Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-03-04
For the Cedar Fails Gazette.
TREE PLANTING AND FRUIT
GROWING

growing ITults ID iowa. In lew weeks the
season for tree planting will be here.
There is no enterprise or avocation, Of
more importance TO prairie country, save
agriculture, than growing trees aud fruits.
A home on tho prairies without trees and
shrubbery surrounding it, is dreary and des-
olate. Trees, shrubs, plants and flowers, en-
circling the farmers cottage, make home
pleasant, healthful and inviting spot and
there is no investment of time and money
that pays better than the planting Of shade,
ornamental and fruit trees. Beside the pleas
ure and comfort enjoyed, it enhances the val
ue Of property one hundred per cent. above
the outlay. ....-
At present it is more particularly my pur-
pose to call the attention of farmers, garden
ers and others in this locality, to fruit grow
ing. In Northern Iowa, as in Northern Hi.
nois, the question has been whether we can
make fruit growing a successful and paying
business. In Illinois the question is solved
beyond all doubt in the mind of every OBJ
serving man, that an abundance of fruit, of
the most choice varieties, can be, and is now
yearly grown,-also in Southern Wisconsin.
IT is already fully developed in many To-
calities Of Northern Iowa that fruits can be
successfully grown. Wherever good healthy
trees Of hardy varieties, have been planted
and properly cared for, they have done well.
To evince this fact | woulI like TO make a
statement Of what | saw few days ago in
the southeast part of Black Hawk County,
Spring Creek Township, Of an orchard Of
So acres containing 1890 apple trees. This
large and valuable orchard, is the property
of Mr. John Bcuk, a.friend and acquaintance
Of the writer, who left Winnebago Co., Ill.,,
ten years ago, with small means, and enter.
ed some wild prairie lards Oh the line Of Blu,
chanan and Black Hawk Counties. Nine
years ago he broke some land and planted
three bushels of apple seed, with view of
engaging in the nursery business and or.
charding, as fast as his small means would
allow. This seed camc up WELL and the fol-
lowing spring he put out one hundred and
forty thousand gratis. The succeeding win
ter was that severe and memorable one Of
1866, which so universally killed all tender
varieties Of fruits and nursery stock through.
out the Northwest. Mr. Bouk, with others.
suffered nearly the entire loss of his rromis.
ing stock of young trees, and at the time
was much discouraged. He sent to Illinois
and bought few hundred apple trees to
start an orchard, and cultivated the surviving
portion Of his nursery, and as they became
fit for transporting he filled up his orchard
to its present dimensions, consisting of some
fifty varieties, most Of which already are
beginning to bear fruit. Last year his crop
was over 100 bushels, and from the appear
ancc Of fruit buds now on his trees the pros
pect is that the present year will produce at
least 500 bushels Of apples. The leading
varieties in Mr.. BIS orchard are of Summer
applos-Early Red, Early Pennock, Sweet
June, Red June, Summer Queen, Hooking
and yellow Ingestrie. Winter-Dominic,
Famuse, Ta!lman Swecting, Raurs Jannctt,
Yellow BellHower, Golden Rusett, White
Winter PsirnaD, Paradise Winter Sweet and
others, all of which are vigorous and healthy.
1t has been my privilege to observe or
chards for the last few years in oil the West.
ern States, as well as Kentucky, Tennessee,
and Missouri, and | have no hestapcy in
saying that this 35 acre orchard Of Mr..
Bouk's is the best young orchard thar have
ever seen any where. 1t is worth ride Of
lCO miles to see it. No man after seeing it
will have any further doubt of the success OF
growing apples, at least, in Northern Iowa.
This orchard is located on the prairie near
~ mile from timber
To such as intend planting fruit trees this
Spring, the writer would refer them to his
advertisement and circulars, informing them
how they may procure good healthy, west
ern grown trees, which by all means should
be chosen before those grown in the East
I have just learned from the proprietor of the
Rockford Ullnois) Nursery, that his stock is
in excellent condition. 1t is my purpose, as
soon as the frost is out Of the ground, to go
in person and bring to CEDAR FALLS, for this
spring planting, a large quantity, and good
collection of fruit trees, Ersrgreens, Shrub
berry, Grapes, de-, which will be sold on more
reasonable terms, and will be much more 70.
liable stock than can be obtained through any
transient tree peddler for Eastern nurseries.
il. p. SLOAN.
CEDAR FALLS, March 2 1864.
The Dubuque Times learns that d. N
Cooley, Esq, Of that city has been appointed
by the President, Commissioner for the