The true northerner., 1880-09-03
of their propagation, see Pathological Report
for 1S73 PIP 800 and 32l.

for 1878, PIP 800 and 321.
NURSERIES.
In the spring OF 1857 p. L. Il l.. G. Bragg,
brothers, came to Paw Paw from Orleans coun-
ty, N. Y, looking for location to start nur-
sery. They purchased 80 acres two miles east
OF Paw Paw, on the territorial road. They went
back east, and p. l. Bragg returned in few
weeks with 100000 apple grafts, and set them.
In the fall l.. G.. came on, and in the following
winter c. Curtiss, a merchant Of Paw Paw, pur-
chased one-third interest in the land and stock
and they formed the partnership of Bragg,
Curtiss & Co. From this stock and later graft
ipgs almost the whols Of Van Buren county was
set to orchards.
About this time Lyman S. Hail settled in
what is now the corporate limits of the village
OF Paw Paw, and started a small nursery.
A. A. Olds, of Hartford. raised few apple
trees near that village; but Bragg, Cu,tiss &
EARLY PEACH ORCHARDS.
In the spring OF 1857 the Braggs shipped here
800 budded peach trees theJ had grown in New
York. and sold them to N. II. Biteey. Mr. Is
neighbors deemed him almost lunatic. On
every farm peaches could be had for the ask
ing. They grew in the fence corners and eve
rywhere-al naturals, it is true, but peaches
nevertheless-and they told HIM he could never
sell his peaches. He set them all out on the
highest point of his farm, to work out an idea
he had long entertained. How he came by that
idea is best told in his own words The idea
Of setting them upon an elevation ] got origin
ally from an intelligent farmer and orchardst
in New Y ork as early as 1874, while engaged in
teaching school and boarding around. had,
when boy at my home in Saratoga, tried to
raise peach trees, but the winter froze them
back Relating my poor success to my old friend
above referred to one evening" he told me z
there was high hill on the farm, and 1 would
plant peach trees on the top, or, better yet, well
over on the northern slope, he thought l would
succeed in raising peaches and gave some OF
the reasons, which we now understand, for Sc
lecting such location. l never had an oppor-
tunity to put the suggestion in practice until
came TO Michigan, and the orchard set in 1859
was my first experiment and a success. The
first crop | do not know the value OF, as kept
no account of sales; but recollect subse-
quent crop, perhaps in 1867, very fine one,
with good market, ond that crop estimated
to be equivalent to Is wheat crops on the same
land, and l do not think | overestimated it.
had three fine crops about this date in three
successive years, that paid more than double
what could have been obtained from wheat
from the same ground in life time. The or
chard is still bearing, though nearly done. Per-
haps it will pay to leave another year. / think,
however, had it not been for those two ex-
tremey hard winters which We have had since
the orchard has been in bearing. the trees wo'd
have been in fair condition now. l have since
set many trees, and my neigbbors have set
largely upon the hills, and every year confirms
the fact that the only really safe location for a
peach orchard IS upon an elevation; and may
not add that while we plume ourselves some
what on this modern discovery, my old friend
Wood knew it more than forty years ago.
1t is a surprising fact that Mr.. Biteley shoDld
have been raising peaches as successfully as any
lake shore locality and yet bis the only orchard
on that whole range of hills; and it is not until
within the last five years that any large plant
ings have been made.
Mr.. Engle planted his first peach trees on the
hill in 1860, and his first shipments were made
IN 1864. The orchard has borne regularly, with
the exception OF two or three seasons following
extreme winters. No exact figures have been
kept CT any seasons product heretofore, but
Mr.. Engle furnishes the following facts, the re-
suit OF 375 Early Alexander trees set in the
sprlng of 1877 This is the third year from the
setting and the first fruItng. From the 375
trees were sold 1927 1Sbushel boxes. Net pro-
ceeds from the sale OF same, S6074l. They
were set 16x2O feet apart aud occupied little
less than three acres.
Concluded next week.)