Nebraska advertiser., 1858-05-27
Culture Of Fruit in Northern ILL.,
nOi0


The following extracts from a letter
from John R. Tull, Hancock Co., ILL.,,
furnish some interesting facts relative to
the best varieties for that region, as we'll
as such as are more liable to fail:
/ have a quantity of Specimen Seedlings
which | have selected from among many
thousands raised from seed selected from
different sections of country, which give
promise of good fruit, that have not all
borne yet, but have them coming into
bearing every year, and those that are in-
ferior | change by top-grafting; using
those varieties that bear best by this mode
of cultivation, among which are the yell
low Bellhower, Rhode Island Greening,
Michael Henry Pippin, Drap dor, Large
Early Bough, &C., &C.
The past cold winters have been effec-
tual in giving us very valuable information
in the cultivation of fruit in this country.
Notwithstanding it seems TO have ccme to
some of US at rather a costly rate, We
are now enabled to know those varieties
that are hardy and best suited to our clim-
ate and those that are not. Among those
that have been killed or badly injured by
the cold winters in this part of Illinois are
the following, viz;-Baldwin. Rambo,
Roxbury Russet, Fallawater, Fall Pippin,
Summer Bell Flower, Maiden's Blush,
American Golden Russet, Royal Red,
Mala Carla, Rhode Island Greening,
Vandevere Pippin, Limber Twig, and
Sugar Apple. These we can dispense
with, although some of them farther
south would do well, and ought not to be
left out of any selection made for south Of
thirty-nine degrees of north latitude
especially the Rambo, Fallawater, Fall
Pippin, Maiden's Blush, and American
Golden Russet;-and even here we can
not give up the Rambo and American
Golden Russet. intend to retain these
two varieties, hoping it will be long time
before we may have any more as cold
weather as we had in the winter of '55.
'56, and 81.
This section of country appears TO be
very favorable for the cultivation of fruit
especially the apple, and not very unfa-
Vorable for the peach. l have raised
some of the finest peaches in this country
that have ever met with any where in
the United States. In the summer ot
1866, had three hundred peach trees
selected from the best in cultivation from
different parts in the country, and they
had arrived 10 full bearing-ripening
from the 10Th of August to the middle ol
October; the fruit selling readily in mar
ket at from two to four dollars per bushel
some trees yielding from FIVE TO 81,
bushels; but the unusual cold weather Of
the following winter, destroyed most oi
the bearing trees-throwing us back sew.
eral years in the peach crop.
There are but few kinds of .cherrie:
that appear to be profitable here; the
Early Richmond being the best in all res
pects as yet tested by me. l have few
seedlings l hope to have bearing soon
that may prove to be good. l
Our correspondent also informs US tha
the Newtown Pippin is not worth cultivat
ing there; that the Roxburry Russet j
still worse, and that the Rhode Islant
Greening will not pay for cultivation. Il
reply to his inquiry relative TO the will
plum, which accidentally came up on tn,
bank of ditch in Delaware. his forme
residence, and bore a fruit between
cherry and plum, "of delicious flavor,
it was undoubtedly the Prunus .Ah1eri
cana, or the wild or mountain plum, whicl
improves much by cultivation. The see
might have been dropped by a bird. Thi
species is found wild in manyparts of tn
country, and embraces many varieties
some larger and stronger growers tha
others, the trees from eight to fifteen fee
high, and the fruit of various sizes, variou
shades of yellow and red, and differin
greatly in favor, some being almost c
honeyed sweetness. David Thomas, c
,, of Cayuga Co., N. Y, selected from tn
woods and planted an orchard of an aCr
,! of these plums nearly fifty years agt
which afterwards for many years Dor
abundant crops. some of them being e,
cellent and others of little value. Thi
; was famous orchard of its day, befor
the general introduction Of modern cult
vailed sorts.- Country Gentleman.