STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 165 



for two years, had no crop worth naming, whilst that kept in cultivation had a good lot 

 of fruit. 



We saw here some uncommon varieties, among which were Demming's September, a 

 very large, white cling; Honey, tender and unthrifty; Coolidge, ripening July 23d, 

 but small ; Robinson's Rareripe, nol approved. 



Mr. Lemlng's orchard was in fine cultivation, the earth mellow and ft cc from weeds 

 and all harbors of vermin. It was an oasis among the desert places of our Egyptian 

 orchards. 



On the adjoining farm of Mr. Fowley, we also found good culture and a very fine lot 

 of Crawford's Early. Mr. Fowley had been catching the curculio for s.ix weeks. A 

 part of the orchard was cultivated last year, and a part not, but there was no apprecia- 

 ble difference In the peaches on the different plats of ground. 



At Villa Ridge we found the peaches about all destroyed by frost or curculio. 



CHERRIES. 



Cherries were also injured in a great many sections, but we found more or less of them 

 at all points visited during the season. 



At Palatine, as we rode out to Aurora, we saw trees red with the Early Richmond, and 

 at Aurora, we saw very good crops of the same variety. The fruit seemed to me larger 

 and finer than such specimens as I have seen in the south part of the State. 



At Princeton, in the yard of Chas. Baldwin, we found the May Duke bearing well, and 

 looking tolerably healthy; also the Belle Magnifique on Morello stock, but getting 

 upon its own roots. Early Richmond on Ma/ialeb stock, was bearing abundantly. At 

 Mr. Taylor's, May Duke, Yellow Spanish, and other varieties on the Mazzard stock, were 

 dying. At J. G. Bubach's, we found Early Richmond and trees on Mahalvb stocks, 

 standing in grass, eight years planted. They had borne fruit live of the eight years. At 

 Arthur Bryant's we found the common Morello bearing well. 



At Lacon, Mr. Wier showed us Carnation in fruit — a very good cherry, but not pro- 

 lific, he says, uuless top-grafted. Elton and Governor Wood, he commends. Belle Mag- 

 nifiquc is not productive. Belle dc Choisey is about as hardy as May Duke, but not so 

 productive. English Morello, he considers the most prolific cherry he has. Black Tar- 

 tarian, stands well. All these are planted on the bluff lands of the Illinois. At John 

 S. Benson's on the lower land, we found the common Morello full of fruit. 



At Alton, Jas. E. Starr, President of the Alton Horticultural Society, gave us the fol- 

 lowing as his view.-, of some varieties. Black Tartarian, he places first ; Gridby, !ir<t to 

 second ; Black Eagle, fourth. Yellow Spanish, like all the yellow cherries, shows bruises 

 too much. May Duke is good for family use, but too irregular in ripening for market. 

 Elton is one of the best yellow cherries, but is not a regular bearer. English Morello is 

 one of the finest for market. Early Richmond, Is not desirable. Belle de Choisey Is a 

 poor bearer. The cherry crop about Alton was generally injured by the frost. Even tie- 

 Early Richmond with me was very much thinned out, and other varieties entirely 

 cut off. 



At Centralia, the crop of cherries was nearly destroyed by frost, a few Early Rich- 

 mond s in iiilc all we saw. 



As to stocks, the result of our observation Is that the great question of Mahaleb vs. 

 Morello stocks, is not of much practical importance. The Early Richmond will do very 

 well on either, or on its own roots. 



