108 



THE ILLmOIS FAEMER. 



April 



York varieties. Tiiese were rotten at heart, but 

 new wood had formed outride, and tlio trees had 

 borne well since. Thinks th^.t wliere the present 

 season the baik is alive, that luoder.ite eultivation 

 and cutting b-ick wll save the trees. Thinks tlie 

 Liir^e Kai 1\- York and Early Tillotson are the mo^t 

 hardy this ye^ir. 



F. Stiu-r said old trees have suiTered most with 

 him ; young trees less. 



Dr. iiuil said that the injury in the winter of 

 1855-(i was not caused by excessive cold. The 

 thermometer then sinking no lower than 12 degrees 

 below zero. But in the fall of 1855 the peach and 

 cherry cast their leaves ; a new growth was put 

 fourth, and smail fruit of a second crop formed, 

 and the trees entered the winter in very bad con- 

 dition. The present winter the preceding sleet I 

 caused more injury than the excessive cold. In 

 the case of injury to trees he thinks the injury is 

 thrown off not covered up. 



Mr. .M'Pike said the section exhibited by Mr. 

 Huggins looked like all other peach trees of equal 

 age' 



Dr. Hall said trees here on the bluff were but 

 little injured. Heart cherry, contrary to his ex- 

 pectations had escaped. The wood of the peach 

 of hist years growth was a little discolored. 



Mr. ILiggins thought trees of medium age, like 

 Dr. Hull's endured the cold better than younger or 

 older trees. 



Mr. Brown said pcaoli trees were improving in 

 appearance. 



On motion of Mr. Dimmick the Secretary was 

 instructed to write to the Commissioner of agricul- 

 ture, and solicit a supply of flower seeds for the 

 lady members of the Society. 



On motion of Mr. Long, a similar instruction 

 was given as to new varieties of gr;ipe vines. 



Mr. Riehl wiis appointed an essayist for .May. 



Dr. Hull will readan essay upon " Roots "al 

 the next meeting. 



Mr. Huggins, Maj. Long, and Mr. Burton, bein,',. 

 appointed a fruit committee pro tem, reported i'l.: 

 following apples on exhibitii n. 



By M". Flagg, Pryor's Red and Newtown Pippin, 

 fine specimens. 



By Mr. Curtis, very fine epecimens of Newtow:: 

 Pippin, and a sweet red whicli may be Caiupfield. 



Mr. Pearson, .Mr. Dimmock; and Mr. Flag:;, wei 

 appointed a committee to select future placi'S (! 

 meeting 



The Society then adjourned to meet at Mes.'srs. 

 A. and F. Starr's on Saturday, April 2J, at Id 

 o'clock, A. M. 



W. G. FLAGG, Sec'y. 



The Alton Horticultural Society is among the 

 most useful institutions of the State and is having 

 a most decided effect on the surroundings of the 

 city ami the vicinity. 



The fruit growers of that section are mostly men 

 of wealth and education, thus combining ability 

 and means, to develop the resources of what is natur- 

 ally one of the best locations in the west fortius 

 branch of buisness whether we consider the nature 

 of the formation of the river bluff, the equalizing 

 effect of the river, the mild summer climate, or 

 the facilitii'S for transportation. We shall look 

 forward to these reports with especial intercit. 



We also hope to give our readers a more detailed 

 account from the gardens and orchards of that 

 locality early in the season, from a personal 

 inspection. Since our last visit to that place 

 great progress must have been made, judging 

 of the large shipments annually made since that 

 time. 



In this connection we copy from one of the Alton 

 papers a discription of the grounds of Dr. E. S. 

 Hull. 



" Dr Hull's f;irm is situated about three miles 

 above Alton, near the river on which it looks 

 down from an elevation of some two hundred 

 and fifty feet. The somewhat projecting point 

 affords a view extending from the mouth of the 

 Missouri, to far above the Portage des Sioux 

 on the river; and over the Missouri bottfim to the 

 St. Charles' bluffs, on the opposite shore. The 

 somewhat monotonous character of our level prai- 

 rie State, gives the force of strong contrast to this 

 picturesque view ; and meditations upon t!;e pres- 

 ent and past along the river chffs invest tliem with 

 the " rime of age, " and the romance of hi-tory. It 

 was along these rocky shores, if we may believe 

 Indian tradition, that the dread monster of the 

 Piasa preyed upon the red men, and anoth(>r Curiius 

 offered himself in sacrafice for the welfare of his 

 countrymen. Here came Marquette giding soli- 

 tary along the then lonely Father of Waters and 

 saw the terrible monster painted on the clifts, two 

 centuries ago. But now the laboring steamer 

 awakens the hollow echoes of the over hanging 

 rock, and the commerce of a thousand towns pass- 

 es by. 



Biit the scenic attractions of this locality are 

 added others of more substantial character. The 

 Loesx or BInff Formatimi. of this part of the Miss- 

 issippi, is one of the best fruit soils. The cnflu- 

 once of the Mississippi, the Illinois and the Miss- 

 ouri, tempers the reverity of frost ; and the eleva- 

 tion of the bluffs throws off the cold airs of Spring 

 and .Autumn and the uuhealthful moisture of tum- 

 mer. " 



Here Dr. Hull began his labors in 1850 having 

 sold his first fruit firm west of Mc^nticllo to the 

 Messrs. Starr. Tho-e who visited his place during 

 the past summer, will bear witness to the success 

 which has attended his severe labors. Ti:e Peach, 

 the Plum, the Nectarine, the Apricot, the Cherry 

 and the Grape, all griw in great pr.. fusion and 

 excellence. — For beauty, quality and quantity com- 

 bineii, the orchard wis never excelL'din the West. 

 Dr, Hull has growing 

 51) Nectarine Trees, 20 Quince Trees, 

 450 Apple " 2,600 Grape Vines, 



200 Pear " 2,000 Current Bushes, 



1,500 Peach '' loO Gooseberry " 

 100 Cherry " 500 Raspberry " 



200 Plum ' " i Acre Strawberrv. 



12 Appricot 



One thousand Newtown Pippins are to be added, 

 it is believed, the present Spring, and the vineyard 

 will probably receive some accessions. " 



2;^" A London journal says that as the habit of 

 smikinsc has increased in England that of deep 

 drinking has gone out. That is something in favor 

 of the smokers. 



