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undrainable swamps, and sandy plains is remarkably small 

 when compared with the whole. 



Along the southeast border of the State the Wabash river 

 supplies an outlet for numerous small streams and is navigable 

 for a considerable distance from its confluence with the Ohio, 

 which forms the southern boundary and unites with the Missis- 

 sippi at Cairo. This latter river forms the west boundary of 

 the State, and along its bank is found some of the most favor- 

 ably located situations and soils for orchard and vineyard cul- 

 ture. 



At one time Alton, situated twenty miles above St. Louis, 

 was the most favored spot in the West for fruit and market 

 gardening, and may with truth be called the first seat of in- 

 telligent horticultural effort in Illinois, and is today one of the 

 favored spots, though other and newer lands, with better rail- 

 way facilities, excel it in the quantity of shipments. 



At Warsaw and Hamilton, also located on the banks of the 

 Father of Waters, are situated a large number of prolific and 

 profitable vineyards as well as great apple orchards. These 

 points are no exception and are only referred to because the 

 business of fruit growing, like every other, appears to concen- 

 trate itself around certain points, not because the soil is 

 better, but for the reason that example is contagious and when 

 once a business is established conveniences for shipping and 

 reduction of freights is sure to follow and thereby induce still 

 others to embark in the business in the near vicinity. 



THE ILLINOIS RIVER 



also intersects the State from north to south and is navigable 

 from Alton to Henry, and with the completion of the Chicago 

 drainage canal, steamers may run its entire length and tie up 

 beside the wharves in the Garden City. Along this river 

 are thousands of bluffs which are unexcelled for the growing of 

 fruits of all kind. The peculiar Loess formation of the soil in 

 many places also gives it a superior advantage for the growing 

 of grain and vegetables. 



But all the good locations for orchards do not by any 

 means lie along the banks of these rivers or along the smaller 



