100 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Delaware for home use. The Catawba has done well this season though a failure for the 



two pft8t. 



On the whole this county is wide aAvake on the subject of fruit growing, and more 

 acres will be planted the coming spring, than in any three seasons before. Apples and 

 peaches the most extensively ; then grapes and berries. Raspberries and blackberries 

 generally proving more profitable than strawberries. 



In Hancock county, as in other portions of the district, the apple crop was a failure, 

 the buds being destroyed by the extreme cold of April. The Rawles' Janet, Ben Davis 

 and Little Romanite, yielded about all the fruit we have. The Codling Moth has been 

 less destructive this season than formerly. Those of our orchardists who took the pre- 

 caution to pasture their orchards with sheep or hogs, or gathered up the small quantity 

 of fallen fruit, will probably be exempt from their depredations for a year or two. 



The pear blight has probably killed, or badly injured one half of the bearing pear trees 

 in the county. Pear culture seems to be just now under a cloud. The cherry crop was 

 very light and a large portion of the fruit was stung by the Curculio. Peaches were a 

 fair crop and of good quality. It is the first time within my knowledge that we have 

 failed of an apple, or obtained a full peach crop, two years in succession. 



Hancock county unquestionably produces a much larger quantity of grapes than any 

 other county in the state. Most of the first viney?.rds were planted with Catawba. 

 Those planted later are principally Concord, Clinton, Norton's Virginia, and Delaware. 

 The Catawba has done well the past season, no disease appearing on either vine or fruit. 

 The gross sales from some vineyards have amounted to eight hundred dollars per acre 

 and many others have produced four hundred gallons of wine to the acre. 



The cause of horticulture is steadily advancing in Hancock county. Much more atten- 

 tion is being paid to ornamental planting than heretofore . 



If our people could be induced to properly use the means and materials at their dis- 

 posal to improve and adorn their homes we should soon have one of the most beautiful 

 counties in the state. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



A. C. HAMMOND. 



REPORT FROM ELEVENTH DISTRICT. 



Hon. W. C. Flagg, Secretary State Horticultural Society, Alton, III. : — Dear Friend : — 

 Until to-day I expected to be present at the meeting at Bunkerhill, but I regret to be 

 obliged to say I cannot be there. 



The people of Centralia have directed me to ask the society to have the next meeting 

 at Centralia, sometime in September next. Will you please attend to the matter for me. 

 I had intended to be present and furnish a report from our Congressional District, but 

 you see we are all subject to disappointment. 



I herewith send you a list of apples recommended by our Centralia Fruit Grower's 

 Association. I also send you my address delivered at the last annual meeting of the 

 Association. All the statistics with reference to amounts shipped will be found in it. 

 When you was at my house I gave you one delivered at the previous annual meeting. In 

 that will be found statistics, etc., as to soil, climate, etc. 



The only cherries that do much with us are the Early Richmond. It is true that for 

 family use, many of the sweet varieties do well enough, such as May Duke, Gov. Wood, 



