The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1875-12-28
rhs Grsen Iaeass-Hursssy-s
fruiss-Onions.
From the Report Of the Michigan Board Of
Agriculture for 1875.

ffom Tue report OF inc Micnigan Board o
Agriculture for 1875.
The number OF visitors has consider.
ably increased. We hae added quite
largely to our list Of plants by purchas-
ing young or small specimens at small
cost, by donations, and otherwise. We
now have about 555 species and vari-
etieties, many OF them very choice and
many rare. The sales from the green
house could easily be increased by fin
ishing the propagating pits or by con-
verting the present houses into a CON-
mercial establishments. The latter
would not be in accordance with the
design Of the house. 1t is now serv-
ing very useful purpose for instruc-
tion in botany and horticulture. Stu
dents every day, ut all times of the day
when not in classes or at work, are seen
lettering about the greenhouse. to study
the cacti. century plants, palms. tree
ferns, cycas, banana, tea, coffee, Gina
mon, India-rubber tree, euphorbias,
dracmnas. nepenthes "a queer tropical
pitcher plant), acacias, begonias, coc-
cololia, or some other new and curious
or common plant referred to in the leo
ture-room. They are amused and in
structed; they are refined by the infu-
ence OF the beautiful plants. well kept
in the beautiful greenhouse. II is cer-
tainly great satisfaction to have such
an attraction to the college, and q
greater satisfaction to have IL for illus
tration, study, and experiment.
The flower beds are still quite limit
ed in extent. They have been much
improved by digging out TO the depth
of two feet or over, the poor sandy
soil. and filling with rich loan, clay
and manure.
The lawn by the greenhouse and else
where has been much improved, but
there is vast amount OF work still
needed in this direction. There is
scarcely q square rod OF lawn or drives
in condition satisfactory to the one in
charge. He does the best he can with
his limited means. There is much
ground to go over. There are, or will
be when done, two and three-fourths
(2i) miles, in length OF paths and
drives.
THE FORESTRY, NURSERY, ETC.
have oil been put together in a strip
next0to the road, north OF the house
occupied by DIR. Kedzie. The patch
contains long rows OF young forest
trees growing from seed, such as black
walnut, white ash, sunar maple, hick-
ory, chestnut, whitewood, and many
others, some of which will not value
for timber or ornament. IL also in
oludes n good variety OF young plants
for sampIos Of hedges, aud quite a lot
of evergreens aud other ornamental
stock, samples OF many Of the rarer
shrubs Of other parts Of the country;
alsa some which grew from seeds OBJ
tanned from the Kew gardens. 1t also
includes a small quantity OF young ap-
pie and other fruit trees.
The young currant bushes were
planted four feet apart each way, and
have always been kept heavily mulch
ed. The imported currant worm has
not troubled them, ,althoughit has been
two years on other parts OF the farm.
We have red Dutch white Dutch, cher
~, Victoria, Versailles, and white
grape.
or strawberries we raise abouttwenty
sorts. SO. far, Wilson and green pro-
life mixed have been our main crop.
In small quantity we have Charles
Downing, Jucunda, Triomphe deGrand.
French emperor, agriculturist, Down
er's Metcalf, Philadelphia, Wilder. For
the last list named, have little TO
say as grown on our sandy loan. They
have not yet been sufficiently tested,
except the agricultutist, which does
very poorly. The green prolific yields
better than the Wilson, and has gener-
ally done so for several years. The
berry is softer and the variety has i'm
perfect flowers, so it has to be mixed
with something else TO make it bear.
Colonel Cheney and Michigan prom
Use well; also Kentucky for late.
ONIONS.
A row ten feet long OF each sort was
planted on sandy, leachy soil, and all
treated alike. They were harvested at
the close Of the growing season.