STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 157 



flower, is showy and sells well, but is not first rate. Ben Davis, bears well ; the fruit on 

 old trees may be small. 8waar, bears tolerably well. 



Of orchards planted in 1859, one of 320 trees planted in the Spring, contains 330 trees 

 of Wlneaap, Willow Twig, Fellow Belleflower, Jonathan, Red Astracban, etc. One 

 planted in the fall of that year contains 850 trees, planted 35 x 25 feet in a tract of six 

 acres, surrounded by woods. The varieties are Jonathan, Willow Twig and Ben Davis. 

 The trees are very even in size and handsome in appearance, and arc grown with a 

 leader and laterals instead of cutting out the center. This last we may regard as, to 

 a considerable extent, the result of Mr. Bryant's experience as to choice of varieties, 

 and mode of training. The Willow Twig is the most approved variety. 



Whilst examining this orchard the question was raised, What is the additional value 



per acre conferred by a good apple orchard? The following was the vote and the 



result : 



Per Acre. 



A. Bryant, Sr $ 50 



A. Bryant, Jr 90 



J. 11. Bryant 150 



E. W. Brvant 80 



J. B. Bubacb 250 



S. S. Minkler 150 



O. B. Galusha 80 



E. 8. Hull 150 



W. C. Flaee 190 



'nh • 



9)1090 

 Average, $121 



APPLES AT LACON. 



At Lacon we got some facts of orchards, old and young, on the Illinois bluffs. Mr. 

 Wier, the father of D. B. Wier, planted an orchard of about 1700 seedling trees in 1832, 

 of wbicb one-eighth to one-sixth are now alive. Only one of the lot was very good. 

 In 1833 he planted 500 three year old grafts of Gilpin, Sweet Romanite, Domine, Roman 

 Stem, Grindstone, Vandevere of N. Y., Pennock, Seek-no-Farthcr ; and one or two years 

 later, Ortley, Yellow Belleflower and Rambo. One quarter of the Gilpin trees were 

 living in 1855, and 80 trees produced (500 barrels of apples. The following winter one- 

 fifth of these trees were killed. The Roman Stem was the only apple bearing a full 

 crop In 1855 that was not injured, three-fourths of the trees being still alive. The 

 Grindstone is in good condition, and the Pennock in nearly as good. One Rambo tree 

 is sound, and two or three Domines are living. 



D. B. Wier planted in 1861 a number of standard and other varieties, of which his 

 experience leads him to commend : Early Harvest, Early Pennock, Autumn Straw- 

 berry, Jonathan, Wagoner (top grafted), Ben Davis and Janet. The Jonathan he 

 regards as bc6t, and the Ben Davis as most profitable. He condemns English Golden 

 Russet, Harvest Red Streak, Ortley, Summer Queen, Monarch, and Rhode Island 

 Greening, and wishes to see more of Red Astracban and Willow Twig, before pro- 

 nouncing an opinion. 



These Illinois Bluffs on which Mr. Wier'G orchards are planted seemed to me to pos- 

 sess very excellent soils for fruit, whilst their elevation implies exemption from ordina- 

 ry frosts, aud good ventilation iu the summer season. 



