186 HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



arbor vitse in place of spruce. This makes a handsome hedge 

 in Summer, growing rapidly and bearing shearing remarkably 

 well, but turns brown in Winter. I also have several hundred 

 evergreens, from three to twenty years planted, growing about 

 my farm and buildings, for wind-breaks and ornament. They 

 are principally spruce, white, Scotch and Austrian pine, hem- 

 lock, balsam fir, arbor vitse and juniper. 



Evergreens, whether planted for wind-breaks, hedges or 

 ornament, give an air of taste and comfort to the farmer's 

 home that can be secured in no other way, and add tenfold 

 their cost to its money value. 



THE GARDENS. 



One-fourth of an acre is devoted to a vegetable garden, 

 half as much to a flower garden, and an acre to a fruit garden. 

 The latter is planted to strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, 

 currants and gooseberries. In prolific years the yield of fruit 

 is greater than my family can consume, but in seasons of short 

 ci'eps the space devoted to the fruit garden will be found none 

 t-oo great to supply a large family, with an occasional basket 

 over for a friend. 



THE WARSAW HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 

 is a live, energetic association, organized primarily for the 

 purpose of encouraging the planting of commercial orchards 

 and vineyards. It has been eminently successful in furthering 

 this object, and within its territory may be found some of the 

 largest orchards and vineyards in the State. It has also done 

 much toward developing a taste for fruit and vegetable garden- 

 ing, floriculture and ornamental planting, and its influence is 

 seen all over the adjacent countr}^ in the better kept grounds, 

 and the general improved appearance of the homes of our 



well-to-do farmers. 



HAY. 



Outside of the orchard, I devote' most of my farm to grass, 

 converting it into hay for tlie Southern market. Clear timothy 

 yields on an average about one and one-fourth tons per acre, 

 which at fl5 per ton in St. Louis, is considered a fair return. 



