Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-08-13
A FINE NURSERY.
The Herald Editor Visits the Fruit Farm
and Garden of A. E. Bents,
of CreScO.

Last Friday, the writer, while in
Cresco, took advantage of an oppor-
tunity to visit the nursery and gardens
of A. E. Bents, of Cresco. and we
were really surprised at the sights we
saw and the information we received.
Before proceeding further we desire to
say to the farmers and all persons in
terested in any degree in nursery
stock, that Mr.. Bents assured us he is
always glad to welcome visitors and
show them over the premises no mat
ter how busy the season.
Well, to continue, Mr.. Bents led us
first into the department where young
apple trees are standing in neat rows
waiting patiently to grow to the Iro-
per size to be transplanted into some
body's orchard. There were 1T varie-
ties of apple trees, many thousands of
some varieties and only few plants
OF others, according to the demand for
them. Mr.. Bents believes in having
everything to show prospective buyers
but he by no means urges the sale of
all OF these. On the contrary, with
thirty years experience growing fruit
in Howard county to back him up, he
tells his customers what varieties he
has found most hardy and prospective,
what trees are best for any required
purpose, and gives them the result of
his experiments with any variety they
may care to mention. More than this,
he invites and urges them to come to
his place during the fruit season
where they have the opportunity of
seeing the many varieties of trees,
shrubbery, etc., in bearing, and to
judge them by this most practical of
all methods-comparison. 1t is this
practical test which counts and Mr..
Bents' willingness to show these COM
parsons has won his nursery deserved
popularity. Many varieties do we'll
in certain parts..of the county and get
big name which are absolutely
worthless here. The varieties of
plum trees, cherry trees, pear trees,
etc, are great in number and so ar
ranged that there is no confusion in
be compared with each other without
loss of a minutes time.
Mr.. Bents showed the writer row
of raspberry bushes which to us seem.
ed quite a novelty. In it were 81
bushes representing 81 varieties of
One could walk along
the row, pick berry from each bush,
taste it., compare its size with the
other, and form some idea of the rela-
tive values of the varieties.
We noticed some fine gooseberry
bushes and called attention to them.
Mr.. Bents informed us that they were
one of the Howard county failures. >"
They had a great reputation and he
sent for some of them. The bushes
grew luxuriantly but the berries were
undersize. Right beside them were
gooseberry bushes with twice their
size and twice as numerous. We
thought to ourself, how many chances
a person takes buying of travelling
nurseryman.
Mr.. Bents also takes pride in the
growing of all kinds of shade and
ornamental trees. His display of ever
greens, etc., is sight worth seeing.
One would not believe, never having
seen them, that there were so many
kinds in existence. He is growing
over 100, 900 evergreen trees from one
inch to four feet high.
We were much pleased while inspect
ing the grape Department" to find
the vines so healthy and ready to yield
to the support of the people Young
vines that had only a start in life
were producing rich clusters of grapes.
Mr. Bents has surely found the grape
varieties best adapted to this climate
and soil.
Mr.. Bents' strawberry beds have
proved their value this year. The
people who get plants of this produc-
tive stock are pretty sure to raise
strawberries in this locality.
The flower gardens at the nursery
are very beautiful and, while no
speciality is made of them, still they
fill an important place there. Chester
Herald.