312 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



The common Morello cherry has been the principal cherry grown in this county and 

 dates back, certainly forty years, but the date of its introduction I do not know. A 

 cherry similar to the Late Kentish has also been in the county for a long time, but is 

 more rare. 



Dwarf pears are said to have been planted first by Dr. Frederick Humbert, of Upper 

 Alton about 1839. 



The only native evergreen tree is the Red Cedar which fringes the Mississippi bluffs, 

 and very rarely is found, isolated, inland. Geo. B. Arnold bought some Norway Spruces, 

 &c, from the East about 1836 or 1837. Mrs. Paddock residing in township five, range 

 eight, has a White Pine planted in 1838, and a Norway Spruce of Mr. Arnold's importa- 

 tion, set in 1839. Robert de Bow planted others on his grounds in Upper Alton, now 

 owned by Mr. Homeyer, and still others may be found at Mr. Arnold's former residence, 

 now owned by Mr. Hoffmeister. 



The first point in the county at which grape growing was carried on in vineyards was 

 I believe Highland. Caspar Kcepfii who came from Switzerland in 1831, brought the 

 European grape which as usual failed. " In 1843, Joseph and Solomon Koepfli brought 

 the first Catawba grape vines from Cincinnati, and in 1847, they made the first Highland 

 wine, which was of excellent quality. Five acres were now set out by them with 

 Catawba grapes, and the years 1850, 1853, 1857, 1861 and 1863 were as to quantity and 

 quality good wine seasons." There are now many vineyards, covering many acres in 

 the vicinty of Highland. 



In 1847, Dr. E. S. Hull came to the county and settled on section 15, of township 6, 

 range 10 ; Dr. Hull introduced a large number of fruits, comprising many varieties of 

 the rarer fruits, such as pears and plums. 



In 1853, the Alton Horticultural Society was organized. Among its original members, 

 whom I know to have exerted an active influence in introducing and cultivating good 

 fruits were John Atwood, M. G. Atwood, A. S. Barry, George Booth, S. R. Dolbee, E. S. 

 Hull, B. K. Hart, Charles Howard, Frederick Humbert, Elias Hibbard, J. F. Hoffmeister, 

 B. F. Long, H. G. McPike, Jas. E. Starr, Thos. G. Starr, and H. S. Spaulding, most of 

 whom are still engaged in fruit growing. 



At Collinsville, Luke Townsend planted a large orchard of budded peach trees nearly 

 twenty years since. His trees were procured from New Jersey or Delaware. Among 

 the varieties he introduced was Troth's Early, since become a favorite market peach in 

 the county, and southward, where it was introduced (at Makanda), by Messrs. Iladley 

 and Harkleroad, citizens of this county. James Coombs, and others have also made 

 large plantations of the Miami raspberry at Collinsville ; the number of acres 

 there in cultivation must be now nearly or quite one hundred. 



Lyman Baid, of Troy, has been very successful in the cultivation of the Quince, and 

 has found it, I am informed, quite profitable. The Quince generally is successful in 

 this county, but has never been much cultivated. 



Julius A. Barnsback, of Troy, has succeeded finely with the dwarf pear by mulching 

 very heavily with straw. 



