12 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



gratuitously. On the other hand, they are less easily protected from 

 sudden changes of weather than vines or shrubs, or from the attacks of 

 insects and diseases. 



Of these orchard fruits, the Apple is in most civilized countries the 

 most important, and probably as ancient as any. It is found in the 

 remains of the lake dwellings of the Neolithic period, apparently culti- 

 vated. Its name, as found in most Indo-European languages, is derived 

 from a common root, Ab., Ap., Al., Av., Af., denoting its transmission 

 from the place of origin through numerous nations of kindred tongues. 

 It is commonly supposed to be descended from the wild crab of Europe ; 

 but the Siberian crabs, and very likely the Russian apples, are the 

 descendants, in part at least, of the Pyrus ■prunifolia. It is grown in a 

 wide range of climate in China, Japan, and Northern Asia, in nearly the 

 whole of Europe and the north of Africa, in North America and in 

 many parts of South America, particularly in Southern Chili. On our 

 own continent it grows and bears fruit as far south as Florida ; and the 

 tree grows at Sitka, where it blossoms the first of June, but does not 

 mature its fruit, although the leaves were untouched bv frost as late as 

 November. The apple is used for a variety of purposes, and the fruit 

 can be kept longer and with less trouble than any otiier. It is not an 

 article of luxury in most American communities, but a healthful and 

 necessary article of diet. Hence it is one of the safest investments In 

 Horticulture. The profits arising from its culture may not be as large as 

 from other orchard fruits, but they are more certain and attended with 

 less expense, as the apple orchard requires little labor to keep it in good 

 condition. It is therefore, and justly, the favorite fruit of the care-avoid- 

 ing farmer. 



The Pear is also widely distributed, but gives evidence in a greater 

 variety of names of having been domesticated by more different nations. 

 But it seems less flexible in its organization, and in the New World, at 

 least, not to* withstand extremes of humidity and dryness, of heat and 

 cold nearly so well as the apple. But it is a luscious and valuable fruit, 

 with some strong points in its abilit}' to resist some of the insects and 

 diseases that affect the apple, and the value of the well-ripened fruit 

 promises a goodly reward to the successful cultivator. But the pear 

 grower must accept the somewhat rash philosophy of James Graham, 



of Montrose: 



" He either fears his fate too much, 

 Or his deserts are small, 

 Who dares not put it to the touch 

 To win or lose it all." 



For blight is the swift destruction of many pear trees. I suppose the 

 ultimate causes of pear blight are climatic extremes and a retentive 

 subsoil, and that when we shall better understand these we can grow pears. 

 The Quince may be grown at a profit, at least in small quantities and 

 in the southern part of the State, in the damper and richer soils. Most 

 cultivators in the central and northern part of the State have failed with 

 it; but the success of a few, and the fact that it blossoms late and so 

 avoids frost, lead me^ to believe _that it can and will be more grown 



