148 LA SALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Bees can be made quite profitable and are by a goodly- 

 number in this county. I have only the common bees, though 

 some have used for a time the Italian variety, and those who 

 raise them for sale say they are " far preferable," but the com- 

 mon ones are good enough for me. I have occasionally a bad 

 year for the bees ; such an one was the season of 1879. Then 

 they made but little honey, for some unaccountable reason, and 

 hundreds of swarms died. I may safely say fifty per cent. 

 of the bees in this county have either died or will die before 

 Spring. The best patent hive is no protection in such a case. 



Bee moths must be guarded against, hence the price of 

 honey is vigilance as well as effort. 



FPwUIT. 



Apples are a necessity in every family ; thus all reasonable 

 men who have any land which they can call their own, will 

 plant trees. Many sad mistakes are made with reference to 

 the varieties planted, as some kinds sold in the market are not 

 worth " shucks." Those who plant orchards should consult 

 some one who has experience, and will give honest advice. 



WINE. 



I make but little, but raise quantities of grapes, the Con- 

 cord being the leading variety with me. Peaches I do not 

 raise to any extent. Pears are not a success. Strawberries 

 and raspberries produce immense crops, — some I ship to 

 Chicago in crates. 



FISH. 



The Illinois river furnishes an immense quantity of this 

 healthy food. Thousands of young Salmon were put into the 

 river during the season of 18Y9, in hopes of stocking the stream 

 with this desirable variety. 



CREAM AND BUTTER. 



We have recently introduced the Cooley patent creamer 

 and it is a success. We get more cream, and the butter is 

 better, as the milk is all skimmed before it gets sour. About 



