SUMMER MEETING AT CHILLICOTHE. 45 



There stands a snug, comfortable farm-house. Around it are 100 evergreens ; 

 75 of them stand guard between that home and the northwest gales ; 25 are on the 

 lawn where they are oftenest seen. Knock at that door, ax in hand, and ask the 

 woman, and the children, too, for how much or for what they will allow you to 

 make their evergreens into Christmas trees. When all these answers are in you 

 will understand why, and how much, people in this region value their trees. 



S. G. I^aughlin & Sons brought liere and tested 123 varieties of apples. If 

 they were planting a family orchard this year, not more than 20 varieties would 

 find place in it. If planting a commercial orchard it would be of not more than 

 half a dozen. 



Not one variety of evergreens in live that we or our neighbors have proved is 

 it worth while to plant. 



There is much of experimenting yet to be done v/ith some of the evergreens 

 that have lately been found ; but my advice to the farmer is to let nurserymen and 

 amateurs do that. It is their trade, and years will tell the story. They can and 

 •will make it pay, and the people can well aflbrd to pay them for doing it. 



As is the Ben Davis among apples, and the Concord among grapes, so is the 



WHITE PINE 



Among the evergreens. It is everybody's tree ; it flourishes anywhere in this lati- 

 tude; it is a good tree for every purpose for which evergreens are wanted. It 

 grows fast while it is young, and keeps on growing fast for a long time, even for 

 centuries, [f not crowded or trimmed up its limbs grow long and branching near 

 the ground, and are healthy and full of leaves. Its body is straight and keeps its 

 size well up. Its limbs come from the body in just the shape to make it one of the 

 best for the small boy or girl to climb. tSleet never hurts it. None of the ever- 

 greens keep their color better in the winter, and when the lovel-ight of the spring- 

 time comes, and they are leafing and preparing for the seeds that are to be, no 

 variety puts on a more attractive flush. Plant it for shade, for shelter, for timber, 

 and for the higher use of beauty. Specimens on the old nursery place, set in 1859, 

 range from 15 to 20 inches in diameter two feet from the ground, and are about 70 

 feet high. It may be planted for timber six feet apart each way. If for shelter, 

 • 12 or 15. 



RED PINE. 



I know of but two. These were planted by my brother 14 years ago. The 

 larger of the two measures, one foot from the ground, 13 inches in diameter. It is 

 at least 25 feet high. They are straight-bodied and seem to have no faults. 



RED CEDAR 



Has done very best here. Its growth in timber is not the largest, but perhaps the 

 most valuable. It is quite a beauty in summer, though it is of a dingy color in 

 winter. For wind-breaks it is one of the best. It is long-lived, and it is pleasantly 

 fragrant. For timber it may be planted five feet apart each way. If for shelter, 

 10 or 12 feet. 



Be very careful of whom you buy trees of the red cedar. Trees from seed 

 grown at all east of here, or from 200 miles south, or from as far north, will not do 

 well here. The very best trees are from seed gathered on the Upper Platte, and 

 even there can be found two varieties, one very much better than the other. Only 

 an expert is able to make sure work of gathering seed of the red cedar. 



