The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-03-22
.anlbrla County.
CHAPTER ".
General DESCRIPTION.


county cannot vie with some Of her sister
counties, certainly in the horticultural de-
partment she has few superiors. In the
culture Of the various fruits, our husband
men have been very successful. 1t might,
naturally enough, be supposed that our
high geographical position and the cold
ness of our climate would render the cul-
tivation of fruit an inauspicious expeli-
nient, but actual experience has led to a
different conclusion. The fact that the
best apples in the world are produced in
the valley Of the Hudson-where the sea-
sons are more severe than our owns a
sufficient answer to any objection on the
score Of climate.
The truth is, the lateness of the season,
when
"Winter lingering chills the lap of Spring"
prevents the putting forth of buds until
the season of heavy frosts has passed !;
whilst the constant mountain breeze pre-
vents that greatest enemy to our orchards,
the hoarirost, from settling on the bios
SONS. Hence, it frequently occurs, Shat,
when fTuit is plenty with US, our neigh
bors in the sister counties of Indiana and
Blair are entirely destitute Of this luxury.
Apples are exceedingly abundant, near
ly every alternate year, Qor no where 90
apple orchards produce largely for two
years in succession,) in every portion Of
the county. The same may be said o.
pears. But peaches and plums, though
cultivated all over the county, are favor
ite productions Of Carroll township, whose
farmers sell immense quantities of them
every season.
1t Is to be regretted that our fruit
growers have not paid more attention to
the Improvement of their orchards. 4
lew OF our nursery men, among whom /
cannot torbear mentioning the names of
E. A Eickroy, Esq, and Mr.. Charles Ell
lis, have contributed largely to the i'm
provement of this important department
Of agriculture
Our forest trees are the same, in gen
eral, with other portions of Pennsylvania :;
but as general rule, they attain a larger
growth here than elsewhere However,
this Is not always an advantage; for if a
valuable tree brings more on account Of
Its size, worthless one, on the other hand,
is much harder to be got rid of in clearing
the land.
The different varieties of Oak, (White
Oak, Black Oak, Red Oak, and Others
are to be found here on nearly all our ta-
BILE land, and are used for fuel, rail timber,
stayes, clapboards, tanning, and some 9TH
cr purposes.
The Walnut is found here also-the
Black Walnut principally in Concmaush
township, and the White Walnut in diff
ferent portions of the county. The for
mer is priced as well for the excellence Of
its fruit when huiled and dried as for the
value of the wood, which commands a
high price in the Eastern marke:, having,
in great measure, supplanted mahogany
as yeneering for furniture. The White
Walnut or Butternut is also very palata-
bic when fully ripe and preserved.
Neither is the Hickory very common
with US though in particular neighbor-
hoods, as. the Hickory Ridge in Allegheny
township, it abounds. It's fruit is also
very delicious; its wood furnishes the best
of fuel and is also used for axe-handles.
&c, on account Of its firmness while the
saplinSs are in great demand for hoop
poles.
Maple abounds. The different varieties
are all to be found in this county, consist
ing Of White or Silver, the Red, and the
Sugar Maple. The two former are much
used by wheolwrights and other mcchan
les, particularly what is known as Curled
Maple, which makes very handsome fur
niture. The Sugar Maple is very COM
mon and a very valuable tree From it
many Of our farmers supply themselves
with sugar and molasses for the year, and
besides send large quantities to market.
The nsodas operGndi is this:
A grove of sugar trees, as they are
called, mile or more in circumference. is
technically called Il sugar camp" Some
where near the centre. q shed is erectod