REPORT OF THE ORCHARD COMMITTEE. 125- 



No needless expenditure, no trifling outlay is visible anywhere. It was built 

 to demonstrate the fact that any one with a little knowledge of grape culture, 

 or with the disposition to get knowledge, and with a little means and time, 

 can have a cold-grapery and fine grapes. A lean-to like this may be erected 

 against the south side of any outbuilding, or independent of any other build- 

 ing. 



Every foot of ground on Mr. Sigler's lot is made to produce fruit of some 

 sort. He has several varieties of pears, and early purple Guigne, Black Tarta- 

 rian, and Black Eagle cherries. 



The other entry at this point was two miles out. To reach this and get back 

 to the city in time for the eight o'clock train to Monroe, required an early 

 movement. Through the assiduity of Mr. Sigler and his wife two buggies 

 were provided, and we Avere on the road by five. The gates of the morning 

 opened as we rode toward its portals, and we reached our destination at an 

 early hour, even for farmers. Here was an entry of a plum orchard and one 

 of apples. The plum orchard consisted of sixteen bearing trees, which had 

 yielded this season about ten bushels of fruit. The fruit sold in Adrian 

 for 15 a bushel. The curculio was destroyed by jarring down on sheets. This 

 was begun as soon as the fruit was formed, and continued till no more were 

 caught. The trees bore all they could sustain and mature. They are young. 

 The soil is clay loam resting on clay, and is Avell adapted to plum and pear 

 growing. 



The apple orchard, consisting of about 400 trees, is beginning to bear. The 

 chief varieties are Eoxbury Eusset, Greening, Northern Spy, Baldwin, Wag- 

 ener, Eed Canada, King of Tompkins County, Peck's Pleasant, Golden Eus- 

 set, etc., — too many varieties by half, probably. A majority of the committee 

 are of the opinion that more money can be made with the Northern Spy alone 

 than with so many varieties. Mr. Coller thought he would as soon trust the 

 Baldwin as any variet3\ The Northern Spy, Eed Canada, and Golden Eusset 

 were the only ones not injured by the cold. Many of the trees were found 

 with the bark bursted on the southwest side of the trunk. Baldwin does well 

 on Northern Spy and on Golden Eusset stocks. The twig-borer attacks the 

 Golden Eusset invariably. Next to Baldwin, Mr. Coller gives preference to 

 Ehode Island Greening; but here we found the bark bursted and the fruit 

 falling badly. The committee conclude that all varieties liable to bark burst- 

 ing should be grafted to hardy stocks either at standard height or in the tops. 



Mr. Coller keeps his trees under culture ; and they are pruned up so that 

 teams may walk beneath the branches. There are some trees on this farm of 

 forty years' planting, and are remarkable for size and health. We rode back to 

 the city with spirits swimming in the brisk aura of a most delightful autumn 

 morning, bid adieu to our kind host and hostess, and took the cars for the old 

 town of Monroe. 



At Monroe. 



The entries at Monroe were the Monroe City Nurseries, owned by the Messrs. 

 Ilgenfritz, the Point aux Peaux vineyards, and the vineyards of Henrietta and 

 George W. Bruckner, located southeast of the city. 



The committee were met by Mr. I. E. Ilgenfritz, and taken bodily to his res- 

 idence on the banks of the Eiver Eaisin and cared for most generously and 

 kindly during their pleasant stay. The Monroe City Nurseries cover nearly 

 300 acres, lying north and west of the city. The soil is mostly a heavy clay 



