Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-09-15
ABlaokhawk County Orchard.

The Waterloo Reporter gives the
following account OF a successful
venture in fruit raising, originally
commenced by one of our own citi-
zcns, MFR. Bouck. We have ON
several occasions had opportunity
to test the quality of fruit from Mr..
Ridpath's orchard:
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 in
tcrviewing Mr.. Ridpath, and we
propose telling what we saw and
heard on that occasion.
The entire grounds comprise
forty acres, some thirty five Of
which arc planted to trees. The
location is open prairie entirely
barren Of protection from timber,
either native or artificial, thus PROV
ing that our prairie winds, are not
always entirely destructive to fruit
trees, when not warded of by
"wind brakes" The view from
the road, at this season, is one of
surprising beauty, suggestive Of
Eden in its best days.
The orchard at present embraces
about 1920 bearing trees ranging
from ten to fifteen years old, and
was put out by Mr.. Bouck. Mr..
Ridpath bought the place about four
years ago, but found the trees bad
ly infested with cankcr worms, and
but few of them bearing. He com
menced experimenting to find out
the best method Of exterminating
the worms, and after a couple Of
years work thinks he has succeed
ed. Mr.. Ridpath also found many
Of the trees standing on low ground,
and in wet seasons, of course, the
water stood around the roots. which
evil he has rcmedied by throwing
the earth towards the trees, thus
securing perfect drainage.
To overcome tt csc evils Mr.. Rid
path has had to work with "might
and main," and to spend money
without stint, but he did it with the
strong faith that he had good
thing, and in the end would see his
labors crow ned with success. And
he has. The crop the present sea-
son must certainly amply repay him
for his four years toll, and the
money he has spent in improving
his place.
Mr.. Ridpath has some sixty va
rieties apples although he thinks
if he were to put out an entirely
new orchard about ten varieties
would embrace the largest portion.
If he increased the number it would
be simply for the purpose of expert
menting. The varieties raised
mostly by Mr.. r., are the Russell,
Yellow Belltlowcr, Willow Twig,
Domini, Little Red Romantic,
SSaar, Paradise Winter Sweet,
Golden Russell, and some others
whose names we have forgotten.
We were also shown several trees
of Rhode Island Greetings, a va
riety generally supposed to be
worthless i'll this section, but after
seeing the magnificent apples grow
ing on these trees, we are free to
confess that we believe they can be
raised, even in Iowa.
Mr.. Ridpath estimates his crop
the present season about $500
bushels, and DR.. WATSON of Laportc
thinks it will reach 1000. The
trees are fairly loaded down with
fruit, and props arc necessity to a
grca portion of them. We under
stood Mr.. Ridpath to say that he
had harvested 20 bushels the pres
ent year from one Of his trees, and
he has quite large number that
will undoubtedly give ten bushels
to the tree. On one tree we saw a
small limb about three feet long,
that contained sixty apples.
In front of his house, Mr.. Ridpath
has row of Siberian crabs, all
loaded with fruit, and presenting a
very attractive and beautiful APP
pearance. He has other varieties
of crabs growing, among which is
the Montreal Beauty, which he de-
signs training to trellis.