AMONG THE ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS. 139 



face, and cropping out in numerous places. The cultivation Avas the nearest; 

 perfection to be met with anywhere. I much doubt if throughout the Avhole 

 extent of these grounds a barrow load of weeds could have been gathered. All 

 the grounds are underdrained. Mr. Ilgenfritz informed us not a rood of 

 ground was used for nursery purposes without first being thoroughly tiled, 

 the cost of which varies from $40 to §60 per acre. In the way of the newer 

 varieties of fruit tree stock, these men were found no way behind their eastern 

 and western competitors. Among the apples were Grimes' Grolden and Ameri- 

 can Beauty in large quantities, and many other novelties, I was surprised to 

 find in such quantities. This seems to be the soil for growing the pear ; finer 

 specimens, of all ages from one to three and four years old, can be found no- 

 where in the State ; nor have I ever seen finer blocks of pear trees at Roches- 

 ter, Geneva, or Syracuse, and the quantity fully up to the demand. The cherry 

 and peach are not so heavily grown ; but the proprietors have a keen eye to 

 the prospective demand and plant in proportion. And yet one important 

 branch of this extensive establishment was hardly up to the demand of the 

 times; I refer to the ornamental department. They should have some glass 

 houses, a propagating house, a specimen plant house, etc., and now that they 

 are finally established on their newly acquired, and long coveted, grounds, they 

 should be added at once. Preparations were already being made for their erec- 

 tion, and early in the coming season will find them completed. The increasing 

 demand for hardy evergreens must require a much larger stock than were no- 

 ticed here, and on inquiry we w^ere imformed that they Avere preparing for a 

 heavy stock in this department the coming season. Their one and two-years- 

 old grape vines were particularly fine ; one block of 11,000 Concords, this sea- 

 son's cuttings, were extra. But in the immense stocks of the apple, their fine 

 growth and healthy condition, the uniformity of size and form of tree, the 

 neatness and order of planting, with rows as straight as lines of light, and ex- 

 tending in some blocks for a mile or more in length, are found an abundant 

 source of meritorious praise. Some idea of the magnitude of this establish- 

 ment may be gained by referring to the amount of stocks planted during the 

 past three years. On referring to the registry for 1871 the planting for that 

 year footed to upwards of 600,000. In 1872 their setting reached 650,000. 

 These tAvo lots were cut to the ground in the spring of 1873. They are a mag- 

 nificent lot of trees now, and ready for market, standing from five to seven feet 

 high, well branched, and as desirable a lot to select from as one would wish. 

 Iu'l873 400,000 were planted. Again in 1874, 400,000 more. The fail of 1875 

 and spring of 1876 Avill find this establishment in possession of nearly one 

 million trees ready for market. Tree planters of Michigan ! give these gentle- 

 men a trial ; they are AA'orthy of your patronage, and your own interests will 

 be served by so doing. They have had their share in the disasters of the un- 

 precedented cold winter of 1873 and 1873; the loss was very great. After 

 becoming convinced of the damage done, they resolved to destroy all that were 

 known to be injured, and upAvards of $20,000 Avorth were committed to the 

 flames. 



Mr. John C. Greening has a nursery southeast of the city, entered in the 

 same class as Messrs. Ilgenfritz. This is a new establishment, commenced 

 three years ago. Most of the stock were in good condition and doing finely, 

 but the drouth had told heavily on much of the stock planted this season. 

 An extra fine block of tAvo-year-old pear trees were noticed, and several thou- 

 sand grape vines, one and tA\'o year's cuttings, were especially so. One block of 



