STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 335 



HORTICULTURAL HISTORY. — ADDITIONAL COUNTY 



REPORTS. 



FAYETTE COUNTY. 



BY J. F. JERAULD. 



Mr. Secretary: 



In compliance with your request, I will give a short synopsis of the 

 Horticultural History of Fayette County. 



The most of its surface havin<:j been originally covered with timber, 

 makes it well adapted to the cultivation of such varieties of fruit trees, 

 vines, and shrubs as flourish in this climate. The most of the early set- 

 tlers availed themselves of diese favoring conditions of soil and climate, 

 and planted orchards of apples and peaches, together with a few pears. 



But being for inland, and having to haul the fruit in wagons seventy 

 miles to St. Louis, which was the only accessible market, and that over 

 rough roads, injuring it in transit so that it was often sold for little or 

 nothing, they did not find fruit growing a source of much profit ; and in 

 consequence, this branch of industry received a serious check. 



The opening of the Illinois Central Railroad, however, revived the 

 interest in fruit raising, by providing means for reaching markets, both 

 in the North and South, and in bringing emigration from the East. 



Many new orchards were soon planted, and old ones pruned up and 

 put into shape; and, from that time to the present, fruit growing has 

 been a success. Larger profits have been realized from a given amount 

 of ground, with proper care, than have been realized from any other 

 branch of agriculture. 



APPLES. 



Many varieties of fall and winter apples were introduced from the 

 Rochester nurseries, knowing them to be good sorts or late keepers, but 

 our soil and climate change the late keepers, such as Golden Russet, 

 Rhode Island Greening, Gilliflowcr, Spitzenburg, and Bellflower, into 

 fall apples. 



Our Western nurseries furnish us with Winter Winesaps, Rawles' 

 Janets, Romanites, Green Pippins, Limber Twigs, Baldwins, and many 

 other good winter apples, salable in any market. 



Our summer and fall varieties usually bring us from forty to fifty 

 cents per bushel at home markets; while the winter apples range from 

 sixty to seventj'-five cents per bushel, at the nearest railroad stations. 



PEACHES. 



The soil, in many locations in our county, being excellent for peaches, 

 several enterprising fiumers have set out extensive orchards of peach trees, 

 and have realized large profits from them. 



