116 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



committee's visit to this orchard, there was noticed an occasional dead tree, which on 

 taking up, was found to have its roots, much enlarged and rotten, covered with a thick 

 coating of a fungus-like substance ; but whether it is a disease peculiar to the soil, or im- 

 ported with the trees, or climatic, I cannot say ; the subject has been more carefully stud- 

 ied by other members of the committee, who will doubtless report. The disease was 

 not confined to this orchard or to pear trees alone, as it was found in several other or- 

 chards and on apple trees. 



PEACHES. 



Wherever peach trees of bearing age have been in the State, they have tried to bear 

 fruit, but in the extensive peach-growing regions about South Pass, the injury from the 

 Cnrculio has been very great. 



The Hale's Early from which so much was expected, has been almost entirely discarded 

 as unprofitable for extensive planting, on account of its rotting tendency, all over this 

 State as well as the peach region of Michigan. No more of them will be planted in some 

 sections. Jt has now become a fixed fact, that to have peaches, the Curculio must be 

 fought and conquered. 



HEDGES. 



Increased attention has been given to the growing and improvement of hedges. The 

 demand for plants has been fully up to the large supply, and all the available seed was 

 planted last spring and the crop of plants grown from them qiute satisfactory. Perhaps 

 the largest individual experiment ever made in hedging, in this country or the world, is 

 that of Mr. M. L. Sullivant of Ford County, embracing in the plan some 250 miles. The 

 plants are set about fifteen inches apart, with the intention of letting them grow to 

 about three years old, when they are to be plashed; which plan now seems to be the one 

 most generally recommended by hedge growers. 



Many miles of old and worthless hedges have been redeemed by being trimmed up on 

 the sides and thoroughly plashed, thus making in a single season a perfect fence. 



The Chicago and Saint Louis R. R. have also commenced an experiment of hedging 

 some sixty miles of their road, from Bloomington south. They employ a gentleman of 

 experience, Mr. T. L. Minier, to superintend the work, at a salary. A large part of the 

 ground has been prepared for the plants, and many miles of the plants already set out. 

 If experience and money can make a success of rail road hedging, we shall now have a 

 chance to see it accomplished. 



TREE PLANTING. 



It is most gratifying to see the attention given to tree planting, both for ornament and 

 utility, and the great measure of success that has attended the efforts of individuals, in 

 all sections of the State. 



The Secretary presented from C. Andrews, of Marengo, McHen- 

 tj County, an 



ESSAY ON THE HARDY APPLE QUESTION IN AMERICA. 



The origin of the apple is of such great antiquity as to be involved in much uncertain- 

 ty. I am aware that it is not the question of the origin of species or varieties that we as 

 practical fruit-growers are most directly interested in. As throwing light however, upon 

 the relative value and importance of some neglected 01 despised species, it may be use- 



