18 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



nearly strings of ill-shaped tubers than the roots of apple trees, in decided contrast with the 

 smooth fungus encased roots of the other trees described. Dr. Hull informs me that he took a 

 bit of this fungus home with him and inserted a small portion dried and powdered, beneath the 

 bark of a tree in his orchard, which produced a blight in the limbs thus innoculated. 



A suitable microscope has been much wanted to enable your committee to make minute exam- 

 inations of this and very many other diseases and insects that prey upon tree and plants. Now 

 that such an instrument is available, it is hoped that much more may be learned during the next 

 year in these matters than has been during the past. 



Tht Cultivation of the Vine, both for the production of table fruit and for wine, is receiving in- 

 CEeased attention from year to year throughout the state. The Concord is the only vine which has 

 thus far succeeded in all parts of the State — though the Hartford Proline is a general favorite, as 

 an early grape. The Clinton is generally productive, and the Ives Seedling succeeds wherever I 

 have seen it tried. Several of Rogers' Hybrids also seem to, be well calculated to resist disease, and 

 produce good crops. There are portions of the State where grape growing may be made especially 

 profitable, and such locations, will undoubtedly, in a few years be largely devoted to vineyard cul- 

 ture. The favorite homes of the vine are found on the slopes along our rivers wherever the Loess- 

 deposit abounds. These tracts embrace many thousand acres in all and seem to be well distributed. 



The vineyards at Quincy were exceedingly productive this year and the vines generally healthy. 

 At Home near Peoria, where the Loess partakes more of a sandy nature, the crop in tho vineyard 

 ot Mr. Adams was enormous; nearly every variety tried hy him succeeds well. Such soils are pecu- 

 liarly adapted to the growth of the Blackberries and Raspberries. I have never seen a better crop 

 of the latter than upon Mr. Adams' sandy soil, or of the former than on a similar soil on the grounds 

 of Mr. Winchester, of St. Joseph, Mich. Mr. W.'s success with the Lawton Blackberry is doubt- 

 less somewhat attributable to his mode of pruning, which I will give : He allows but three or 

 four canes to grow in a hill, cutting these back early in July to about three feet from the ground. 

 The canes soon after throw out side branches which in turn are clipped back to eight or ten inches 

 from the cane. This last clipping is done about the last of August. The pruning is rapidly done, 

 by giving light blows with a common carving, or a butcher's knife. The plants thus grown are 

 very stout and are well ripened before winter. This crop this year was about forty-five bushels, 

 from three-fourths of an acre. It is probable that the Kittatiuny blackberry thus grown will 

 succeed in nearly all parts of our State, as it has thus far proved more liardy than the Lawton and 

 Wilson's Early. 



The observations of the committee during the past season, have, I think, established the fact 

 that clean culture for all the varieties of fruit trees, shrubs and vines — except perhaps in old 

 apple orchards — is a profitable investment. The advantages of clean culture, and frequent stir- 

 ring ot the soil among growing crops, are appreciated by but a small proportion of cultivators. 

 One example in each neighborhood would suffice to convince all seekers after light in this direc - 

 tion, that finally pulverizing and stirring the soil as often as once in each week — when not too wet 

 — frem the first of May till the middle of July, is as good as a coat ot manure in its stimulating 

 effects: besides such culture, if general, would render the atmosphere more pure and healthtul 

 by abstracting therefrom a large portion of its nitrogen, and other poisonous gases and vapors, 

 which would be absorbed by the soil, and enter into the composition of the growing trees and 

 plants, thus converting poison into health-producing food. I have never witnessed such uniform 

 clean culture, as your committee found in the Peach orchards and small fruit plantations of St. 

 Joseph and Benton Harbor, Michigan ; and the profits of such culture, as shown in the statistical 

 reports, which will be found in the general report of your Committee — should teach the cultiva- 

 tors in our own State, a lesson to our advantage. 



There has been but little, it anything to learn this year, relative to varieties of Apples and 

 Pears, owing to the very general failure of the crops. 



Those members of the Committee residing in the Peach-growing districts are better prepared 

 than I to report information relating to the culture ot this fruit. 



