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that did live to produce fruit, ruore have been killed by abuse, neg- 

 lect, mice, insects, sod and starvation, than by cold. 



Practically, what, where and when shall we plant, and how 

 much? First, what? This depends upon the object sought. To 

 illustrate: If planting a commercial orchard, 1 know of nothing bet- 

 ter for Hancock county than Ben Davis. But not for a family 

 orchard. Be governed by your taste and desire, using good, sound 

 sense therewith, and not run to extremes. Don't plant oranges or 

 bananas, expecting good results, or plant a sour apple if you prefer 

 a sweet one. When ? Now, or as soon as you can get the ground 

 ready; but not before, if you wish success. And this brings in the 

 " where to plant." And here 1 suggest planting where you want 

 your orchard, and to get ready. If the ground is wet, or liable to 

 standing water, see that it is properly drained, both surface and un- 

 derdrained — by tile, if necessary. Subsoil, if ground is heavy, and 

 properly enrich. Then plant in rows, so as to cultivate by horse 

 power. Properly protect the trees so as not to bark, and be com- 

 paratively honest with your orchard, by returning say at least one- 

 tenth of the income of the place in fertilizers. How much? depends 

 upon size of farm and the family. I doubt if the seven heads and 

 ten horns means that a man who has but seven acres should plant 

 enough for ten acres thereon, thereby crowding all to deatb. 



But on all farms, and in all but compactly built towns, some 

 fruit can and should be raised. A grape-vine loves to climb beside 

 the end of a house or outbuilding, and will repay all care bestowed 

 upon it ; and if the yard or lot is too small to admit of the cultiva- 

 tion of fruit, a few shrubs and flowers may be grown in pots or open 

 ground. Here is a field limited only by the means and leisure of the 

 owner, and the value of the same can only be measured by the love 

 the owner has for them. I know of a mansion, situated upon one of 

 the principal avenues of a western city, where a $9,000 greenhouse 

 occupies three sides of the square, filled with the rare and beautiful, 

 fountains play within it and upon the lawn, and $50,000 iier year is 

 appropriated for the maintenance of the establishment. And yet 

 that home is a hell. The husband does not visit it sometimes for 

 six months at a time. The wife, when there, is the devotee of 

 fashion, moving in a circle secured by wealth ; the only child a 

 drunkard. I know of another home, less pretentious, the head of 

 which has said to me : "I hardly know one flower from another, and 

 don't care anything about them ;" and everything about the place has 

 to me a stiff, harsh look. Why the groves were God's first temples, 

 and any one who can truly say I du not care for flowers, seems to me 

 can care but little for God or his handiwork. If the flowers have 

 no refining qualities they are comparatively valueless. The simple 

 white rosebud pinned at the throat of modesty, though clothed in 

 simple garb, has more real value than the most costly bouquet 

 fastened upon the low corsage of fashion's devotee. The tiny 



