214 STATP] POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



cordial as ever, ready to exhibit to us their whole establishment in the quickest 

 possible time, which was the most satisfactory thing they could do. 



They estimated their ground covered by close nursery stock at 125 acres, 

 sixteen of which is occupied by the ornamental department. Two hours of 

 quick driving enabled us to get a fair idea of the amount of stock, its manner 

 of growth, character of the soil, etc. The soil is admirably adapted to nursery 

 purposes, being mostly a good loam with gravel interspersed. The evergreens 

 were upon the lightest soil, and looked very well, but were mostly small, their 

 real value being a prospective one. The two-year apple trees had been cut 

 back so that but this season's growth was to be seen. The committee most 

 heartily commended this action, and only regretted that the process of elision 

 had not extended to apple and pear stock of all ages. 



This firm do their pruning mainly in the spring quite early. The position 

 of packing grounds on a field of light sand is very commendable. The propa- 

 gation of apples is principally from grafts rather than budding ; the leading 

 varieties being Baldwin, King, Greening, Wagener, Red Canada, and Northern 

 Spy. 



LOWELL. 



!N". P. Husted is proprietor of a large nursery establishment near Lowell, 

 in Kent county. He has a situation 250 feet above G-rand River. The soil is 

 a rich clay loam with a porous subsoil, making very perfect natural drainage. 

 The appearance of the landscape indicates a gradual descent in every direction 

 from the nursery grounds. Here we found 200 acres closely covered by stock 

 and orchards. The one and two years old apple stock could scarcely be 

 improved upon. The evergreens were quite limited, but in assortment the 

 ornamental department exceeded our expectations. We found a fair quantity 

 of all the more popular shrubs, annuals, bulbous plants, and lawn trees. They 

 have had in the propagation of the Weeping Willows most remarkable success. 

 We passed through the finest block of them that any member of the commit- 

 tee had ever before seen. In matters of tools, cellars and convenience for doing 

 business, we found Mr. Husted fully up with the modern improvements. 



But the thing I consider of the greatest importance, was the fact that nearly 

 GA'ery variety of fruit here propagated is first raised in a trial orchard and vine- 

 yard. Mr. Husted, assisted by his brother, makes a specialty of his orcharding, 

 grafting all varieties of fruit that are of any note, and especially does he test 

 new varieties before giving them his commendation. In this connection I may 

 make the observation that we found but little diflference in the various nursery 

 situations as regards the matter of protection. It became necessary for us to 

 judge upon this point entirely from effects rather than from any preconceived 

 theories of our own. Certain kinds of the less hardy stock were injured in all 

 parts of the State, while other sorts stand unimpaired. This firm deal quite 

 largely in peaches, and have a very fine stand of buds this season, although 

 from the effects of the dry season the seedlings do not present a very vigorous 

 appearance. The nursery is kept in fine condition, and from every indication 

 we judged there was a good division of labor practised and a judicious expen- 

 diture of work. 



MOJS^KOE. 



Two nurseries were entered at Monroe. Messrs. Reynolds, Lewis & Co. have 

 130 acres closely planted stock and 30 acres more tiled for use. The soil varies 

 from a deep black prairie soil to a heavy clay loam. On the former they have 

 placed the ornamental department, while upon the latter they grow the finest 



