272 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Troth's Early, Old Mixon Tree. Smotk Free, and Jleath Cling are the best 

 bearers. 



Pears' are but little grown except in gardens, where they seemed to be free 

 from disease until two years ago. Blight has destroyed at least one-third of the 

 trees; all varieties seeming alike susceptible to its ravages. 



It may possibly be caused by climatic influences, and if so, we may entertain 

 the hope that we will have another period of freedom from its destructive effects. 



Grafes are but little grown for wine: Concord is the most popular variety: 

 Catawba is liable to rot, except when trained on the side of a house or barn, and in 

 mv experience no blight or rot ever attacks it when grown in that way. 



lona and Rogers, No. 15, are the most delicious grapes we ha^•e for the table, 

 and have nearly equaled in productiveness the Concord. 



Taylors Bullit I have banished from my grounds on accoimt of its peculiar lia- 

 bilitv to attacks of the " Procri$ Afnert'cnvar 



Plutus and Africots blossom and produce fruit in abimdance, which is destroyed 

 by the Curculio long before coming to maturity. 



Blackberries — A number of varieties are indigenous in this section of the 

 State, and when transplanted into the garden, never produce fruit equal to that 

 obtained before removal. 1 have grown the I^awton tor a niunber of years, and it 

 has always escaped being winter-killed. 



Siravjherrics iwc but little grown for market. Wilson's Albany is the most pro- 

 ductive varietv. Longworth's Prolific will continue to produce good fruit a greater 

 number of vears, without removal, than any other variety; others produce one or 

 two good crops, after which they are unproductive. 



Raspberries — Philadelphia, Miami, and Purple Cane are our most productive 

 varieties. 



Cherries — Early Mav- bears well; Gov. Wood and Yellow Spanish do the best 

 of the more tender varieties. 



Mr. Mason has written a report on the Apple. 



We ha\ e no Horticultural Society in this county, but there is a great deal of 

 taste displayed in the embellishment of our home-groimds, with trees and flowers. 



Yours, respectfully, 



Samuel McCi-ure. 



CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 



BV H. f. DVXLAP. 



This county is located nearl\- on the same latitude as Springfield, and is 

 traversed by tlie Illinois Central R. R., running from Chicago to Cairo, 

 the Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Western, and the Toledo. Wabash, 

 and Western, running east and west. 



It will be seen that it has the advantage of markets in all directions, 

 an item of no small value to tlie fruit grower. 



Its surface is generally undulating; enough so to give good drainage. 

 There are no large streams in the county, but several small ones have 

 their sources in the northern part. Running through the center from N. 

 W. to S. E., is a ridge, which forms a water shed, from which the water 

 runs west to the Mississippi and east to the Wabash. 



All of these small streams are bordered by hea\y growths of timber, 

 which is, however, being rapidly destroyed by the artisan's axe. 



The entire county is supposed to be underlaid with coal, but as yet 

 no successful efforts have been made in reaching it. 



