Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-01-12

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injury to others, even among the
hardest varieties), as well as from
the unusual vicissitudes Of the fol-
lowing Spring.
These injuries were experiences
the most severely south of the middle
portion of the State, where, as a gen
eral thing only partial crop was
gathered, with the exception Of
grapes, which were abundant and Of
a superior quality.
In Northern Iowa the crops of all
kinds were generally good; SO that,
taking the entire State together,
there was not much less than an
average production, and had it been
equally distributed, / believe, would
have furnished almost, II not quite,
sufficient supply for home con-
sumption. These diminutions Of the
fruit crop occur in all portions of the
United States, and it is a qualification
| to be assured that in no locality are
failures less frequent than in the
State of Iowa, and especially those
resulting from spring frosts. In
this respect we are exceedingly fa-
vored.
After nearly sixteen years resi-
dence, I can state that in Marion
County, tand I believe ] am safe in
saying the same for all the Southern
Counties,) the fruit crop has never
been once entirely destroyed by
Spring frosts, and only twice par
tally killed, last Spring being the
worst of the two exceptions. In
most of the other. States where fruits
are grown to any considerable ex-
tent, the loss of the crops by frost,
during, or after, the blooming sea-
son, is quite frequent, and constitutes
the chief cause of failures or diminu.
tions.
The past season having been quite
favorable for the formation and full
development of fruit buds, we may
very reasonably anticipate fair
yield for the present year; and, If SO,
necessarily a large aggregate increase
over any former one.
In addition TO other favorable in
dications calculated to inspire new
courage and zeal among the members
of our Society, in the work wherein
we have "put our hands to the
plough" and therefore should not
'look back" I am happy to advert
to one which ! conceive to be of vast
import, and which having been fair
ly inaugurated, will, if backed up by
our Society, and the friends of Hor-
ticulture and fruit culture generally,
give us our true position, or proper
status.
BY the friendship and wisdom OF
the State Board of Trustees, their
Committee on Organization, and the
President of the Iowa State Agricul-
tural College, we have now i'm that
Institution not only Professor OF
Horticulture, (which according TO
the true import of the term means
ardeaiag, and embraces garden-fruit
culture but also a Professor Of Po-
mology, which comprises fruit-cul-
ture in its most eomPfehensivesense'
These are now taught as separate and
distinct branches i'm q Collegiate In
! stitt.tiurr st ttiitttt.ttiurr 7kfftfhUugh Tor many years
such step has been discussed and
urged by some of our best writer's. on
Pomology and Horticulture, our
young, but progressive "Little Gil
ant" State, has the honor Of leading
off i'm a reform which, emenating
from the source it does, angurs glori-
ously for the future, as Iowa never
retrogrades or backs down from any
laudable enterprise she undertakes.
Her destiny is onward and upward;
radically progressive in every thing
which has tendency to promotethe
interests, and elevate the character
Of her people. Why, will ask,
should not the rudiments and prac-
tice Of Pomology and Horticulture
be thoroughly inculcated in the
minds of our Youth equally with
any other Sciences? Can we adopt
more forcible argument to prove the
goodness of Providence, than by pla.
cling before young students the most
healthy and beautiful products ofour
soil, attended by their various modes
of culture, and thus guide them in
way to appreciate Natures most pre-
cious bounties, fostered by the iDge-
nuity and industry Of mankind?
Would it not aid to extend and exc
pand the youthful intellect, and often
in subsequent stage Of life, become
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