1861. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMEE. 



325 



and in our remarks in regard to soil, aspect, &c., 

 they will not be considered. For the apple and 

 cherry, undoubtedly the very best soil is a strong 

 loam of a calcareous or lime stone nature. But 

 all soils that will grow Indian corn, are good 

 fruit soils. The surface should be sufficiently 

 rolling to drain off all surplus water, at least 

 within forty-eight hours. Steep hill sides are 

 superior to gradual descents, unless tboroughly 

 underdrained, particularly se for the apple. 

 Never select, whtn it can ba avoided, level lands, 

 unless the subsoil is sand, or other mateiial 

 through which wafer can freely percolate. The 

 banks of large streams are well suit to fruit cul- 

 ture ; but the vicinity of small streams should 

 be avoided, if possible, as should alio sloughs 

 and swauips. 



If the grounds selected are rolling, it matters 

 little what the aspect may be — a southwestern or 

 northern being equally as good as any other. 

 Wet or moist lands produce a bulky growth of 

 wood, with small roots and few fibres — wood 

 light, spongy, easily injured by cold, and soon 

 decays. Ury, rolling lands produce less growth 

 of wood, large roots, and an abiindance of fibres 

 — wood more firm, and capable of enduring cold, 

 and far more productive. The most fruitful or- 

 chards we have ever known were those on steep 

 hill sides. A soil that produces a large growth 

 of wood usually produces liitle fruit. Select 

 rolling ground then, if convenient; if not, plant 

 by all means on such as you have. Fruit can 

 be grown on an underdrained slough, as the 

 writer can testify from experience, but not pro- 

 fitably. 



In regard to soils suitable for small fruits, 

 such as the gooseberry, currant, blackberry, Jcc , 

 we cannot speak so positively as of the large, 

 but would recommend rather moist soils — our 

 experience and observation favoring such prac- 

 tice. All who have gathered blackberries from 

 their native thickets, must have observed that 

 the finest berries are found on level and moist 

 soils, or near the border of sloughs, or where the 

 ground is parnally shaded. The same may be 

 said of strawberries — however, both are pro- 

 duced on nearly all soils. In short, for large 

 fruits a dry, and for most small fruits, a rather 

 wet soil is best. 



By far the most important question remains to 

 be coDsiuered, viz. : what kinds or species, and 

 varieties of fruit can be successfully produced 

 in Northern Illinois ? If we wish to produce the 

 orange or fig, we must migrate towards the 

 tropics, for we cannot, without artificial heat, 



produce them here, and they can be imported 

 cheaper than produced by such meaiis. 



Now, because the quince, nectarine, peach, 

 pear and plum, cannot be grown with profit, it 

 does not follow that this is not a "fruit country." 

 It only proves that certain kinds of very desira- 

 ble fruit cannot be profitably grown here. If 

 planting with a view only to profit, our advice is 

 to plant none of the kinds last mentioned, but 

 be content with the apple, cherry, grape, goose- 

 berry, currant, blackberry, raspberry and straw- 

 berry. We do not advise the total abandon nent 

 of the pear, peach, plum and quince, but we do 

 aJvise fruit growers not to depend on them to 

 supply themselves and the market w:th fruit for 

 we can assure them that they will oft'mesbe very 

 hungry for fruit, and the market that depends 

 upon them very poorly supplied. 



As has been remarked in regard to kinds, so 

 with varieties. If we must grow the Roxbury 

 Russet and Baldwin, or Newtown Pippin, and 

 wish to prdouce them in abundance and perfec- 

 tion, by all nieans should we plant in New Eng- 

 land or on the banks of the Hudson, for neither 

 of them can be grown with reasonable success 

 here. But if the object is to succeed, we already 

 have a long catalogue of varieiies from which to 

 select, that are hardy and productive ; many of 

 them justly celebrated wherever grown, from the 

 Atlantic ocean to the Mississippi river for iheir 

 excellence. 



We append a small catalogue of apples which 

 experience has shown to be adapted to Northern 

 Illinois : 



Yellow June, Sweet June, Carolina Red June, 

 Ea'-ly Pennock, Smith's Cider, Monarch, Prince's 

 Winter Sweet, Pomme Grisse, Vandevere, Yellow 

 Bellflower, Riule's Janet, Small Romanite, Toll- 

 man's Sweet, Winesiip, White Winter Pear- 

 main and Willow Twig. 



The list can be easily extended, but the tore- 

 going will furnish good fruit the year round. 

 Those who have little or no experience iu this 

 region, we would advise to procure from the 

 most successful orchardist in their vicinity, a list of 

 varieties that succeed best with them, and plant 

 mostly of the varieties so obtained. We would 

 not discourage experiments ; what we particu- 

 larly wish is, to so advise that the gardncr may 

 make a " sure thing of it." 



CnERBIES. 



None of the Mazzard, or sweet varieties of the 

 cherry can be relied upon, as the trees will live 

 but a few yeais. But the varieties of the Mor« 



