DEVELOPMENTS IN HORTICULTURE 29 



Within the year 1898, a representative of the Department had 

 visited nearly two hundred fruit plantations in forty-seven counties 

 of the state for the purpose of studying the horticultural conditions. 

 A practical demonstration of the methods of spraying was made in 

 Johnson county, at the time of the meeting of the Southern Illinois 

 Horticultural Society. The exhibition created great interest and 

 elicited many questions. Many requests came in for its repetition; 

 but expenses made this impossible. Another subject that occupied a 

 great deal of attention at this time was orchard cultivation. During 

 the school term there was taught the "largest class in horticulture ever 

 in the University; namely, fourteen students, besides those of the 

 Winter School." Two publications, one on "Orchard Cultivation," 

 and the other, "Spraying Fruit Trees," were issued at this time. 



DEVELOPMENTS IN POMOLOGY 



The most pressing problems in fruit production in Illinois have 

 been those affecting the control of insect and fungous pests, and the 

 regulation of the supply of plant food. The early problem in orchard- 

 ing, therefore, was largely that of protection. It is estimated that 

 the commercial apple crop of Illinois amounts to more than ten 

 million dollars annually, exclusive of the fruit sold locally from farm 

 orchards. Without the protection afforded by spraying, insect and 

 fungous attack would no doubt make apple growing in Illinois an 

 impossibility. In the year 1898, the loss from apple scab alone 

 amounted to $3,500,000; while by 1900 bitter rot had gained such 

 headway that the annual loss due to that disease alone, was estimated 

 at $1,500,000. 



In 1901, Illinois ranked third in horticultural importance, with 

 a larger apple acreage than any other state in the Union. Owing to 

 the great loss from bitter rot the preceding year, and the fact that 

 nothing was known about the disease, orchardists were altogether 

 helpless before its ravages. The Experiment Station, realizing 

 the great need for help, inaugurated experimental work in twelve 

 orchards throughout the state to study a means of control for this 

 fungous disease. At the close of the first year's experimental work 

 good progress had been made but the fact remained that much was 

 yet to be done before the problems connected with the disease could 

 be considered solved. A brief circular describing the discovery and 

 giving prompt advice to growers was issued and further tests and 

 information were published about fourteen days later (July 15 and 

 29, 1901). 



