Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-07-05
Apples up North.

The country is settling back to the
belief again that Northern Iowa will
soon be successful fruit growing re-
gion. The difficulties experienced by
the early pioneers in this northern sec
ton of the State were of the most dis
couraging kind. In the first place we
were the victims Of the unscrupulous
tree pedlar. He had a conscience that
was as near dead as his trees and none
OF the Inconvenience that are expert
enced by an honest man, ever confront
ed him. He could fill any kind Of a
bill out OF the same row of trees. If
Fameuse were wanted, the row was of
that variety; if Duchess were named in
the bill, the same row was the variety
called for and the only thing that re-
CURED any attention or care was to see
that the bill was filed out by the label
exactly right. The labels would answer
the descriptions in the order with won
derful fidelity and that was as far as we
could investigate matters when the trees
were delivered. In the spring the trees
would be properly set, and as the sea-
son would advance the farmer would
begin to count the dead trees, The
mortality for the first year would be
fearful to contemplate. After that it
would be more gradual. The kinds Of
fruit that would do we'll in Mass. or N.
Y. would not do to rely on for this sec
ton. Many old friends that had been
favorites in the east had to go down eone
after another, until the process of sort
ing up bid fair to take the complete
stock. But after twenty years Of pa
tient labor with all the old harder kinds
and the survival of the fittest. we have
discovered, so to speak, good many
kinds OF standard trees that are hardy,
good growers, adapted, to all appear
ances, to our climate, and bear great
quantities of rich fruit. The very best
summer kind is the Duchess Of Olden-
burg, They are extra hardy. do not
know of one ever dying from the sever
ity of the winter. They bear when
young and never let up when they once
begin the work. They come in season
when we need fruit more than at any
other time, that is, through harvest and
stacking, They are little tart to taste
but at that time of year the stomach
needs just the acid the Duchess apple
affords and they are much more health
ful than a fiat negative apple. The
other tree that seems to be full match
for this one, in vigor, health, and last
ing qualities, and covering the period
from November to February is the Fa-
meuse. As grown in this latitude the
Fameuse apple has no superior in the
wide world for external beauty or in
ternal richness. The flavor is just
right, flesh sound, juicy, mhitc as snor,
and sound to the very core.
Put out plenty of Duchess and Fam
euse, and the farmer can raise all the
good apples his family needs and much
better than they uan buy,
There are other kinds that are also
being tested that are holding up to the
promise and grow on as though they
had come to stay The Tetofsky has
lots of friends Its season is in July
and August 1t bears young. Some
speak against it but | predict for it in
the near future niche in the scroll of
fame, right near to the Duchess. The
Haas has also come to stay Those
that know most about it like it best.
The Plumb's Cider is not generally
found in these nrchards, hut wherever
it has had trial, has proved itself a
great bearer, and hardy as an oak. The
Tallman Sweet has stood it for fifteen
years, are to-day great trees, sound as
elms and full of fruit. The Wealthy
and Walbridge are with us untried by a
long test, but are very promising. They
claim great things for them in M;nnosa.
ia, and | understand that the Hor,icul-
ture Society of the State have set the
Wealthy at the head of the list on ac-
count OF it's vigor, endurance, and the
quality of its fruit. There are a great
many other good kinds, and probably no
other man would make this list Just as
| have, but in the main l think all in
this section will subscribe to what
have here stated.
This is a great country for small
fruit, such as currants, raspberries, &C.,
&c. We must except, however, black
berries. l have not heard of any one
raising them successfully, but as to 9th
err kinds of small fruit we take our hat
off to nobody. As to raspberries, we
grow the finest fruit in the world. As
to peaches, all have to say Is ''Shoo
fly and they ''shoo.'
There was an old practice in vogue
here five and ten years ago of ridging
up the ground where the trees stood by
blowing once or twice a year toward
the trees, until the ground was all
ridges and bitches. The trees by this
plan were not sufficiently watered and
winter-killed That is, they choked to
death in winter. Those that followed
that plan have no orchards now and say
you can't raise fruit. But those who
keep their orchards level as nature gave
them, are having good luck with their
trees. If you are going to work among
your trees, keep the ground level.
Y. l.. ROOD.