INTRODUCTION. 2i 



high as a fruit producing State, and can successfully 

 compete with Ohio and California in the production of 

 peaches. 



Her last crop was reported at seven hundred and fifty- 

 one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight baskets, 

 valued at seventy-five cents a basket, or five hundred 

 and sixty-three thousand seven hundred and twenty-two 

 dollars, in the aggregate. 



The sandy lands of the western shore are found to be 

 best for peach culture; and both land and water here 

 combine to produce, in great excellence, this delicious 

 fruit. The close proximity of Chicago and Milwaukee 

 affords a good and convenient market for the planters in 

 the west; and Detroit, Toledo, and Cleveland for those 

 in the east. 



In Southern Illinois the Peach does very well. In the 

 north it is too cold. Thin soils, hills, ridges, and light 

 prairies do best, as the uplands about Alton, and prairies 

 in the neighborhood of Centralia. The average produc- 

 tion per tree is about half a bushel. 



The fruit is principally shipped to Chicago, St. Louis, 

 Cincinnati, and some other minor points. 



Peaches are also cultivated to some extent in Indiana; 

 more especially in the south-west, and on the shores of 

 Lake Michigan in the north. Most of the fruit, however, 

 is consumed at home. It has never attracted much atten- 

 tion, or elicited any decided effort. Her clay lands, and, 

 in some places, springy soil, seem to forbid the successful 

 cultivation of the Peach. In special localities it could 

 no doubt be made remunerative; and, to some extent, 

 has been. 



Kentucky has a more congenial soil and climate, which 

 ought to command complete success; yet it has never be- 

 come a leading pursuit. This may be, in part, attributable 

 to her great capacity and success in corn and stock raising, 

 and in part to early bias, strengthened and confirmed 



