STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 1<>1 



Yellow Spanish. The Catawba grape has been the nm-t extensively grown, and has so 

 Gu: been the most profitable. The Eons and Delaware, on Clinton roots have done re- 

 markably well with as. I would recommend this practice of patting the [ona and Dela- 

 ware on Clinton roots. The Cnrcnlio was mncb more destructive with as this pasl 

 season than heretofore. Perhaps it was only in appearance, as there was bul a light crop 

 of peaches, and all or nearly all were Btung. Letting hogs run in the orchard has been 

 the mosl :'ul practice so far, in checking its ravages. 



Our apple crop was a partial failure, we had perhaps s half a crop. Indeed, apples 

 never entirely fell with us. We had a fair strawberry crop, Wilson's being the variety 

 generally relied upon. Enclosed you will find two dollars, being tin- annual member- 

 ship fee. 



It grieves me that I cannot enjoy the good talk that I know will be had at Bunkerhill. 



I am, dear sir, your sincere friend, 



N. W. ABBOTT, 

 President of Centralia Fruit Grower's Association and Vice-President of State Horticul- 

 tural Society. 



Non: by Se< ketaky. — The documents referred to will be found in the reports of the 

 Centralia Fruit Growers' Association. 



Elmer Baldwin of Farm Ridge, La Salle County, read an essay 

 on 



EVERGREENS IN ORCHARDS. 



I suppose the appointment to write an essay upon evergreens in orchard-:, means an 

 attempt to theorize upon that subject, as I am not aware that the experiment has been 

 tried to an] considerable extent. 



1 'mii only inquire as to the indicated want- of successful orchard culture, and then 

 whether planting evergreens, will in any considerable degree meet that want. 



I -hall treat of tie- prairie soil, as it is with that I am besl acquainted, and it is on that, 

 orchard- must be raised, or the larger portion of our State be destitute of fruit. The 

 fault- of our .-oil, situation and climate, are too much exposure to tin- bleak prairie 

 winds, too much humus ami too little mineral element in tie- soil, a too retentive sub- 

 soil, with extreme- of heat and cold, drouth and moisture. 



The best soil for an on-hard. La a Bandy, gravelly loam, t hat is sufficient to ensure a 



healthy, vigorous growth, and where durine; heavy rain-, the water is rapidly absorbed, 

 ■md on. • that never dries to any great depth, that gives during tin- entire year a good 

 supply of moisture, neither too much nor too little. 



This will b • accomplished if the porous character of the -oil extend- to a considerable 

 depth, carrying off tin- surplus moisture and bringing up by capillary attraction, h hat is 

 Deeded during tie- entire seas in ; such a soil never dries to any considerable extent. The 

 in' '-t important requisite for the production of any fruit from the vine or tree, is a uni- 

 form supply of moisture. 



A plant that matures a crop of fruit at the same time that it forms the germs of a fu- 

 ture crop and -tore- up material for it- development, can ii"t perform 1 hi- double duty, 



surrounded by a dry atmosphere, and standing in a drj and arid -oil exhausted by a sea- 

 son of excessive drouth. 



