234 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



quence, hundreds and thousands of trees and shrubs were planted, too tender for our 

 rigorous climate ; even hardy varieties, were either poorly cultivated, or not cultivated 

 at all ; and thus failure resulted from this fact, rather than from any peculiarities of 

 climate. But with the experience that fruit growers now have, can they not plant 

 such varieties as are known to he hardy, in soils best adapted to their growth, and with 

 sucb after treatment as experience has shown to be best, with as sure a prospect of 

 success as they can expect from raising corn or wheat ? If not, let us all abandon it at 

 once. 



Suppose we plant one hundred apple trees to the acre, and allow fifty of them never 

 to bear any, the other fifty to commence bearing at eight years from planting, and 

 bear every other year for twenty years on an average of four bushels to the tree, or 

 two thousand bushels in twenty-eight years from planting. These if sold at one dollar 

 per bushel, will produce an average of $71 per acre, per year over the twenty-eight 

 years. Yet with a judicious selection of sorts, and location, double or triple this result 

 may be expected. 



Three hundred cherry trees can be planted on an acre of ground. Late, and Early 

 Richmond, aud a few other hardy varieties, and after the fourth year to the twentieth, 

 we may safely count on a yield of sixteen quarts per tree. When sold at a shilling per 

 quart, would amount to $600 per year for sixteen years, or $9,600 in twenty years , or 

 an average of $480 per year. Deduct half this and we still have $240 per acre, each 

 year. Kentish trees in sight of where I am now writing, have borne since I have 

 known them, twice the amount of which I have noted down. One tree in one year, the 

 owner informs me, produced about 45 gallons, and were sold for about $27. 



Grapes, if well taken care of, will produce two hundred bushels, or eight thousand 

 pounds per acre. If these are sold at five cents per pound, it will give us $400 per 

 acre, from which deduct for extra expense in raising them, above what an acre of grain 

 will cost, and we have $350 per acre. 



One gentleman of my acquaintance, whose judgment ought to be relied upon, as he 

 has been largely in the nursery and fruit business, is quite discouraged ; thinks we will 

 be obliged to resort exclusively to raising grain, principally corn. He informs me that 

 in Ohio, in the vicinity of Cleveland, cultivators are cutting down their fruit trees, 

 being no longer profitable. He admits that grapes can be profitably grown now while 

 prices are high, but when much larger amounts are produced, there will not be a 

 demand for them except to make wine ; and this it is thought to be of doubtful pro- 

 priety. I am not, at present, advocating the propriety of making wine ; but this 

 objection comes strongly from one who has sold thirty thousand bushels of corn in 

 one year, to be manufactured into whiskey. There is no farmer but knows that nine" 

 teen-twentieths of the corn sold to the grain buyers, goes to make a beverage, an 

 hundred fold more mischievous in its effects, than the wine manufactured from grapes. 



Some of these farmers who object to planting an acre of grapes, for fear they will be 

 made into wine, will raise six hundred to one thousand acres of corn in one season, 

 which they are well aware, will soon be in the shape of some 200,000 gallons of whiskey. 

 If the delightful occupation of raising fruit, has got to be abandoned in this country, 

 let all concerned know it as soon as possible. I hope the subject will be thoroughly 

 discussed, and if necessary, a committee be appointed to gather facts upon the subject 

 and report at the next winter's meeting of the Society. 



