STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 305 



i young orchard In bearing, and among nil those trees, thirty or forty, I should suppose, 

 he hits ii.it, i iiciiivc, ;i single npple thnt deserves the name of worthless; but, on the 

 contrary, a large majority of them are good, with several, which competent judges 

 would pronounce very good. Among them are several fair summer apples; some two 

 • i' three (all varieties, which, 1 esteem In quality equal to the justly celebrated Kambo; 

 iii<l a number of fine, large winter varieties, of excellent quality. Might it not be 

 worth while, for — • > i n • of our enthusiastic young cultivators, to repeat this experiment? 



As far as my personal observation is concerned, I would say that the Ben Davis is the 

 mosl profitable apple ever Introduced in:<> this county. Of its quality and objectionable 

 characteristic*, I say nothing. The Rome Beauty is another variety which promisee 

 good results; and the same may be said of the Tulpehocken. But the Borer and Cod- 

 ling Sfoth are deadly enemies to the apple orchardist, especially to trees upon the 

 prairie. 



Elijah Hemy, qow deceased, was on" of the earliest nurserymen of this county. 

 From his nursery, located near this village, for the last twelve or fourteen years, bun- 

 ds of trees have been annually procured and transplanted throughoul the regions 

 round about, and are now beginning to bring forth fruit. He cultivated the most of 

 the leading varieties of the apple, found in this section of the State, and was the means 

 of doinir immense good in our community. 



The Early May Cherry is beginning to be tolerably extensively cultivated here. Thus 

 far it has prov ■'! quite successful, and bids fair to be largely grown. 



Last year the Brsl regular vineyard, of this county, carhe into bearing and yielded, 

 both then, and the present season, satisfactory results. The Concord is the only variety 

 ' hat has thus far hail a fail- trial, and of this variety several thousand vines nre just com- 

 inginto bearing. Of strawberries, the writer set the first plantation in the spring of 

 ., and although the plants have not been properly managed, they have proved rea- 

 sonably remunerative. Several other persons are now giving the strawberry some atten- 

 tion, and it is probable that within a few years quite an area will be planted to this 

 fruit. The Wilson is the variety cultivated. The blackberry and raspberry are also 

 receiving Bome attention as market fruits, but as yet I cannot give an opinion as to the 

 success which may attend their cultivation. 



Thus, I have given y.,u, certainly not just what you desired, but a hasty, running 

 sketch of the rise and pi ogress of horticulture in this county. I have no doubt, but 

 that the time i- near at band when fruit culture in this county, will have come to be a 

 lucrative and leading business, from which a more prosperous condition of our citizens 

 will In- insured than that Which now surrounds them. The climate, t he soil, and trans- 

 porting facilities, all conspire to encourage those undertaking the business, to hope for 

 favorable results. Nevertheless, only those who will cultivate Industriously and thor- 

 oughly, can reasonably hope for satisfactory success. 



Very respectfully, WM. MATTHEWS. 



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