Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-09-08

FFk7 = Iah
) About eighteen miles from Water
loo, ON the eastern edge Of Spring
Greek township, Is the orchard Of
James Ridpath. probably the most
extensive orchard of bearing trees in
the northern part OF the State. A
few days ago we had the pleasure OF
visiting this orchard, and of inter-
viewing Mr.. Ridpath, and we pro-,
pose telling what we saw and heard
on that occasion. s4lo 4
The entire grounds comprise forty
acres, some thirtysfive of which are
planted to, trees. The location Ii
open prairie entirely barren Of pro-
lection from timber, either native or
artificial, thus proving that our prai-
rie winds, are not always entirely
destructive to fruit trees, when not
warded Off by wind breaks.n The
view from the road. at this season, is
one of surpassing beauty, suggestive
of Eden In Its best days roa as,Fa ll,pg'
" The orchard at present embraces
about 1900 hearing trees ranging
from ten to fifteen years old, aud was
put out by q. Mr.. Bouck, at present
carrying on the nursery business
near Independence. Mr.. Ridpath
bought the place about four years ago,
but found the trees badly infested
with canker-worms, and but few of
them bearing He commenced ex-
perimenting to find out the best
method OF exterminating the worms,
aud after q couple of years work
Jhinks he has succeeded. Mr.. Rid-
path also found many OF the trees on
low ground, and In, wet seasons, OF
course, the water stood around the
roots, which evil he has remedied by
throwing the earth towards the tree,
thus securing perfect drainage. a.s,
To overcome these evils Mr.. Rid
path has had to work with might
and main,n and to spend money
without stint, but he did II with the
strong faith that he had good thing,
and In the end would see his labors
crowned with success. And he has.
The crop of the present season must
certainly amply repay him Tor his
four years toll, and the money he has
spent In improving his place. n ,lS-. b
Mr.. Ridpath has some sixty varie>
ties of apples-although he thinks u
he were to. put out an entirely new
orchard about ten varieties would
embrace the largest portion. IL be
Increased the number, IT. woald he
lsimply for sLhe- purpose of expert
| menting. The varieties raised most.
NY by Mr.. R. are the Russet, Yellow
Reliflower, willow Twig, Domini
Little Red ANTE, Swaar, Para.
disc, Winter Sweet, Golden Russet
and some other whose names we
lhave forgotten We, were also shows
several trees of, Rhode Island Green
ings, q variety generally supposed
worthless In this section, but
seeing the magnificent apples grow
ing on these trees, we are free tn con
fess that we believe they can bt
| raised, even In Iowa. Mr.. Ridpatt
proposes to have specimens at the
coming County Fair.
Mr.. Ridpath estimAtes his crop the
present season at about $500 bushels
land DIR. Wasson, ,-of La Porte, thinks
Iit will reach 4,0O0. The trees ara
fairly loaded down with fruit. and
props are a necessity to q great por'
ton OF them. We Understood Mr.
Ridpath 10 cay that he had harvested
20 bushels the present year from ono
bof his trees. and he has quite q large
number that will undoubtedly give
ten bushels to the tree. On one tree
we saw . small limb about three feeI
long, that contained sixty apples.
| In front of his house, Mr.. Ridpatl
has q row OF Siberian crabs, all Toad
ed with fruit, and presenting very
attractive and besutiful appearances
He has other varieties Of crabs grow
ing, among which Is the Montrea
Beauty, which he designs training !,
q treIlis, WdferIo0 Reporter. s8ilaJ