The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-02-23

Fruit. .
EE We publish. to-day, a commun-
cation from Mr.. BEEBEE, of the firm Of
HoRR & BEEBEE, of Dubuque Mr..
BEEBEE is one of the proprietors of the
Dubuque Nurseries, and has had consid
cradle experience in the matter of fruit
culture in Northern Iowa, and SO is en-
titled to speak. He asserts that fruit
good fruit-can be raised in Northern
Iowa-and does not let the matter rest
with his mere ipse dirt, but gives facts
to sustain him. He admits, as all must
admit, that it is work of care, of judg-
ment, but it is a work that repays well
the labor. He says truly, that the pros
perity of Northern Iowa depends much
upon the solution of this fruit question.
Thousands more would have been added
to her population had not the word gone
forth that Northern Iowa is too "cold
and barren to raise fruit; and thousands
more doubtless stand ready to take lot
and part with U.s. as soon as we can dem
onstrate satisfactorily that we can raise
our own apples. 1t behoves US, then,
for the good of the country, and our ma
terial interests-to say nothing of the
luxures involved-to test this question
to the fullest extent, 10 spare no pains,
lack no exertion, to give il a favorable
solution Our difficulties are not novel
ones. They have been repeatedly met
in other localities, have there been con-
sidered just as insurmountable, but have
fully given way TO energy and intelli-
gent experience. In Vermont and other
parts of New England it was just as dog
matically asserted that fruit raising was
impossible, as it is here but time has
shown that intelligence and experience
were equal to the task of bringing forth
orchards and fruit even in these stony
regions. So. too. are the same powers
demonstrating that Iowa is capable of
raising fruit unsurpassed in appearance
and general excellence. In proof of this.
read what Mr. BEEBEE and others have
to say OF apples grown in Dubuque coun-
ty.
Experience has taught one thing rel
alive to the matter, and that is, that
Eastern grown trees are entirely unsuited
fol our climate, unles they are of very
hardy varieties. This should not be
overlooked in future experiments. This
is no drawback now, however, for Messrs.
Horn Il BEEBEE and others in the State,
are ready to supply native trees, grated
with acceptable and hardy varieties
Another thing, too, has been demonstra-
ted by experience, viz: that it is UNI
rea sonable and absurd to suppose that
trees will grow here, when simply stuck
in the ground, and left without care and
attention. They won't do it, and il must
not be expected. Corn, potatoes, cab
bage, and other things of comm on
growth won't do it. How then, can YOU
ask SO much of the trees But doubtless
most Of our readers are ready here to cry
out for directions as to the course TO be
taken. We expected as much, and what
we have written has been intended main
ly to introduce some directions given in
Mr.. BEEBEE pamphlet, which he has
not embodied in his article, and which
we know our readers would like to see.
They are not many, but are as follows
First then, Mr.. BEEBEE and his CORES
pondents-gentlemen who have had long
experience in fruit culture at Galena and
Dubuque-recommen the purchase Of
hardy varieties of trees. I'd. They should
be ola low branching or pyramidial form,
the better to withstand our high, dry
winds, and by their spreading tops to
protect the body from the heat of the sun
in summer, and from the too rapid
thawing out ofthat side most exposed to
its power, in the vaporless air of winter.
Occupy your best, most easily drained
ground, which, if too wet, should be un-
derdrained. Ii should be sheltered as
much as possible from northwest winds