The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-22
4 Modern Nursery.

Lately representative of the Prairie Fd,m
err looking for items of interest for its readers
happened at Riverton, Ill.,, near Springfield
At this place is situated the old established
nurseries of Spaulding Il Co. Having visited
them two years ago, to look into the effect pro
duced by the very thorough system of under
draining then established, our representative
wished to see further of the effects, after the
Laws" ,oflDe VI lnterdsr, 1uCuny 10 the genera
reader, but TO nurserymen and tree planters, as
showing what liberal investment at the start
will do in bringing back money returns
This nursery was established III lS0l and
continued in successful operation, as is evi
denced by the fact that in 1856 the yearly sales
aggregated 100000. In 1867, Mr., Spauding
understanding the value OF understanding
proceeded 10 lay tile 30 feet apart and 81 feet
deep. on 50 acres, which at that time he pro-
posed to take in to increase the capacity Of the
nursery, rendered necessary 10y his growing
trade.
The soil is rich clay loan, originally GOV.
cred with timber, sufficiently rolling to admit
of GOOD drainage Indeed to the superficial
observer il would have seemed entirely unnec
essary to have drained it at all. Mr.. Spauld
ing knew better He wanted TO have the en-
tire area such that when rain was falling il
would pass through the soil rather than over
il. and that, when dry, the drains would furnish
moisture from below. The land was therefore
rrubbed, and thoroughly drained, and then
PLANTED Not a weed is allowed to grow The
plate of trees are arranged SO that any person
can find what he desires. There are no waste
places, every foot of land is occupied. Tho
planter does not have To hunt for Il place II
plant, selecting here and there spot, naturd
To the stock, with wide areas, that must be lief.
4 ,f vel 4.
inc fallowcd, or seeded To grass for a time, i,
available for any other nursery stock that may
be desired The soil being kept ABSOLUTELY
clean and particular attention being paid y
care and cultivation otherwise, borerS and Oth6
insects never trouble the grounds. The stoct
is in the most healthy condition possible, eE
| irey even in its growth, and there are few
culls for the brush pile. What few there are
however, 20 there, since this firm do not bt
lieve they can afford 10 send ont inferior stock
We have visited many nurseries, but ncvG
seen one so absolutely we'll kept in every r.
spect. In 1919, this nursery was entered h
lcOmpetition with Others in the state for TIL
premium offered by the State Board of Agi-
culture. The first premium was Unanimously
and worthily bestowed thereon by the con
mittcc
There are on this nursery twenty four mills
| of tile drain The nursery proper contains 10
acres entirely covered with stock, complete
every department, everything needed beilg
supplied. including flowers plants and hull.
The record shows l,000,O00 one two and tire
year old apple trees 10000 one, two and tire
wear old cherries, with equal proportions 4
other kinds of nursery stock. The aSNornet
of cvcrgreens is especially fine; II indcedh
comparison can he drawn where everything
the best of its kind. So the buildingSagl
facilities for packing and shipping are entiey
complete When we were there, the hr;c
force of hands were busy packing, and tie
teams rs busy hauling 10 the packing hos@,
and thence. when boxed, Ia the railwa'srl-
Ition. They must necessarily he busy, Msn
this autumn's delivery of nursery stock ia the
retail trade alone amounted, rs We were ID,
Ia S.l0.0 900