North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-04-01


Carroll Seminary, being about Ticenty-
.fre Acres. s%, .
Of the tree, shrub and fower-planting that
has taken place on the grounds Of the
Mount Carroll Seminary, at Mount Car
roll, Ill. We doubt if any institution in
the United States, certainly in the West,
can make similar showing. How much
it must add to the pleasure of student life
there, and how much to health and con-
tentmcnt. Yet, how easily it is all accom-
plished if proprietors have the taste and
inclination. This exhibit should have it's
effect upon proprietors and projectors of
similar institutions throughout the land.
The entire grounds are surrounded by
Usage orange hedge, together with three
division lines of Usage hedge, using some
thirty thousand plants. There is belt of
evergreens around the entire grounds on
two sides, planted six feet apart and on
the other two sides planted from ten to
eighteen feet apart, a belt Of decduous
trees, about twelve feet from the belt of
eyergreens and alternating with the vacan-
cies between the evergreens. deciduous
trees from fifteen to twenty feet apart;
also, a belt of trees outside the ground and
sidewalk, on nearly three sides. OF ever
green's planted for screens and scattered
over the grounds for ornament. there are
about two thousand, Of some fifteen differ.
ent varieties. Of deciduous shade and
ornamental trees, about six hundred, CON-
prising over sixty different varieties. Of
fruit trees, about one thousandiapple trees;
four hundred pear trees: three hundred
cherry trees; twenty-five crab-apple trees
and fifteen hundred grape vines.
Of small fruits; Strawberries, cooseber-
ries, currants.. .blackberries and raspberries
the numbers are past our estimate. We can
only say we have great quantities and nu-
merous varieties. Of garden roots and
vegetables, everything that can be grown
in this climate successfully may be found
on their grounds in season, in abundance
for a family of one hundred. Only part
Of the fruit trees are yet in bearing All
the fruits grown upon the grounds are
consumed at the scminary-nothing sold !!
The object is simply to supply to the in
stitution fruits ana vegetables Of every
kind and in as great abundance as any
student could enjoy at her own home. Two
grape arbors are built, one of which is
some three hundred feet long and twelve
wide, completely foored, and will soon be
well covered with vines, making a splendid
outdoor gymnasium.
There is also flower garden, in which
have been planted from time to time hun
dreds Of varieties Of roses and ornamental
shrubs and Towering plants. For exam
pie, the past season fifty varieties of dahlias
were planted; same number of varieties of
verbenas, &C., &c.
These seminary grounds which are tru-
ly an ornament to the city, have been
made what they are by two ladies, who
are the founders, principals and proprie-
tors of the institution. When they enter
ed upon the work, these premises were the
open prairie not a tree or a shrub, if we
except the "hazel brush,' belonging to the
grounds, and not ev. n fence enclosing it.
This barren waste these ladies have con-
verted into the beautiful grounds so briefly
described. The entire work of building up
an institution of learning, the high reputa-
ton of which is too widely known to need
comment from me, has been upon their
hands. All the improvements, repeated
enlargements of the building to meet the
constantly increasing wants Of the school,
enlarging the grounds, the horticultural
improvements ofthe grounds, all have been
projected, and plans drafted by and exc.
cuted under the personal supervision o.
these ladies. With the exception of an
unsuccessful experiment of six months
with a Board of Trustees in the early his
tory Of the school, no mans aid has bee,
had to fndncier the enterprise, or prejec
i'm DyoreDacntS Let the SUCCESS ATTENDING
pie to every lady reader of the Pairi'
Farmer. & Il .agII go .lasars s.t a.a