196 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



forty feet apart and the peaches twenty, giving about thirty apple and ninety peach trees 

 to the acre. The older peach orchards are in full bearing, and the apples are just begin- 

 ning to bear. The oldest orchard is that of S. Jackson, twenty-five years old, near its 

 last days ; perhaps it may bear two or three years more. 



Cutting back the heads of the peach tree is becoming popular, as it keeps the tree 

 compact and the fruit within reach. 



The curculio is beginning to make them trouble, by adding seriously to the cost of the 

 care of the orchard, but they will be more certainly checked in these small orchards than 

 in the large ones of this State. 



The system adopted here is, in many respects, a most admirable one. The whole thing 

 is a family matter, in which every member of the family take part ; and very few owners 

 keep hired labor, except in the hurry of shipping. The box and basket factory that 

 turns out the material is close at hand, and boxes and baskets are set up during the 

 leisure time ; the snow covering, saves the expense of mulching the strawberry and black- 

 berry. Shipping to Chicago is a cheap and simple process ; but to go beyond that point 

 they are placed on an equality with other points. As a general thing, the soil is sandy 

 and easily worked. The marsh at the mouth of the St. Joseph river will supply the 

 manure — a rich muck, filled with fresh water shells. The lake winds ward off frost, and 

 give to this district a maratime climate, seldom subject to sudden changes of 

 temperature. 



The peach, blackberry and strawberry are the leading and favorite fruits, though 

 pears, raspberries, apples, currants and gooseberries do very well, and are more or less 

 cultivated. 



Grape culture is also beginning to attract attention, and with the abandonment of the 

 slashing system of pruning, no doubt it will become a profitable crop. The crop ripens 

 very late, and is somewhat exposed to frost in consequence ; but they come into the 

 market after — the crop in this State is exhausted. 



With the exception of strawberries and winter apples, the fruit crop ripens some 

 weeks later than on this side of the lake, and rather fill out the fruit season than come 

 in direct competition. 



A LARGE ORCHARD. 



The largest apple orchard in this state, is that of A. R. Whitney, at Franklin Grove, 

 Lee County. It contains 135 acres ; a part of it is in full bearing, and a part young trees. 

 The ground between the rows is plowed, and sheep are allowed the range of the orchard. 

 They feed on the water sprouts at the collar of the trees, and the strip of grass along 

 the rows. The immature fruit that falls is also eaten ; and Mr. W. thinks this treatment 

 of the orchard by sheep, keeps down the bark lice, the curculio and the codling moth 

 Certainly these insects do little damage in this orchard. 



Heading back, rather than thinning out, is the rule in pruning. The fruit is large and 

 fair and keeps well. Winter apples, such as Winesap, Jonathan, Dominie, Willow Twig, 

 Gilpin, Hawles' Janet, White Pippin, White Winter Pearmain, Yellow Bellflower, etc. 

 A large part of the fruit is made into cider and vinegar, of which a superior article is 

 made. In making cider none but sound apples are used, and the cider being made with- 

 out the addition of water, requires neither bi-sulphate of lime, mustard seed, or any 

 drugs to keep it sweet for years. 



The cider being pure, and but slightly fermented, is in demand for all cases of bilious 



