Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-07-21

| December Mr.. Bents predicted that
unless the ground froze soon much
damage would be done and contends
that what damage was done in this
section was inflicted before the severe
weather of February. That this is
true is evidenced by the fact that the
fruits Of Minnesota and Wisconsin are
in better shape than in this section,
and further by the State Horticultu-
raj Society reports giving the damage
in Iowa as greatest through the
central and southern portions. Mr..
Bents has evolved this theory after
an experience of "A years in the
nursery and fruit growing business;
and with his experience and careful
study of the conditions surrounding
the growth and propagation of
nursery stock, certainly knows the va
rieties best adopted to the wants and
climate of this latitude.
Just north of the nursery is fine
orchard of about 5000 trees which is
still young but growing nicely, and in
a short time will be one of the finest
orchards in the state; not the largest,
but we think it will contain more va
rieties than any other, as it is de-
signed as an experimental orchard in
which people can see just what all va
rietieS will do when set out in the
orchard. AS we were starting for the
orchard with Mr.. Upton, Mr.. Bents
laughingly called to US to count the
dead Americans" we saw. When we
returned we were compelled to say
that we didn It see one, and only two
trees which were at all blighted and
they but Slightly. While the report
we made was gratifying, no doubt, to
Mr.. Bents, it should be also to the
Russian enthusiasts, for it simply
Strengthens the claim that Iowa can
raise apples no matter what the
croakers say. This orchard con ntains
nearly every variety of apple trees
known, including several trees from
scions sent them from Norway.
Mr.. Bents was the first local fruit
grower to put crate of berries in
boxes on the Cresco market and
small beginning has now grown to
enormous proportions. AS all the
berry crop for this year is not yet
gathered we could get the figures on
straw berries only. This year they
have sold 1900 bushels of straw berries
alone at an average of 50 per bushel.
This is a gain of about 300 bushels
over last year, and the quality of the
fruit was in keeping with the amount
yielded and is also remarkable follow
ing such severe winter. The area of
straw berry beds is about the same
from year to year. The other small
fruit sales will also be large, the
whole representing large sum Of
money kept at home and paid out to
our people and finding its way among
our business men instead of being
sent to other states and paid out to
railroad and express companies. Last
year, they paid out nearly $500 to
those gathering fruit, and most of it
went to those who would otherwise be
out of employment. Ten men are
regularly employed this season and
one day during the height of the
straw berry season 10 packers were
at work. They have machine for
making their berry boxes and last
season put up a large cold storage
house for the preservation OF their
fruits which might accumulate faster
than could be disposed of.
i OF considerably proportions but Of
less Importance than their nursery
business is their seed and flower depart
ment. Mr.. Bents had, for several
|years before his partnership with Mr..
1 Upton, been putting quantities Of
reliable, tested seeds on our market
which met with ready sale, and this
business has been still continued.
Their collection Of flowers and shrubs
is as large as one could desire. An
idea of it may be gained from the
, fact that they have 100 varieties Of
, annual roses alone. Just now many
, of their plants and flowers are in full
bloom, and are exceedingly beautiful,
several fine Clematis being especially
50.
"a Messrs. Bents & Upton have great
, ilstitution, which is growing in size
. tantl in favor yearly. 1t is worth the
!, attention of anyone and the proprie
tors are always ready and willing tt
show you about the place and explain
f their work and methods. You will
4 find much that will interest you ano
! can doubtless obtain much informa
. tion also.
u We would especially recommend /;
e Visit just now so you can satisfy your
S Iself after seeing the enormous yield O
fruit and the vigorous growth o
all the trees and vines, that the pas
S hard winter did not kill or injur
It them in the least.