The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-03-16
A Horticultural! Society and its Din nor

y,
is the centre Of remarkable fruit growing dis
trict. On the southeast it borders on the great
"American Bottom" On the north YOU come,
after few miles, to the spreading prairie. On
the south are the bluffs of the Mississippi rising
to near four hundred feet at one point above the
ever passing current below. These bluffs are
distinct geologic formation, with soil eminently
adapted to fruits, and flowers and vines. Broken
through by streams and ravines, lyiag IN all
shapes with slopes to every quarter, you may ob.
tain in emineuce. or in hollow. on the sunny side
or the other, difference in soil and temperature
fitted for all varieties of growths, and a soil OF
richness and quality such as you wish.
Horticulture here has been study. AS early
as 1853 society was formed which for many
years met for mutual improvement and the diff.
fusion Of knowledge as to the best methods of
work: the best tools; the best plants and seeds;
the best methods of culture as TO best methods
of marketing and the markets.
About 1868 it was found necessary TO begin
anew. The old society did not work satisfactorily.
1t was not success. The new organization pro.
posed meeting monthly, with the families of the
members, and at their homes, with q thinner to be
provided that should prove an attraction to the
eye and comfor. to the "Inner man Why
not? A man who drives FIVE, fifteen or twenty
miles would enjoy it all the better "having the
wife and children along" and if at p. NJ. he
was not hungry and capable of doing good din.
ner, he had no business the soil The soci.
ETY. thus re.organized, has gone on about nine
years meeting regularly the first Thursday in
each mouth, The work is earnest, thorough and
scientific. II is 40 child's play The chsirmen
of is standing committees comprise names pref.
y well known among statesmen, military men
and scientists, well rs hortcultursts It has
committees on orchards vineyards, ornamental
planting, botany, entomology, orchard fruits,
small fruits, wines. flowers and vegetables There
is nothing pertaining TO their work which is not
matter Of study, Of inquiry and Of careful read.
sng aud patient observation.
The results Of their labor. are frat l,brsry,
and then farms and vineyards, whore you will
find greater variety of flowers and fruits, and in
greater perfection, than in any other region Of
country.
But beyond these are social enjoyments. The
families are here brought together wives having
their holiday aud visit; their opportunities OF
information and inquiry; their acquaintance
with each others methods, home work and life.
Sometimes the attendance is as large as 100 or
greater. The fruits and flowers exhibited az.
fsrd ornanen, and instruction. \ range OF or
chard afforded, sometimes gives an exhibition Ct
marvel'ou. success in fruits, at once rich and
tempting ss to suggest TIE good hymn with
new application OF the fret lines
Il have been there and oft would 60.
lis like little haven below
Suggestive. perhaps. of the twelve manner eff
fruits and their fuIt every mouth
In winter, OF course, the meetings are indoors
This month it was at the residence OF Mr. II. H.
Smith, about one mile east OF Alton. and looking
down from eminence upon the great Mississ-
ippi. and two or three miles beyond the mouth
OF the Missouri. Here family Of culture re-
fnemeut and general intel!i sence, in ssnost com.
Portable and delightful home, employ its wealth
and leisure in remunerative horticulture. Fruit
trees Of al descriptions found in this latitude,
vineyards small fruits, flowers, sbubbery, every.
thing that pleases. instruct-, ennobles and en-
riches you may find. Within the house are
paintings and very choice and large collection
OF books in a fine looking library. The hospit.
able owner is at this time travelling in the Celes.
tial Empire, and from among the heather
Chinese writing graceful letters TO the Da,ly
Telegraph.
But the homes of al the members are not 30
comfortable and we'll furnished That for in.
stance Of my friend Mr.. Jas. Z. Starr, now presi.
dent of the State Horticultural Society. 1t il
none the less delightful for being in part and
chiefly log cabin. 1t has, however, its ample
and we'll stored library, and stands amid his SIX
hundred acres on an emluence Of rare beauty,
overlooking the confluence of the Illinois. the
Missouri and the Mississippi rivers Scattered
here and there around are thirty.six acres of
vineyard, thousand young but bearing apple
trees, cherry, plum, peach, pear, nectarine, ap.
ricot, persmmon, pecan, walnut, butternut
and hickory trees cultivated and wild, not quite
intermingling, yet in close proximity. tell you
with what iruitfulness and abundance nature
supplies to her dilgent husbandman.
What WAS going 10 say was, that whore the
house is not pslatial, ia spring, sammer and
sutumn, the meetings are usually out door. and
the dinner also, in grove or forest, under TEN.
porary arbors on the green grass. Hot tea and
coffee with cold meats, cakes, fruits &c are serv.