STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 99 



Hartford, Prolific, and some of tin- Hybrids did well. The grape is receiving great 

 attention in our county, and quite a number Of vineyards have been planted which ap- 

 pear to be doing well. Ornamental planting is receiving considerable attention, mostly 

 In the direction of evergreens. A good deal of hedge has been planted out, mostly 

 Osage Orange, It does well where properly cultivated and makes a good fence. 



Tyler McWhorter of Mercer county, writes as follows. In reply to your request for 

 horticultural statistics of the season, I can report on the apple crop about the same 

 as you will get from all quarters, a scanty crop. Summer fruit, from a third to one- 

 lialf crop. Winter apples, scarcely one-fourth of a crop. The trees bloomed rather 

 sparingly, but sufficient for a reasonable crop, had they retained their fruit. Whether 

 the tendency to cast otf their blossoms is to be attributed to the effects of weather, or 

 to the condition of the trees, i» a question on which we have made very little progress 

 toward a solution. It is often improperly attributed to frost. People know that fruit 

 is sometimes killed by frost, and hence from whatever cause trees may cast off their 

 blossoms, Jack Frost is always blamed for it. 



The Bark Louse has spread considerably in our older orchards, but there is reason to 

 hope we are, for a period at least, to have a check to their increase, from the existence 

 of their little enemies — mites. With the Codling Moth, we see no abatement. The 

 crop was considerably injured by them, though no more than last year. 



Early Richmond Cherries produced abundantly ; Late cherries, nearly a failure. 

 The old scrubs of peach trees about the county also produced fruit. Our people are 

 In* If' induced to try peaches again, as they have now produced, two years in succession. 



Fruit growing in this county for market is as yet almost wholly confined to the apple. 

 Thus far grape- have been little planted, but the present season they are bountifully 

 loaded and it is hoped they will hereafter receive more attention. There is a prevailing 

 impulse in our county to plant large orchards. Also a very marked improvement is 

 observed in the inclination of our people to embellish their homesteads. The slovenly, 

 cluttered np appearance that characterizes Western habitations, is being changed for 

 better buildings and tasteful surroundings, enlivened with evergreens. We have a 

 beantifnl country if people know how to improve it. 



D. C. Benton, of Adams county, reports the fruit crop nearly a failure. Ee Bays the 

 fruit crop, particularly in the south part of the county, was almost entirely destroyed by 

 ., severe hail storm on the second of June. The peach crop promised to be verj One np 

 to that time, and in localities where the storm did not injure them was very fine and a 

 full crop. The apples were nearly all killed by Bpring fr08te when in bloom. I suppose 

 that nearly nine-tenths of the bearing pear trees, both dwarf and standard nave been 

 killed by the blight, the past season. But few cherries are planted, and so far have not, 

 excepl in rare instances proved profitable. A great many Btrawberries are planted, and 

 as in most other places, the Wilson takes the lead. The Jucunda promises to Bucceed on 

 heavy rich soil. The Lawtcn blackberry is grown to a considerable extent, has always 

 proved profitable, though occasionally winter killed. I think the newer varieties, Kit- 

 ta tinny, Wilson's Early, and Missouri Mammoth may prove better.as they promise to be 

 hardier. Raspberries are being planted toagreater extent than formerly; one gentle- 

 man, I am infoimed, in the north part of the eounty having ^ aeres. The DooUttii li 

 still the prairie stand-by; but many other varieties are being planted. Grapes base lone 



finely, and a great many are being planted, mostly Concord, with Hartford for early and 



