STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 13 



early as tho middle of March, continuing up to the first of June, though thoir depredations aro 

 chiefly committed during the months of April and May, or till every bud has been destroyed. 

 They are easily kept tfwayfrom the tn.-o by spreading clay about it, or by putting a tin band of 

 three or four inches in width, around the trunk. 



Respectfully Your Fellow Member, 



J. W. COCHRANE. 



REPORT FROM SIXTH DISTRICT. 



In making my report for the Sixth District I thought it not necessary to go into a minute de- 

 tail, as the Ad Interim Committee have been ovor the whole ground and will give all the informa- 

 tion required. Therefore I shall be brief: 



The Apple — that fruit so highly prized by us all — has been almost a total failure. We proba- 

 bly all have our views on the subject; I attribute the cause to the extreme dry summer of '67, 

 being so dry that the buds did Tint fully ripen or mature for fruit. However, I may be in error in 

 the matter. I knew in one instance where a few trees that were heavily mulched, bore a good 

 crop; my neighbor had a good crop on a small orchard that was not mulched, but after the trees 

 had come Into bearing, the ground was plowed deep towards the tree, on account of its being 

 rathor wet for an orchard; in that case I consider it the same as mulching in a dry season. But I 

 must say, that it came the nearest to an entire failure that it has tor :)."> years of my residence in 

 Illinois or since trees have been large enough to bear. But we do not feel discouraged; the trees 

 are set splendidly with fruit-buds for the coming year. Neither have the people become disheart- 

 ened ; they are planting all they can yet ; the supply is not equal to the demand. Pears also a fail- 

 ure. 



Peachos are not reliable here and not much cultivated, but those that had trees had some 

 peaches; and I have no doubt that the trees would have borne heavily had it not been for the 

 drouth the previous year, which goes to show that the peach bud will stand a low temperature 

 ami not be killed, on the 12th of February last the Thermometer standing from 22 to :tu° below 

 zero. Plums are not much cultivated on account of the Curculio. The Cherry, a fair crop, though 

 not heavy. Currant, good; the worm troublesome in some localities. The Grape has done linely, 

 and I fear the people in this District are getting the grape on the brain. 



Potatoes. If I may mention that esculent root under the head of Horticulture, I do it to bring 

 to notice the Colorado bug. This bug attacked tin potatoes in the early part of the season ; people 

 gathered them off ami destroyed them; however, they had deposited their eggs on the under side 

 of the leaf. The Lady bug was seen to be numerous and in the act of taking the eggs, which 

 reduced the second generation comparatively. 



S. Q. MINKLER. 



REPORT FROM SEVENTH DISTRICT. 



Hi order to obtain facts to report to this meeting from the Seventh District, I addressed letters 

 of enquiry to some one in each county, requesting such Information as could bo obtained of the 

 "■condition and progress of Horticulture." 

 From six. of the eleven counties in the District, I have received answors as followo: 

 Geo. M. Wood, of Decatur, in his r«;;> >rf from Macon OOUnl " I have not the data at 



hand to make a report in detail, though our community is taking considerable interest in fruit 

 growing in its various branches, and our farmers are enlarging their orchards and planting i 

 ones, and branching out in the culture of Raspberries, Strawberries, and other small fruits, both 



