38 



the State Horticultural Societies will prove of value to the 

 people, and the saving of much valuable time and money. The 

 Illinois Society, deeming this a matter of great importance, ap- 

 pointed committees to make a careful examination of the fruit 

 during the Exposition and especially of all new varieties, and 

 will at an early day place in their experiment stations, of 

 which there are twelve, such new varieties as give promise of 

 being valuable that they may be tested under the direction of 

 the society. The information gained will be given in due time 

 to the people of the State through the horticultural reports. 

 To the end that the adaptability of certain varieties might 

 be recommended as nearly as possible to the locality intended, 

 and owing to the great length of the state, Illinois had been 

 divided into three horticultural districts, and reference will 

 hereafter be made to them as the Northern, Central, and 

 Southern districts. A map has been inserted in this volume, 

 showing the division of the State into fruit districts by coun- 

 ties, which will be of value as a reference map to those who 

 receive this report and are interested in the horticultural de- 

 velopment of the State. 



Illinois is peculiarly adapted to the production of fruit as 

 a source of profit to the grower, and commercial fruit growing 

 is becoming a matter of much importance. Your attention 

 is invited to the tables of statistics in the last pages of this re- 

 port, and while the figures are of necessity very incomplete, 

 there are enough to show the importance of fruit growing in 

 Illinois. 



