STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 7 1 



it, and expected, week after week, to receive a copy of the Transactions 

 of last year, which would give the desired information, until it was too 

 late to accomplish anything by correspondence. However, as a partial 

 report may be better than none, I hasten to give you the result of such 

 observations as I have made personally. As it is always in order, I will 

 first mention the 



Weather. — This trite and interesting subject, old as it is, is always 

 new. The season has been a somewhat remarkable one. 



We had an early and pleasant spring, though there was a sharp frost 

 on the 15 th of April, doing no serious damage, however. May was hot 

 and dry, until the last of the month, when there were plenty of showers. 

 Very hot weather in June and early July. On the I3tli of July a severe 

 storm of wind, rain, and hail swept over a section of country south and 

 west of Marion County, destroying the peach crop, and doing consider- 

 able injury in several orchards in tliat vicinity. 



The fruit crop of 1870 was quite a satisfactory one, so far as quantity 

 is concerned, and generally of fair quality. Instead of being on the 

 northern line of the peach-growing district, as has been formerlv the 

 case, Marion and Jeftcrson counties formed the southern limit, the fruit 

 south and west of these counties having been destroyed by the hail storm 

 before mentioned, and the frost on the 17th of April. For sixty or 

 seventy miles north of Centralia the peach orchards have rarely borne 

 much fruit, but this year yielded a full crop, of excellent quality. All of 

 the small fruits were abundant, and prices remunerative. 



Pears did not do as well, and apples were decidedly a short crop. The * 

 "strawberry train" on the Illinois Central railroad commenced running 

 on the 22d day of May, and ended the 9th of June. The "peach train" 

 commenced July 28th, and ended September i6th. 



The total shipments from Centralia for the summer were: 



Strawberries. 6,S6o bushels. 



Raspberries 2,300 " 



Blackberries 4)340 " 



Peaches 138,028 boxes. 



In addition to the above, there have been large shipments made of 

 grapes, pears, and apples. 



" Hales Early in Disgrace. — As a rule, this peach suffered more 

 than any other variety from decay. Tlie reasons assigned for this are, 

 that having a smooth, thin skin, and being early, it is very attractive to the 

 curculio. Others think that such soil and culture as would ofive an 

 excess in growth of wood might induce rot, while wormy trees, or trees 

 on poor soil, would produce sound fruit. There was, however, one remark- 

 able exception. In the orchard of Mr. G. H. Pcrrine were about four 

 hundred and fifty trees five or six years old that were covered with 

 sound, highly colored fruit; every twig and branch seemed to be filled. 

 It was a sight that would gladden the eyes of any one, and of fruit- 

 growers, especially. There were 2,350 boxes of Hale's Early gathered 

 from this orchard. 



Curculio. — Early preparations were made for a vigorous fight upon 



