204 UNION COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



that will grow with great rapidity, whilst the balance of the 

 pole, kept in the dark, will be converted into a trunk-root, 

 and have very numerous laterals. In the greater amount of 

 substance from which the young plants derive their nourish- 

 ment a greater growth is had, whilst the certainty of their 

 growing is about absolute, provided the poles are good when 

 set and are kept in place. If the planting of the poles is done 

 in the Fall — October or November — the openings should not 

 be made till in the Spring. The size of the poles laid down, 

 vary from two to ten feet in length — the longer the better 

 so they are tolerably straight — and not less than half an inch 

 in diameter at the small end. 



In conclusion I may add it is only such as have old plant- 

 ings or who live near by those who have, who can profitably 

 use the poles, as the cost of transportation is too great, besides 

 the ordinary cuttings, if of good size, will do well. 



D. GOW, 



COBDEN, UNION COUNTY. 



Fruit Gardening — Operated Upon Shares — Cold Frames — 

 Flue Hot Bed — Lettuce — The Fnemies of Plant Life 

 — The Remedy — How to Pack Fruit Honestly — Spinach. 



In the Winter of 1855 I migrated from New Jersey to this 

 county with a view to raising early garden products for the 

 supply of the Chicago market. Being a practical gardener 

 and fruit grower, and seeing the many advantages which this 

 hilly country possessed with its newly opened up railroad 

 shipping facilities to Chicago, I at once began gardening 

 operations on a side-hill between the towns of Anna and 

 Jonesboro, and raised my first crop of tomatoes in Illinois from 

 eight thousand plants. From this quantity, together with a 

 few peas, beets and cucumbers, I realized a net profit of a little 

 over twelve hundred dollars. 



The second year I had one competitor in business, but he, 



