536 iJOAR];) of AGRtCULXtrltE. 



liliinted there. I sjiwliim at the close of the next season and asked hiu; 

 10 tell nie of llic results of his experiments with that potato. He replied 

 that it had been planted and produced several tubers, but that the best 

 were no larjj:er tlian oidiiiary marbles! 



A large rose iiardcn was lorated midway between my home and place 

 of business, aiul it soon became a favorite place in which to pass my 

 leisure moments. All well-known roses M'^ere extensively grown there, and 

 1 soon became accina luted Avith the best varieties. The first hybrid per- 

 petual roses oritiiiiated only about thirteen years before that time, and 

 among the best of them were Baron Prevost and La Reine. About three 

 years later Giant of Battles came from France. It surpassed in beauty 

 all preceding scarlet varieties, and was soon generally disseminated, and 

 for many years maintained its place as the best scarlet variety until dis- 

 placed by General Jacqueminot. I planted roses in a circular bed ten feet 

 in diameter, which was well enriched to the depth of twenty-four inches 

 with burnt sod and stable manure, Mhlcli, when two years old, was re- 

 markable for its beauty. Some of the worst enemies of the rose here in 

 Indiana Avere then nnlinown about Washington. 



In 1857 I located near Muncie, Ind., where I still live, Jan. 1, 1904. 

 Ill-Iiealth caused the change. Forests then surrounded me; the dirt roads 

 at times were almost impassable, and my health was wretched; but I was 

 determined to live long enough if possible to see the shrubs and trees I had 

 purchased flower and fruit after planting; and I have no doubt I owe the 

 long extension of life I have since enjoyed to that determination. I soon 

 filled my garden with the best roses, flowering shrubs and bedding plants 

 and in time of drought often carried water to them on moonlight nights 

 until near midnight, and in that work I was unconsciously regaining my 

 lost health. The strawberry has always been ni}' favorite small fruit. 

 McAvoy's Superior and Longworth's Prolific were the first varieties I 

 planted, and were the first generally cultivated in eastern Indiana. They 

 were seedlings, for which Nicholas Longworth paid $300. which Avas 

 considered a remarkable price at that time, but Avhich now would be con- 

 sidered a trifle for a A^ery fine new variety. They are no longer grown 

 here, but LongAvorth's Prolific is still a standard variety in California. 

 They AA'er? displaced liere in ISOl l)y Wilson's Albany, which for many 

 years filled our markets and is still largely grown in many sections, but 

 here it gave Avay to Cref?cent, Avhich Avas succeeded by Bubach, Warfield, 

 Haverland and Gandy. I believe I Avas the first grower to supply Muncie 

 Avith straAvln'i-ries, beginning in 1858. My first plantings were restricted, 

 as the town Avas small and its people had yet to learn the value of the 

 straAvberry, and lionght them sparingly while acquiring a taste for them. 

 During tlie Avar all my berries Avere sold direct to the consumer, and an 

 order from a single per.son for more than a bushel was considered a large 

 one. Before natural gas was discovered I sent many of my berries to 

 agents in neighboring towns. TAventy-three years ago my best berries 



