FRUIT AND TIMBER GROWING. 293 



MILO BAENARD, 



KANKAKTilE, KANKAKEE COUNTY. 



Fruit and Timber Grotoing — First Mistake of Planting Eastern 

 Varieties — Twenty/ Feet Too Close to Plant Apple Trees — 

 Cherry Trees Much Better Without Cultivation — Vine- 

 yard of Concord Crrapes — Strawberry Culture — Actual 

 Measurement of Timber on my Crrounds — Planting and 

 Cultivation. 



The majority of fanners who settled the Grand Prairie 

 region, Illinois, did so under the impression that fruit could 

 not be raised profitably, even for home consumption, and that 

 life was too short to grow forest trees expecting to reap any 

 benefit therefrom in one generation ; hence these very im- 

 portant branches of the farmers' calling have, in most cases, 

 been sadly neglected. 



When I settled here in 1857, I entertained the prevailing 

 opinion in regard to the above named subjects, but soon came 

 to take a different view, discovering that windbreaks and 

 shelter belts were badly needed for the comfort of the family, 

 as well as of the domestic animals, and that gardens as well as 

 field crops, were greatly benefited by a judicious planting of 

 screens and groves of timber. 



As to fruit, it soon became apparent that the farmer who 

 did not raise a supply usually went without, and the great im- 

 portance, I might say the absolute necessity, of an abundant 

 supply of cooling, luscious, life-giving fruits in their season, as 

 a promoter of health and happiness, induced me to take the 

 matter in hand in an earnest matter. 



As timber growing (to a certain extent at least) seems 

 necessary to successful fruit growing, I shall treat the two 

 subjects together. 



My soil is the common black prairie mold or pasty soil that 

 is found away from the sand-ridges, streams and timber, quite 



