1862. 



THE ILLmOIS FAKMEK. 



261 



above list with the exception of late Golden 

 Sweet and Stannard have had such a trial in all 

 parts of the State that they can be confidently 

 recommended. At the south part of the Statp 

 Rawle's Janette should change places with snow 

 as to numbers. Willow Twig might also take 

 the place of Stannard to good advantage. 



PEABS. 



At this stage in the history of Pear culture 

 in this State, it would be premature to make up 

 a list. On the whole, pear culture has not given 

 satisfaction, though in some locations good crops 

 have been realized. The blight is the great 

 drawback. Bartlett has done well in all parts of 

 the State. Madaline appears to be a favorite al- 

 so Stevens' Genesee, Flemishes' Beauty, Belle 

 Lucrative, Louise Bonne de Jersey, and a few 

 others. For a standard pear Flemish Beauty 

 may safely be set at the head of the list. - Doy- 

 enne deEta, Madaline, Bartlett, White Doyenne, 

 Louise Bonne de Jersey, and Winter Nellis, 

 would make a list of six acceptable varieties. 



PEACHES. 



The member of the Committee engaged in 

 peach culture has failed to report, probably from 

 the reason that sufficient experience has not as 

 yet indicated the best varieties. 



Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Com- 

 mittee. 



M, L. Ddnlap. 



Champaign, III., Aug. 4, 1862. 



— As a general thing, fruit lifts have done 

 more to mislead than to direct ns aright. It in 

 duces us to exclude all others and to adopt the 

 varieties nsmed, whereas of the fifteen hundred 

 or two thosand varieties but few, comparatively, 

 have had such a trial as will place them either 

 inside or outs'de the list. We have several va- 

 rieties now on trial that we think will prove as 

 good or even betterthan those in the above list, 

 for the very good reason that they have not had 

 a general trial. We shall therefore expect addi- 

 tions from time to time to this list. It is our 

 purpose to gather up facts, not set forth theo- 

 riees, The culture of fruits with us has been a 

 study for years, and we are just beginning to 

 g asp some of its truths — we have discarded its 

 pedantL-y and have turned to the daily demon- 

 stration of facts. The meeting of the State Hor- 

 ticultural Society in Chicago, will furnish amass 

 evidence of no small value. The American Po- 

 mological Society have given up the idea of a 

 National list, in this way they will accomplish 



some good if they do no harm. They will dis- 

 eminate many facts valuable to us all. We can 

 but urge upon tree planters to select such varie- 

 ties as have proved hardy and productive in 

 their neighborhood rather than such sorts as have 

 a reputation at some distant point. 



We are satisfied that this is yet to be the great 

 fruit growing State of the West. Let us look to 

 what we pL nt. Ed. 



Report of Fruit Gommittee. 



We have elsewhere gi?en the report of the 

 Local Committee of the American Pomological 

 Society, and we now give extracts from the re- 

 ports of members to the Chairman. 



Mr. A. S. Coe, of Port Byron, says : "It is 

 now something more than twenty years since a 

 few intelligent horticulturists began to turn their 

 attention to fruit growing in this portion of the 

 State. They soon found that they had under- 

 taken an enterprise involving no small amount 

 of labor. 



The exceeding fertility of the soil, great heat 

 of summer, severity of winter, together with 

 high winds throughout nearly the year, make up 

 a sum total that is truly appaling. They, how- 

 ever, went resolu'.ely to work, to overcome all 

 difficulties that skill and patience could subdue. 

 The Sfcvere winter of 1854-'5, proved that many 

 varieties then in cultivation must be abandoned. 



Twenty years ago the peach was cultivated 

 with some success, producing fruit at least as 

 often as onca in three years, but has produced 

 but one crop in the last ten yeari. Early cultl- 

 tivators were more or less successful with the 

 plum, but of late it has proved almost an entire 

 failure from the attack of the curculio. 



In pears so little has been done as yet that 1 

 am not not prepared to say what the prospect of 

 success wi;h further experience may be. But 

 from present prospects 1 fear they can never be 

 grown with profit. 



In the cultivation of the apple much progress 

 has been made, simply because the ' conditions ' 

 are better understood. 



After discarding the more tender variaties, re- 

 taining a few of the half hardy, because produc- 

 tive, and selecting dry soil in making additions 

 to orchards, cultivators have the pleasure of see- 

 ing their trees annually bending beneath heavy 

 loads of fine and luscious fruit." 



J. H. Stewart, writing from Quincy, 111., says: 

 "I shall leave this pear question to you, as I 

 cannot recommend any one to plant a thousand 



