In the midst of this triangle, formed by the location of 

 the martin houses, and partly sheltered by my residence, is 

 a fine apple tree of the Summer Rambo variety, planted in 

 1887. For twelve years, this tree has been a prolific bearer 

 of fine, large, delicious apples, ripening late in August. The 

 quantity varies with seasonal favor, being on bottom land, 

 May frosts sometimes curtailing the crop but the quality is 

 always the same. The largest apples, for this tree, were 

 produced in 1909, when many of them weighed thirteen and 

 fourteen ounces. In the spring of 1910, a May freeze ruined 

 the yield. In the present year, 1911, it produced the largest 

 yield— about twelve bushels — the average size of the apples 

 being slightly less than in 1909, when it produced fewer 

 bushels of fruit. Many of the apples, this year, weighed 

 nine and ten ounces, and at the final picking, August 24, when 

 the remaining five bushels were taken off, a half bushel of 

 selected specimens numbered forty-one and weighed twenty- 

 one pounds — an average of over one-half pound each. More 

 than half of the apples taken from the tree were of this size 

 and quality. 



Quite close the bird house factory buildings, and only a 

 few yards from two of the martin houses are two "fall pip- 

 pin" apple trees. One of these never was a very good 

 bloomer, but this year it contains a good showing of fine, 

 large green colored globes untouched by insects. The other 

 tree, at this writing, August 28, is bending full of fine ap- 

 ples, just on the verge of taking on the golden hue. 



Back of the factory buildings, and directly east of one 

 of the martin houses, are three plum trees, the survivors of 

 a row of such trees planted in 1897. One of these — a peach 

 plum— has so repeatedly borne fruit that all its branches, in- 

 cluding the topmost, droop like a weeping willow. About 

 the middle of August, this year, three quarters of a bushel 

 of plums were gathered from it, most of which were gather- 

 ed while the picker stood upon the ground. The other two 

 trees are of the "Shropshire damson" variety, and at this 

 writing, August 28, the tall slender branches sway with their 

 thickly set fruit, about ready for gathering. 



Bordering the garden walks are numerous grape vines 

 of the Concord, Niagara, Catawba and Pocklington varieties, 



