Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-09-05
STRAWBERRIES IN OCTOBER.
A Ramble Through The Cresco Nursery.

A Ramble Through The CreSCo Nursery.
The writer, PLAIN DEALER repre-.
sentative, was walking in the eastern
part of the city, one day recently, and
incidentally passed the Cresco Nursery
where we saw our old friend, A. E..
Bents, busily engaged in gathering
seed, and was invited by him to take a
walk through the Nursery, which We
gladly did.
Among all of the luscious fruit and
beautiful trees, flowers and shrubs,
the first thing to draw our especial
attention was vigorous growth of
strawberry vines and, on investigation,
we found them to be literally covered
with beautiful, large. red, ripe berries.
Mr.. Bents informed US that he had
been picking from the patch for a
number of days, and that he expected
to have Strawberries until the frost
killed the vines. We had heard of fall
bearing Strawberries, but this is the
first time We ever had the pleasure of
seeing them. Mr.. Bents has, for a
number of years, been working to per-
feet variety of these Strawberries
that he could sell and recommend, and
has now brought them up to that
stage of perfection where he feels
perfectly safe in Offering them to bis
customers ON a recommend, and will so
do this fall. But this is not the only
variety of strawberries he has in his
Nursery. No. for he has over 100 diff
ferent kinds, but only few that he
recommends.
As we passed along through the
Nursery, we were very favorably
impressed by the neat and tidy appear
ance of every little nook and corner,
and by the almost entire absence of
weeds or o'her obnoxious plants. But
to give special mention to every inter-
esting or attractive thing that we saw
would take more space than is allotted
to this article, 80 we would advise any
who are interested in any tree, flower,
plant, shrub or vegetable, or anything
that can be successfully grown in this
latitude, to visit the Cresco Nursery.
Mr.. Bents will treat you just the same
whether you come to buy or just to
look over his stock. In fact, he extends
a hearty invitation to ALL to come
and investigate and compare his
Nursery and Stock with any in the
tate.
Evergreens of every known kind
may be seen growing here, and from
one year old up. MIR. Bents tells US
that they have sold over 5000 ever
greens this year. But for real beauty
the Pickypungy or Colorado Blue
Spruce took the eye Of the writer.
Apple trees almost without number,
every known variety, and over so
different varieties in bearing this year.
But those that Mr.. Bents recommend
ed Cor this section of the country are
Northwestern Greening, Wealthy and
the Malinda. The first two named
varieties ara so we'll known that no
special mention of them is necessary.
The Malinda is the latest keeping
variety known and by special care in
handling and storing may be kept from
one crop to another, and with the ordi-
nary care until May or June.
As rapid grower and beautiful
shade tree there is nothing to compare
with the Carolina Poplars. They are
something like the cottonwood tree
but grow very straight and more beau
tiful. Five to six feet is their average
yearly growth, but often they make :
growth of seven feet in one season
One of these trees-set out eight year.
! ago in front of the measure,
ft, and 2 inches in circumference a
the base, and is very tall and a
| straight as an arrow. A row of thes,
trees are growing along the stree
on the west side of the nursery.
The beautiful mulberry tree, pears
peaches, and even the olive, may b.
seen growing at this nursery. Cur
rants, gooseberries, raspberries, black
berries, grapes and other vines, shrubs
plants and flowers until one become
lost in bewilderment. Yet MIR. Bents
with his many years Of experience, cal
tell you, without book or other refer
ence, the name of each variety.
Sweet potatoes, yams and peanuts
are doing their share to make th'
| Cresco Nursery success.
Mr.. Bents has variety of corn O.
his own propagation that every farmer
should see. He also has apples, plum!
and ether fruit of his own propagation
that have real merit and are worthy O.
investigation.
As above stated, we haven't space t,
give special mention to all we saw, ant
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