Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-10-06
Fruit at the Centennial.

The pomologlcal and horticultural
part of the Centennial show is now
open. California sends two car
loads Of apples, pears, peaches,
grape, figs and plums. They are all
in good order, and the show is made
by the California grangers at a
heavy expense, previous shipment
having decayed on the road. The
quality of the grapes and pears is ex-
cellent, California apples are second
and third rate, and the peaches are
not extra. All the farm sorts of
grapes are shown, especially the rails
in grape, which is creating new in
dustry.
No State excels Kansas In the size
and general appearance of apples.
1t is to be noted that, growing on
young trees in rich soil, the speci-
mems are finer than they are likely
to be hereafter. The quality of such
large apples is never high. Nebras-
ka has a fine show of really good APP
Piles, and of pears and grapes. Iowa
also has large show OF a great
many varieties. Not many years
ago it was thought extremely doubt
ful if fruit could be grown in the
prairie States, for the trees died year
after year, or blew over in high
winds; but after wedding out tender
sorts and giving better culture, sue
cess has been achieved. The best
general crop of apples grown this
year in the United States is on prai-
ries between thirty-nine and forty
degrees of latitude. Wisconsin
shows nice apples and fair grapes.
Ten years ago grapes would not rip
en- in this State; now, IN many plac-
es they are grown at great profit.
The most interesting and instruc-
tive display of apples is from Mime
sofa, embracing sixty varieties,
though only few are to be COM
mended. x new sort, known as the
"Wealthy" is exhibited, which is
said to have as high quality as the
Baldwin, while the tree is more
hardy than any other known variety.
The fruit is of good size and of high
color. The process of overcoming
the many difficulties presented to
fruit growers, where the winters are
so cold as in Minnesota, is to grow
first from seed, then, from year to
year select the hardest, and then to
select the quality. The success at
tending this method has, during the
last twenty years, had remarkably
favorable result all through the
Northwest.
Ohio has agood exhibit of pears, APP,
pies and grapes and other fruit.
The Ohio Horticultural Society
makes a highly credltable display.
Several new grapes are shown which
are likely to develop merit. A cross
between the Concord and Delaware
gives grape smaller than the Con
cord and of the same color, and of a
character inferior to the Delaware.
Pennsylvania has fair show OF
pears; that of apples is not large
New Jersey has few individual ex
hlbits which are scattered here and
there. A new raspberry is present
ed as being harder than any other
it looks like the Philadelphia.
Massachusetts, presents 800 varie'
ties of pears, probably the best in
quality of all in the exhibition. The
attention paid to pear culture in this
State, especially in the vicinity of
Boston, has produced many sorts
much superior to the Bartlett. 1t is
likely that the soil is favorable. Con-
necticut has a good show of pears
and apples, and samples of the best
Delaware grapes in the exhibition
The District of Columbia has first
rate show of pears. From New York
Elwanger e Barry present full va
rlety of all kinds of apples andpears.
Michigan has the best show of WIN
ter apples, as it well may, for it has
the most extensive apple orchards in
the world, though Western New
York might dispute with her.
Decidedly the best show, taking
into consideration variety, quality,
number and taste, is from Ontario,
Canada. The region where the
fruit exhibited is grown is along the
northern shores of Lake Ontario, Nj
agara River, and of Lake Erie; and
receiving the influence of southwes-
tern winds, from over those wators,
it has water climate peculiarly ia
vorable to fruit.
From this brief review it will be
seen that only small part of the
States are represented at this great
Centennial show.
If there were not heavy duplicates
Of varlties the Exhibition would be
extremely meager, even for a State
Fair. Perhaps there was not suffi-
cient advertising to the fruit growers
of the country; or, perhaps, the def
cheney arises from the fact that none
of the pomologlsts Of the country APP
pear among the managers.--Phiia-
delphi0 Letter.
Planting Trees.
| Tho uuostiOn rs to whether snrin o.