42 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ' 



to my health has been manifold. My ground is 135-275. I have laid it 

 out with considerable care and have nearly all kinds of fruit that grow 

 here. 



What I wish to impress upon anyone laying out grounds is to have a 

 sufficient elevation and slope. It makes the ground appear very much 

 better and makes a better outlook from the house, although perhaps 

 more level ground would be more satisfactory for cultivation, although 

 for trees I think the slope is rather of an advantage. 



I have given about two-thirds of my ground to fruit and garden and 

 part of this I fenced off in a chicken park, which I think is of consider- 

 able advantage to the fruit trees, and I wish to say furthermore, that in 

 the yard where I have over 100 chickens in which my red raspberries 

 and black raspberries have ripened this year I do not think they have 

 disturbed any fruit whatever. Some of my friends thought they would 

 eat the fruit, but I found they did not disturb it and it seems any one 

 could grow small fruits successfully where the chickens have free run. 



I have gone into the raising of the thoroughbred White Wyandottes 

 exclusively. I have experimented with several different kinds but I found 

 these the most satisfactory. Also I have the Buff Cochin, Bantams, also 

 have begun raising pheasants. 



I have put in all kinds of fruit which will grow here and I have experi- 

 mented on some which may not be so successful, such as the Logan 

 Berries, which seem to be doing quite well; also the Quince, Paw Paw, 

 and I also had a fig tree which I wintered out last winter, protecting it 

 with a barrel filled with leaves. 



We have had an abundance of red and black raspberries this year, 

 also strawberries and we will have a large crop of blackberries. I have 

 other small fruits also which are beginning to bear. I would be glad for 

 any member of this Society to see what I have done in this line in the 

 past year at my place, although some of the trees were set out two years 

 ago, but we have occupied the place but little over one year, moving 

 there a year ago last April. 



I have put my fruit on the north side of my lots, reserving the south 

 side for my garden and between the fruit orchard and garden I have a 

 long row of grapes of 150 feet, which give them an exposure to the sun, 

 there being no trees on the south side. I have a very heavy crop this 

 year and they are in fine condition. 



In the matter of flowers I have put out only hardy perennials. I be- 

 lieve this is the best for any person to do who expects to be permanent 

 and build up a place which will be attractive. They will require less care 

 as the plants grow. I have not defaced the open space of my lawn. 

 There were some trees growing there when I bought the place which I 

 left, but I did not deface the open space with shrubbery and do not think 

 it advisable for any one to do. I think a lawn and ground should be 

 laid out in the same form as a picture. Put your shrubbery on the 

 border the same as a frame of a picture, leaving the lawn with what 



