The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-12-15
Ancient Orchards Planted by Jesuits
Grow Though INTENDED.
EQUALS YAKIMA VALLEY
Ground Is Being Planted Out to
Cherries and Apples.
St. Paul Pioneer Press.


in the Bayfield, Peninsula was the
subject of an address given by Har
vey Nourse, of Bayfield,, Wis, at
the recent meeting Of the Minnesota
State Horticultural society held in
Minneapolis. Mr.. Nourse believes
apples and cherries can be grown in
this part of Wisconsin as we'll as in
the famous Yakima Valley of Wash
ington.
"It was many years ago." he said,
probably more than 100, that or
chard work had it's beginning in the
vicinity of Bayfield,. The first work
in this direction was the planting
of cherry orchard by the Jesuit
Fathers on Madeline Island near the
town of La Pointe and while this
orchard had practically no care it
still exists and bears bountiful crops
of cherries nearly every year.
1.-The planting of the apple came
later and dates back to possibly fifty
years ago when the first trees were
set at Bayfield,. Some of these trees
also had little, if any. care; and so it
had been until recently with all of
the orchards planted in the Bayfield,
peninsula and Apostle Islands, for
the Apostle Islands should always be
included with the Bayfield, peninsula
when speaking of our fruit section.
ORCHARD ON MICHIGAN ISLAND.
lone of the oldest apple orchards
that we have is located on Michigan
Island; having been planted many
years ago by nurseryman from
Minnesota, who at that time was a
lighthouse keeper on the island.
Although left to take care of it
self, this little orchard struggled
along fighting its way into the for
est. If these orchards planted in
the early days could grow and thrive
under such neglect, what might not
have been accomplished with proper
cultivation and care?
However, it required the enthu-
siasm of fruit growers and horti-
culturists from elsewhere to start
US planting orchards on large scale
in the Bayfield, peninsula. When
such men as Dean Henry, Secretary
Wilson, G. G. Patten, George H.
Whiting, Prof. Sandsten, w. H.
Hanchett and many others testified
convincingly of the possibilities of
the peninsula, the planting of or
chards began IN earnest
is BEING SET OUT IN ORCHARDS.
This was three years ago. and
about rs acres were set to trees at
that time. The planting has in
creased each year since, until now
the largest orchard in the state is
located at Bayfield,. This orchard
comprises 60 acres and will have 20
acres more added to it next season.
The ground for this 20 acres is al
ready prepared and the trees are in
the ground some of them heeled in
and a number set this fall, for we
believe that fall setting Of trees in
our section. where the ground rare
ly freezes, will be successful.
"As much as 125 acres will have
been set to cherries by next spring.
This fruit excels in the Bayfield,
peninsula. The trees load up with
fruit each year. and there is no
doubt but what this section is des-
tined to become one of the greatest
cherry-growing districts in the coun-
try.
In closing l should like to say for
the benefit of some people that live
in St. Paul that the Bayfield, penin-
sula is not all of Bayfield, county; it
is not even half, but only a small
portion of Bayfield, county. And
Bayfield, county is located in the
state of Wisconsin on the south shore
of Lake Superior, not at the north
end of the Yakima valley"
l. nm
townships Of land. and Mr.. H. H.
Peavey & Co. are the owners of
about 5000 acres choice lands in the
very heart of this peninsula for sale
at 50 an acre, in yearly payments of
only one dollar per acre.
| Special After school entertain
ment at the Dream on Thursday be-