258 Progress at the West. 



than, Ben Davis, Gilpin, Smitli's Cider, Dominie, and Wagener, are the 

 most in demand. 



In peach-orcharding there is a pause at present. The May Cherry is 

 being largely extended : trees on Morello sprouts are the most in demand. 

 It is a fact generally conceded, that this stock has much to do with the pro- 

 ductiveness of this variety. In orchard-culture, the ground is kept clear of 

 weeds and sprouts. One orchard sent two thousand bushels to the Chicago 

 market. Plums are receiving more attention, and promise well on our 

 timber clay-lands. Strawberries have become a staple crop, and the planta- 

 tions are being extended. The crop was very light this season ; but, in all 

 cases of heavy mulching, there was little if any falling off. It is now well 

 understood, that, in prairie-culture, heavy mulching is essential to success. 

 Raspberries have not, thus far, met the expectations of planters; and slow 

 progress is being made. 



Grape-culture is rapidly extending. The spiral system of training is 

 simplifying and reducing the cost of culture ; making the vines more vigor- 

 ous, and largely increasing the crop. South of 40°, wine is the object ; and, 

 north of that point, they are mostly sent to market. Hartford Prolific, 

 Concord, Ives, and Clinton are the varieties mostly in demand for plant- 

 ing. When used for wine, a certain proportion of Norton's Virginia is 

 requisite. The Catawba is regaining its health, and promises to resume 

 its old standing as the best wine-grape. 



The market-demand for currants is beyond the supply, and planters are 

 extending their plantations. The gooseberry has never been popular at 

 the West, and a small supply is all the market will sustain. Commercial 

 market-gardens have been well sustained, and will be largely augmented. 

 The experiment. of heating the hillsides by the use of tile-flues laid in the 

 soil as for draining, and heated with fire-heat, will have a more extended 

 trial : the experiment gives great promise of success. In this case, hot- 

 beds and glass must give place to this new system of early forcing. Hot- 

 beds and glass have little chance in the market-race against artificially-heated 

 hillsides, sunny skies, and cheap freights. 



Arboriculture, or forest-tree planting, is becoming popular; and thousands 

 of acres will be planted next spring, mostly in shelter belts. The value of 

 these to orchards and farm-crops is too apparent to need further argu- 



