The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1877-06-07
BLATTNERS GARDEN,
A few Items Of Interest, go see for
Yourselves.

1t has not been many years since the
citizens OF Oskaloosa depended entirely
on their own gardens to supply their wants
with early and late vegetables of all kinds,
and if they did not make garden for them
selves were compelled to do without gar
den truck of all kinds. But years have
rolled by since the first, second and third
inhabitants settled in this now beautiful
city of Oskaloosa, until she now ranks
among one of the first cities in every
respect, and of course as we advance in
years, we keep up with all kinds of i'm
provements, no difference in what it is.
We can remember when we took great
interest and pointed with pride to the
Roop mill, and that for at least one hum
dred miles around, the early settlers came
here to get their grinding done, but times
have now changed and in the place of one
in this county, we count them by the
dozens, and so with other improvements.
Thinking perhaps, some of our thousands
of readers would like to know something
about our gardens as well as other mat
tiers, we concluded to visit the excellent
garden of Charles Blattner, located in the
west part of town adjoining the fair
grounds. Mr.. B. always keeps up with the
times and has his vegetables in market
among the first, and keeps them cons tant-
ly on hand during the season. We were
surprised ourselves to see how complete
70 a.
system in which he carries on the bust
ness. For early vegetables he has his hot
beds that are arrap ged in the best manner
possible. In the fall of 1869 Charles con.
cluded 0skaloosa was large enough to
support garden, 50 he bought seven
acres of land, of Lieut. s. III. M. Byers
and the next season common ced to sup
ply our citizens with garden sass of all
descriptions and has done so ever since
AS years rolled along he was compelled tc
| add five acres more in order to keep ur
with the increasing business, so to-day he
has twelve acres all doing service in this
respect. The consequence has been mos
| OF the people in town have come to tho
conclusion it is cheaper to buy all articles
in this line than it is to raise them, anG
then they get it so much earlier and gener.
ally better article. He informs us he
has and will set out 16, 900 cabbage plants
and ere long will have some of the early
varieties in market as they are all doing
we'll, and promise large yield, and 2 ,00(
tomatoe plants are already out and doing
as we'll as any he ever raised, which will
yield, If they turn out according to his
estimate 1000 bushels of that deliciou!
and healthy vegetable, and onions are
grown by the acre and at this time ha.
one and one.half acres of that swee
smelling article already in the ground
and are supplied in large quantities to oul
citizens daily; radishes, beets, carrots
parsnips, asparagus, peas. and Thousand
and six other things that are always found
in first-class garden, in large quantities
He has 1900 plants of the new variety Of
cabbage called kohl-rabi, which is consid
cred very profitable article and grea
favorite, celery till you can't rest, ant
very choice cucumbers will be in marke
early. He not only deals in garden truck
but each year furnishes humid reds of bush
els of cherries, thia year he reports an en-
tire failure of this delicious fruit, currants
| gooseberries and other small fruits he ha!
alarge quantity. 1000 raspberrie bushe
are to be found on his place and promise
a large yield, and his 1000 grape vine
have every appearance of doing well. HI
supplies his customers with what the,
need and then works the balance int,
wine and stores it in his cellar and at thi
time has good supply on hand. He es
Inmates he will have $1,000 pounds o
grapes. His strawberry bushes are full
and promises the largest yield he ever had
which Is good news to all lovers of thi
delicious fruit. We have not pretende,
to mention one-half he has, but merel
wished to speak of some of the articles, t
give You an idea of his garden, and a
can rest assured he will add to and extern
his borders as fast as the demands of tn
city requires. All orders for anything i
his line will receive prompt attention an
his wagon will call regularly and delive
goods when desired.