Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-07-19
NO. III.
#istellaneons.
EDWARD r. AIKgN's GARDENS.

The Sacramento Union, in one OF
series Of Suburban Sketches. = has the
following concerning "Glen Garden, = of
which Edward F. Aiken is the happy pro-
prietor. which are situated just east Of East
Park. and distant one mile from the Sacra-
mento post office. Aiken is natiye OF
liallowell. Maine. and he sailed on the lst
of April. ls49, on the ship York from Bos-
ton. bound for California, where he ar
rived in September of that year. In Octo-
ber, l849. he and three others took up as
Government land the Grove ranch, situat-
ed fifteen miles below the city, and having
mile frontage on the river. Portions Of
this land were sold till the ranch proper
had half mile frontage on the stream and
running back the same distance. On this
place, in 1854, Aiken established the Or
chard and nursery business. It is claimed
that. with the exception of the Ding ranch,
the Cove was the first ranch named on the
river There was sold off the Cove ranch
in those early days wild hay at $3.50 per
ton. and wood on the banks at from $l8
to S22 per cord. In 1861 Aiken sold this
place to Silas Whitcomb, to whose estate
it still belongs, he having deceased since
the purchase. In 1861 Aiken bought his
present place from J. II. Ralston and gave
it the name of Glen Gardens. He pur.
chased l75 acres. At the time of the pur-
chase Ralston had on the place small Or
chard and vineyard containing 1000
vines. The floods of 1862 swept away
the orchard and nearly two miles Of fence.
Much sediment was deposited in and
about the vineyard, but the vines on the
5j-acre trac: sold by Aiken are, still -four
ishing. In 1868 and ga the proprietor be-
gan to prepare his orchard, and having
spared no pains and gone to great expense,
his place is in high state Of cultivation :
and shows thrift and excellent manage
ment throughout. w. II. Seward and par
ty while in Sacramento paid visit to Glen
Gardens. at the invitation Of the proprie-
tor, and they expressed themselves as
much pleased with the grounds and sur
roundings. The venerable ex-Secretary
Aiken has on his place 8, 900 orchard trees
trees (many varieties imported), such as
elm, walnut, chestnut. poplar, maple.
catalpa, European larch, locust, Norway
spruce, and pine, Scotch pine, California
pines and cypress, ETC., to the number of
100000. In the western end Of ne farm
there is forest of &c, 900 black-walnut and
locust trees, the locusts two years old and
the walnuts one year, set out in order and
four feet apart. The vineyard contains
5000 vines, the varieties being principally
the Muscat of Alexandria, Black Ham,
burg, Black Morocco, Black Prince, etc.
1t has ever been Aiken's aim, regardless
of trouble and expense, for the benefit OF
himself and the State at large, to import
choice fruits of all kinds for the purpose
of testing and propagating. He was the
first to introduce into California Hale's
early peaches. In 1868 he imported by
way of the Isthmus, 500 OF these trees,
and liale's early's have proved to be
most valuable acquisition to our peach Or
chards. lie displayed at the last States
Fair the Galway Oreestone) peach, which
called forth so much favorable comment
He has 800 trees of that variety which will
bear this year. There are also the Noun
tain Rose and Freemason peaches. new
varieties and very celebrated. 1t is his in
tention this Fall TO devote a five-acre plot
to wberry plants imported from New
York, the same to have the benefit of nm
derground irrigation when necessary
He will also establish an almond orchard
of ! 900 trees, and a plum orchard of 5 900
trees, now in the nursery. He has
blackberry patch OF live acres containing
these varieties, mentioned in the order of
their ripening; Dorchester, Wilson's
Early, kittatinny and Lawton. He con-
sders Wilson's Early fine berry, but
yields the palm for general marketing to
the kittatinny. being excellent for pre-
serving. as it retains the old blackberry
flavor. There are also to he seen 4,OOU
raspberry bushes, comprising the Black
Cap and Antwerp sorts. The varieties of
raspberries are Davidson's, Thornless,
Miami, Seneca, Mammoth Cluster, Phila-
delphia, Red Antwerp and Clarke In re-
gard to cherries, there are 1000 trees
(eight or ten leading varieties), II portion
just coming into bearing, as the orchard is
young. In addition Glen Gardens rejoices
in almond, walnut, English and Black.)
fig. pomegranate and ounce trees. The
proprietor puts his grapes in maket, and
to the manufacture of wine pays no more
attention than is necessary for his own
supply, making annually from POO to 400
gallons. In the nursery there is to be
seen and admired an American White
Elm. Ii feet high. and whose age il but
two years from the ground. Aiken has
given up sericulture. This year he took
up and turned into fuel $4,000 mulbury
trees, and the space they occupied will be
devoted to orcharding. As a general
thing the proprietor OF the Glen Gardens
is opposed to surface, but in favor Of un.
derground irrigation. His motto is
''Mulching and cultivation" Neverthe.
less there are on the grounds four wind
mills, which can be used in irrigatinc
but they are not often required, as the sol
is generally moist, Burns slough passing
through the inclosure. He is now putting 2
up one of Churchman'S horse-powers,
which will supply water to tank having
a capacity of 5000 gallons This water
will be used in cases of fire, for irrigating
the shrubbery about the house, and will
be conveyed by means ofplpes to all parts
of the residence. Aiken and his family
occupy the house built by the late Judge
Ralston, but it has been greatly enlarged
and improved and thoroughly renovated
Throughout. The residence is pleasantly
located ON an elevation, faces to the west,
and its main entrance is gained by
l. 4