STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 299 



In 185S lie planted out 10 acres more, increasing by the further addition of 30 acres in 

 1803, all in Fall Creek township, and on his removal to Ellington patting out 55 acres 

 in the spring of 1857 and again in 1S68, SO acres, making the grand aggregate of 187 

 acres devoted to peach culture, and all select and budded fruit. His success with 

 peaches is probably the most remarkable, and certainly the most satisfactory of any 

 cultivator in the State, having lost but two entire crops, and one partial crop, (all from 

 winter killing) in a period of 23 years' experience ; a result which proves the admirable 

 adaptation of our soil and locality to this valuable fruit, in the hands of the intelligent 

 and energetic cultivator. 



The effect of Mr. Chatten's exemplary success has been to stimulate peach cultiva- 

 tion throughout the country and Fall Creek township. The scene of his labors and 

 experiments, e.in of itself, point to 30,003 thrifty and vigorous select trees, and num- 

 bers many energetic and successful cultivators of that delicious fruit. The number of 

 boxes shipped from Quincy the season just past was some 50,000, Iowa and northern 

 Illinois affording the principal market. 



As to the apple orchards at present in the county, it is impossible to form even an 

 estimate of them in the absence of special data. These data embracing the amount of 

 fruit of all descriptions grown in the county the past season, our Horticultural Society 

 has made a very laudable eflort to obtain, but so far with little success except from 

 members of the Society. As it is a matter of very decided interest to every fruit 

 grower, it is hoped that our people generally can be induced to co operate with us in 

 this important particular of annual fruit statistics. 



In regard to apple orchards, however, it will be perhaps sufficient to state that they 

 form the rule on every farm of any size or pretension. The shipments of apples from 

 Quincy alone have reached 125,000 bushels in a season, to say nothing of the shipments 

 from other railroads in the county, as Fowler, Paloma, Coatsburg, Camp Point and 

 Clayton, and the large amount taken across to Hannibal from the south part of the 

 county. Add these shipments to the amount consumed in Quincy and the county, 

 and we think it not an improbable estimate that with a full crop, the apple orchards 

 of Adams county would show an annual total of 300,000 bushels. This fruit is shipped 

 in all directions from this point ; the principal markets being Northern Iowa, Wiscon- 

 sin and Minnesota, as reached by the Mississippi river. 



The establishment of the first nursery in Adams county belongs to" the honored mem- 

 ory of George Johnson, to whom reference lias been already made as the planter of the 

 first orchard of grafted fruit. His nursery was commenced at Columbus in 185H, and 

 was for many years in successful condition, being the parent of many of the numerous 

 fine orchards in the eastern and north-eastern sections of the county. This nursery, 

 as far as could be ascertained, is not now in operation, having been sutlered to go down 

 after the death of its founder. 



Stewart's nursery, for many years the chief establishment in the county, was founded 

 in 1810, by William Stewart, 8r., at I'ayson. In 1852 a branch was started at Quincy. 

 The Pay-on branch was discontinued after the death of the proprietor in 1S57. The 

 Quincy branch was successfully continued by his sons John and Joseph H. Stewart, who 

 achieved for it a leading reputation in the State ; it has lately passed out of the hands 

 of the family, and is at present conducted by Slnnock & Co. 



The late Deacon A. Scarborough, also established a nursery in Payson at an early 



