Illinois State Horticultural Society. 123 



Plums have been so nearly abandoned, that nothing was said in regard to 

 them. 



Cherries. — This fruit was freely discussed, and the list corrected. The 

 fruit known as Early May, May Cherry, and Early Richmond, was decided to be 

 an American seedling, originating near Richmond, Va., and there known as the 

 Early May, and its name fixed accordingly. This is the great market-cherry of 

 the prairie country. Near this city is one orchard, of six hundred trees, that 

 commenced shipping fruit to Chicago the past summer. Another orchard, of 

 the same number, began to bear this season. Besides these, the trees are ready 

 to set one orchard of two thousand trees, and four others of one thousand each. 

 This shows the great popularity of this fruit. Added to this are several lots of 

 fifty to one hundred trees. Many suppose that this is only a cooking cherry; 

 but, though not the most delicious, it is a very good eating cherry, as is attested 

 by the fruit-stands of Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Chicago, where large amounts 

 are consumed daily. 



The large English Morello, which is fully a month later, is the only other 

 cherry put on the list for market. At the request of a few, the May Duke and 

 Black Tartarian were added for family use. 



Along the Mississippi, for a long distance, is a narrow strip of bluff-land 

 known by geologists as Loess, on which nearly all the sweet cherries appear to 

 do very well, but where the fruit is nearly all destroyed by the birds. 



It was also decided that the Morello suckers, or seedlings, were much the 

 best, if not the only stock suitable on which to graft the two market-cherries 

 named. 



For the past five or six years, the cherry question has been tending to this 

 result; and it may be considered settled for some time to come in this State. 

 While the mazzard and mahaleb may be suitable stocks in many sections, it is 

 certain, that, for the whole prairie region, they are of little value. 



Grapes. — The new grapes have, with few exceptions, failed to give satisfac- 

 tion; and several grape-growers contended that the Clinton (for wine), Hartford 

 Prolific, and Concord were the only ones of value to us. It is certain that 

 Delaware, Adirondack, lona, and others, have made almost a total failure. 

 Frost and rot are the difliculties in the way. It is probable, that, as protection 

 increases, grapes will do better. Along the Mississippi, vineyards are rapidly 

 multiplying, mostly of Clinton, Catawba, and Concord. 



Officers Elect. — President, Elmor Baldwin of Farm Ridge, Lasalle 

 County; Secretary, W. C. Flagg, of Alton; Treasurer, I. Huggins, Woodbum; 

 with a list of fourteen Vice-Presidents, — one from each Congressional district. 



The next meeting is to be held at South Pass about the ist of October. 



The society resolved to make a show of fruit at the meeting of the American 

 Pomological Society to be held at St. Louis, Mo., commencing Sept. 10. 



The transactions are to be published at once, for members only. Any person 



can become a member on the payment of two dollars. 



3f. L. D. 



