u 



THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK. 



Feb. 



involved in the general disaster. It is probable 

 flome of them will be saved, where snow lodged 

 among the trees of sufficient depth to cover the 

 buds. 



Unless the Michigan orchards have been more 

 fortunate, the Northwest will be without peaches, 

 at least the present year, and but small supplies 

 for the next two or three years. 



From what we have seen and heard we have no 

 doubt that all the blossom buds of the peach are 

 killed west of the AUeghanies. and at least a hun- 

 dred miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. 



The cold at this point on tlie hills was 1 8 degreeg 

 below zero, and 22 degrees in the valleys. 



The peach had become a necessity to all classes 

 of people, either in their ripe state, canned or dried. 

 Last year hundreds of thousands of bushels of this 

 fruit were grown within the bounds named, and to 

 cut off this supply for a single year will be a hard- 

 ship. Verily it may be said of a truth that the loss 

 of a fruit crop is a public calamity. We have never 

 been called an alarmist, yet the above will startle 

 many an owner of a peach orchard, who is solac- 

 ing himself with the idea that he may have at least 

 a small crop, but on investigation will find that he 

 has hugged a delusion. On our way to this place 

 our enpuiries as to the peach crop was answered — 

 " all killed North, for so 'Rural ' has stated in the 

 Tribune, but Egypt will have peaches enough." 

 Alas for Egypt, the destroyer has passed over her 

 rich orchards that we have so often seen laden with 

 luscious fruit. 



Since our arrival here, we have met the same 

 answer, but now the excitement is intense, as we 

 visit orchard after orchard, knife in hand and show 

 the truth as it exists. We know that the wood 

 and bark of the peach can be badly discolored and 

 yet the tree survive ; let us hope for the best, for 

 even that is sufficiently unpleasant 



THE APPLE. 



The early harvest is the only one in the list at 

 this point that appears at all injured, and on this 

 a portion of the blossom buds appear sound. The 

 apple crop, to all appearance, will be an usual one. 

 We have examined a large number of varieties, and, 

 with this single exception, have not found a twie 

 injured by the cold. Orchardists at the North will 

 do well to take a look through their grounds. 



THE PLUM. 



The trees do not appear to be injured, but the 

 blossom buds are dead. 



Thus far this crop has been of no value here, as 

 the love of the curculio for this fruit has been too 

 great to withstand his attacks on it, though just 

 now orchardists suppose themselves possessed of a 

 remedy that will prove effective, but they must 

 wait another year to give it further trial. 



THE CHERRY. 



The blossom buds on the May cherry, or, as it is 

 called in the north part of the State, Early Rich- 

 mond, are more than half killed, but enough is left 

 to make a fair crop, if they should open as their 

 present appearance indicates. The common Mor- 

 rello buds are still worse injured. On the Duke 

 and other sweet cherries scarcely a bud is left. — 

 The trees are apparently not seriously injured, es- 

 pecially the May cherry. 



GRAPES. 



The grape crop at this point has thus far proved 



a failure, on account of the rot. In examining the 

 vines they do not appear to be much injured. This 

 may be deceptive, however, and may not show the 

 effect of the cold until they begin to grow in the 

 spring, but now the canes look sound. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Of course the snow covering that came with the 

 cold has protected this crop from harm. The 

 drouth and white grub combined have injured the 

 prospect, and it is estimated that at best there can 

 not be more than two-thirds of the quantity grown 

 last season. 



VEGETABLES. 



Potatoes, apples, and other vegetables are badly 

 frozen, and their loss will prove a serious inconven- 

 ience. Sweet potatoes for seed will be a scarce 

 commodity. 



ANOTHER STORM. 



Yesterday morning was clear and spring-like ; 

 the snow which was about three or four inches 

 deep, was rapidly melting, and the roads in places 

 became muddy. During the afternoon it clouded 

 up, and at seven o'clock it began to snow ; great 

 flakes came down like a northern winter, thicker 

 and faster ; the wind moaned among the hills, and 

 soughed through the forest walls, that stood but a 

 few rods from our sleeping room. We never wit- 

 nessed a wilder night, the wind and snow beating 

 that of the never-to-be-forgotten Thursday night 

 which closed the old year, and only lacked its in- 

 tense cold to be as fearful. Nor have we ever 

 known a greater fall of snow in the same length of 

 time in the deep forests of New York, as fell with- 

 in the past night. The snow is now two feet deep 

 on a level in the woods, an amount in this part of 

 the State (lat. 3*7 deg. 80 min.) before unknown to 

 either the oldest inhabitant or his father. At this 

 writing it is still snowing. 



We shall mail this letter to-day, but if the storm 

 has been as severe north as here, it will not reach 

 you in a week. 



To-night was set for a grand gathering of the 

 fruit growers of this section, numbering some for- 

 ty establishments, but of course it must be delayed 

 until they can shovel out a passage-way among the 

 deep gorged, narrow lanes that are dignified with 

 the name of roads. During the previous storm, 

 thousands of hogs, that have mostly been in the 

 woods, were frozen to death, and those which es- 

 caped will have the prospect of starving to death 

 for the want of food. — Chi. Trib. 



■«•»- 



Purther about the Fruit Crop— Sweet 

 Potatoes to be Sent to Market 

 throughout the Winter— Varieties of 

 Fruits- Cotton growing. 



CoBDEN, III. Jan. 29, 1864. 



We met a large number of the fruit growers on 

 the evening of the 18th. They all concurred in the 

 views that we expressed in our last letter, in re- 

 gard to the fruit prospect and the damage to the 

 trees, both grafted and seedling, are damaged, and 

 that the fruit is killed. 



On further examination, we find the older peach 

 trees the most injured, the young orchard in some 

 cases being but little affected. 



It is said that there is never a loss without some 



