the conclusion that it was climatic; especially was it so in 

 Madison County and south of it. The fall of 1869 was particu- 

 larly favorable for trees, and they went into winter quarters with every 

 prospect of a bountiful crop in 1S70; and, indeed, up to the i6th of April 

 we had good cause to hope for the best results. No fruit raised in our 

 county gave any returns, except perhaps grapes, which were .about 

 half a crop. Of course there were some exceptions. In the summer 

 we had a severe drought that seems to me to be particularly favorable for 



