302 TRANSACTIONS OF THE .ILLINOIS 



CLINTON COUNTY. 



In compliance with your request, I will do the best I can to furnish you the history 

 you desire : the first orchards planted in this county, from the best information I have 

 been able to obtain, was Henry Spencer, of Sugar Creek, (date not given) of grafted 

 fruit, 100 trees, 40 Rambo, 30 large Romanites, and 30 small Romanites. 



Nathan McCracken and Daniel Simons, of Sugar Creek, planted (seedling) orchards, 

 in 1817 and 1818. 



Daniel White planted an orchard of grafted fruit on Sugar Creek, 1S22 ; the trees were 

 obtained of John Smith, of Bond county. 



John and James Burnside, of Irishtown, planted orchards in 1819; the trees were got 

 of Smith, of Bond county. 



Levin Madder, of the Ridge, planted an orchard in 1819, (seedling.) James and Jona- 

 than Sharp, of the Ridge, planted grafted fruit trees in 1821, got trees from Smith, of 

 Bond county. 



Edward Cole and Gideon Burton, near Coles Creek, east side of the Kaskaskia river, 

 in 1821 and '22. 



A. Hughson, set out the first nursery and Aineyard in 1858, (his P. O., Collins' Station.) 



Henry Deitzell, of Carlyle, put out ten acres of vineyard, 1S62, and this year he made 

 4,000 gallons of wine. 



In 1S66, John Betz, near Centralia put out 10 acres vineyard. 



The principal part of the above several fruits were planted in 18G6, and the most of 

 our best farmers cultivate the small fruits for family use, and some of them cultivate 

 flowers, but I do not know of but one or two flower gardens where the flowers are kept 

 and cultivated for sale ; one of them, Mr. E. Richards', was planted about 1863, (near 

 Carlyle.) But I have just learned that there is a Floral Garden, kept by one, J. Gall, 

 near Centralia. 



Pears, Quinces, Apricot, red, white and black Currant, red Antwerp Raspberries. 

 The old Morello, and the small red May Cherries and the Downing May. A large vari- 

 ety are cultivated successfully with us. 



The Catawba grapes are recommended as the best grape for general purposes. There 

 are comparatively but few of any other kind in the county. The Bartlett Pears are pre- 

 ferred and the best with us. The red Antwerp Raspberry does well with us, and pays. 



O. B. NICHOLS. 



