AMONG THE ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS. 137 



■of the manager, with the mildew, so fatal to the successful cultivation of for- 

 eign varieties in this country. The timely use of sulphur dusted over the 

 vines showing the least indications of the disease is found sufiBcient. The cost 

 of this entire grapery, I am told, has not exceeded $300, and were the propri- 

 etor to strike a balance between the market value of the fruit and the cost of 

 production there would be found a margin largely in favor of the investment. 

 But few are marketed, — the large-hearted proprietor preferring to please the 

 taste of his numerous friends to the profits of sale. Mr. Sigler might greatly 

 increase the products by growing a number of vines in pots which could be 

 accommodated in his house without inconvenience. He has set a worthy ex- 

 ample to those living in crowded villages and cities, and Avhose grounds are 

 necessarily confined to narrow limits. Verily he has his reward, and may he 

 have many followers. 



collae's orchards. 



From Siglers we were driven out some three miles to view the plum and 

 apple orchards of Peter Collar, — Betts and Avery were obliged to accept a seat 

 with Sigler (through whose kindness in furnishing us with elegant convey- 

 ances and pleasant company we are greatly indebted), while we were invited 

 to the side of his most charming wife, — who draws a rein with no less dex- 

 trous hand, — nor is she, by the way, less devoted or enthusiastic in matters 

 pertaining to horticulture and floriculture than her generous and admiring 

 spouse. At Peter Collar's we found L8 trees in the plum orchard, planted four 

 years, all of one variety, the Imperial Gage. The site of the orchard was a 

 slight elevation or knoll ; soil gravelly ; trees appeared to have borne a heavy 

 crop; they were healthy and of thrifty growth. Xo other means than the 

 jarring process for catching the curculio has been practiced. A little less than 

 one bushel per tree was the average crop this season, and the price obtained 

 in market was 85 per bushel. 



Prom the plum to the apple orchard, entered in our committee book, our 

 pathway led through an apple orchard set 35 years; many of the trees were of 

 mammoth size, — our curiosity led us to measure the trunks of some of them. 

 Several were found six feet in circumference, sound and vigorous still, — this 

 was not entered. The one entered in class 2 was found in many respects de- 

 fective. First, the location was too low, land too level, soil heavy clay ; then, 

 again, the trees were headed too high, — most of them six or seven feet to the 

 branches. A good selection of varieties was a redeeming feature, — Baldwin, 

 Greening, Northern Spy, Golden Eusset, Wagener, Peck's Pleasant, etc. Most 

 of the Baldwins were grafted on the Golden Eusset. The orchard had been 

 planted eight years, and suffered greatly by the winter two years ago. The borers 

 were lively at work in many of the injured trees, especially in those of the less 

 hardy sorts, such as Baldwin, Greening, and Wagener. One row, the entire 

 length of the orchard, of the Northern Spy, were a superb lot of trees, — not 

 one missing or injured, — of large size, trunks six inches in diameter. A fair 

 estimate would put the orchard at $1,000 more value had they been all of this 

 variety. An adjoining row on one side were the Wagener, not one-half the 

 size, and many of them badly injured and really worthless. This orchard, in 

 common with many others in different parts of the State, had suffered by the 

 twig borer. The orchard was in corn and well tended, and had made a fair 

 growth. 



We were back again at Adrian in time for the 8 A. M. train for Monroe. 

 18 



