STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 27 



the setting in of winter. Why is it that the Early Richmond cheiry 

 has hccome so popular in the vicinity of Chicatjo, and in fact the whole 

 Northwest.? It is a sour cherry and of medium size, and I might say 

 inferior to most of the sweet cherries that are grown in a more temper- 

 ate climate. We answer: we can grow the fruit bountifully, and depend 

 on a crop as surely as we can on our corn crop. Messrs. D. S. Dunning 

 & Son, of Jefferson, Cook County, have grown annual crops, as is well 

 known, and realized from $1,000 to $2,000 per year net in Chicago 

 market. The tiee ripens its wocxl early in autumn, and is prepared for 

 almost any changes of weather, and meets Jack Frost square in the face. 

 For many years we tried the fine varieties of sweet cherries, but all in 

 vam. Then shall we not proHt by these examples in raising apples, 

 plums and other fruits.? Or shall shall we carry the bag of corn to mill, 

 with the corn in one end of the bag and a stone in the other end to make 

 the balance.? 



The English Morello cherry must not be forgotten, as it is a larger 

 cherry than the Richmond, has a better pulp, and is prefeired by some 

 for canning purposes. It is a good bearer, and does well on the Mahaleb 

 stock. 



There are a few varieties of pears that flourish in some parts of our 

 district. We would prefer standard trees, or those that are budded or 

 grafted on the pear root or stock. Fears seem to do the best on a stilT 

 clay and gravelly subsoil, as we fmd on our Fair tables in McHenry 

 County some verv fine specimens of the pear that were grown in 

 Woodstock and other parts of our distiuct. 



In the planting and growing of ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants, 

 there is a great and increasing interest. It may be safe to state that this 

 horticultural district takes the lead, in this department, of any in the 

 State. The decoration of homes by tree planting is among the hopeful 

 signs of improvement in society. Some enterprising gentlemen have, 

 with commendable energy, gone extensively into the propagation of 

 evergreens and forest trees — al)ranch of production of not only individual, 

 but of great public interest. The production of the European larch, 

 the white pine and other timber trees, on so extensive a scale as is 

 already being done by various parties in our district, isworthy of mention 

 as among the most useful enterprises that has been undertaken in the 

 great West. The European larch seems to take the preference rather 

 than the American, as it adapts itself to almost every variety of soil. 

 We have it srowinjr on a drv sand and gravel knoll, and again on a low 

 damp sandy soil, the former being fully equal to the latter ni growth and 

 beauty; and we feel safe in saying, that, while it is one of our best tim- 

 ber trees, it is also bound to become one of the leading varieties for 

 ornament. In choosing pines, we would recommend the native white 

 for timber culture as well as for lawns and other ornamental purposes, 

 and at the same time the Austrian, Scotch, and other leading varieties 

 should not be forgotten. 



Among the deciduous trees there are dilTerent varieties of maple that 

 are fast growers, and are valuable for timber as well as for shade. The 



