278 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



quality of fruit is thought small indeed, when it does not bring to the 

 producer three times as much as then. 



Of the apple orchards planted from 40 to 45 years ago with improved 

 varieties, a few are yet in existence. 



The oldest one of these, situated four miles east of Centralia, was 

 planted 45 years ago, by Mr. C. W. Jennings, who still resides upon the 

 place. The trees were brought from Bond county, and consisted of the 

 following varieties, viz : 



Limber Twig, Milam, Little Romanite, Pennock, and Rambo. 



After coming into bearing, the orchard proved entirely satisfactory 

 until a few years since, when either from the ravages of insects or 

 a want of proper culture, the fruit has greatly degenerated and the trees 

 fallen into decay. 



Another of the pioneer orchards was planted about the same time, 

 on the " H. Copple " place, three miles southeast of Centralia, by a 

 Mrs. M. Taylor. The trees in this orchard were almost exclusively of the 

 Pennock (Big Romanite). These two and one or two others constituted 

 the pioneer orchards of the count)', and the history of one will suffice for 

 that of each. 



The orchards planted subsequently to these and before the introduc- 

 tion of improved varieties consisted mainly of seedlings, with some- 

 times a few trees of the Big and Little Romanites and the Hoops apple. 



All -these earlier orchards proved entirely satisfactory to their owners, 

 furnishing plenty of fruit for the uses of the family, with a surplus to be 

 fed to the hogs, or traded for goods at the store. But, as we have often 

 heard it expressed by these pioneer fruit growers, " Since the introduction 

 of improved varieties into the county, our apples have been a failure." 

 "The trees have become diseased, and the fruit knotty, rotten, and full 

 of worms." 



While we are veiy far from admitting that the multiplication of 

 varieties has effected the change, yet we do know that the apple crop, as 

 regards quality, is not what it was ten years ago, and from the first plant- 

 ing of trees up to that time. What has produced this change it is not 

 the province of this paper to discuss, even if I had the ability or incli- 

 nation to do so. 



Peaches — As has been already stated, the peaches grown'during those 

 earlier days of our county were almost exclusively seedlings. 



These were commonly planted in the fence corners, or out-of-the- 

 way places, and left mainly to care for themselves. In this way an 

 abundance of fruit was obtained for home consumption, and as this con- 

 stituted its principal value, nothing further was sought after. 



Some of these seedlings were of excellent quality, and I have no 

 doubt a list of good varieties might have been made out of the seedlings 

 originating in this and the adjoining counties. No attempts were made, 

 however, to disseminate them, and their virtues have remained unknown, 

 except in the neighborhoods where they originated. 



An exception to this may be found in the case of one variety, that of 

 the Alman Cling. 



