170 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



made with a double bottom, which Mr. Sirnms prefers. 990 bushels had been shipped at 

 the time of our visit, 1,500 bushels were expected to be picked in all ; or nearly 75 bush- 

 els to the acre. But Chicago, being about the only accessible market and rather over- 

 stocked at this season, the immense quantity of fine fruit was being marketed at a small 

 profit. 



At Centralia, on the 29th of May, or more than a month before our visit to Aurora, 

 we found the strawberry crop nearly a failure. Mr. Hill, who was said to have, perhaps, 

 the best crop, had six acres of plants, four and two years planted, lightly mulched with 

 straw. He was paying two cents a quart for picking. The Cobden box and Goodail 

 crate were used for packing. The latter cost $2 each. They are made with a false bot- 

 tom resting on four spiral springs, 'and a fifth reversed is attached to the cover, and shuts 

 down against a false cover laid over the boxes. Pickers here gather as high as 100 quarts 

 a day. Boys of 16 were cons*dered the best pickers. 



Mr. Brunton had also a fine lot of strawberries. Last year he gathered 170 bushels 

 from two acres cultivated in hills. He was shipping in drawers. 



Mr. Pullen has 20 acres in strawberries, but though one of the best cultivators, he has 

 failed to get a good crop. 



This failure, I attribute, primarily, to the drought and bad condition of plants in 1867. 

 The plants, although full of fruit buds, seemed to lack strength and vigor sufficient to 

 make any quantity of good fruit, although in many cases they blossomed profusely. 

 Bad fertilization, owing to a long storm in time of blooming, was regarded generally as 

 the more probable cause. 



I bring this report to an abrupt close, although I feel that there is much more that 

 might be profitably said on many topics. But art is long, and life is short, and the 

 already great length of our proceedings admonishes me that it is time to close. 



W. C. FLAGG. 



FRUIT CANNING ESTABLISHMENT. 



Colman — A fruit canning establishment would save a great deal 

 of waste, and be profitable. It is important to save waste and to 

 make the most of our fruit when prices are low. I move that a com- 

 mittee of three be appointed to report on the desirability of canning 

 establishments. 



Galusha — I move to amend by having the committee also consider 

 the question of the distribution of fruits. 



The amendment was accepted. 



Dr. Long — A neighbor of mine canned his peaches, that were too 

 ripe for shipping, in quart cans, without sugar, and made a very 

 good profit from them. 



Resolution carried. 



