STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 29 1 



we have now the faciHties of a raihoad, the demand will be so much the 

 gi"eater as the means of transportation are made easier. And no report 

 of consequence should be made, especially upon so interesting and 

 important a subject as Horticulture, without making honorable and 

 respectful mention of the name of Dr. Alfred Castle, of Wyoming, 

 to whose exertions the people of Stark County are indebted for a rail- 

 road. Isolated as we had been for thirty years and upwards, with no 

 means of intercommunication but the common wagon-roail, the doctor, 

 who was a large farmer, as well as an intelligent horticulturist, for two 

 years neglected his own private business, and directed liis energies and 

 his labors for that object, and linally convinced the high oiTicials of the 

 "C. B. & Q_.," and what was more dithcult, our own people, of the 

 mutual benefits and advantages of a railroad, which will give a greater 

 impetus to horticultural as well as other material interests. 



As there are no nurseries in this county, and we have to depend 

 entirely upon those that are either near or distant to supply our wants, 

 the railroad will be felt as a great present aid to both seller and pur- 

 chaser. My own experience in such matters is, in order to avoid getting 

 into the predicament of the man whose "whole life was a failure in 

 fruit raising," for obvious reasons, to buy from home nurseries instead of 

 foreign. 



As to the mode of culture practiced by our orchardists, there is 

 nothing peculiar. Some attention is paid at the start, until the trees get 

 into bearing, when the \\ ord fieglect will ;ipply as a rule, and care and 

 attention the exception. There are examples of the latter, and thrift 

 and plenty of fruit are the consequences; but many of the orchards in 

 this county are already upon the decline; the effect of ignorance, the 

 raids upon them of the various insect tribes, the want of proper cultiva- 

 tion and timely and judicious pruning, sufficient draining, etc. 



It is conceded, I believe, that timber locations are better for fruit than 

 the bleak prairies, on account of soil as well as protection ; but there 

 are good orchards upon the prairies, some of our best, and I append a 

 list of fruits furnished me by Mr. Perry Stanclift' and Mr. James M. 

 Roofers, two anion^" the best orchardists of the countv, which those 

 gentlemen ha\e proved to be good varieties for this section : 



SUMMER APPLES. 



Early Harvest, Red June, Sweet June, Red Astrachan, Benoni. 



FALL APPLES. 



Fameuse, Fall Wine, Alaiden's Blush, Autunni Swaar, Golden 

 Sweet, Seek-no-furthcr, Rambo, Bailey Sweet, Autumn Strawberry, 

 Pennsylvania Vandevere. 



WINTER APPLES. 



Domine, Ben Davis, Jonathan, Rawles' Janet, Willow Twig, White 

 Winter Pearmain, Roman Stem, Fulton, Talman Sweet, Wagoner, 

 Northern Sp)-, Winesap, Canada Red. 



