416 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



counties of Indiana to have only 25 trees to a quarter sec- 

 tion of land, i. e. to each 160 acres, the crop, of fifteen bush- 

 els a tree, would be nearly two millions. 



The past year has greatly increased the cultivation of 

 small fruits in the State. Strawberries are found in almost 

 every garden, and of select sorts. None among them all is 

 more popular — or more deservedly so — than Hovey's Seed- 

 ling. We have a native white strawberry, removed from 

 our meadows to our gardens, which produces fruit of supe- 

 rior fragrance and flavor. The crop is not large — but con- 

 tinues gradually ripening for many weeks. The blackberry 

 is introduced to the garden among us. The fruit sells at 

 our market for from three to five cents — profit is not there- 

 fore the motive for cultivating it, but improvement. I have 

 Q, white variety. "What color is a 5/ac^-berry when it is 

 green f " We used to say red^ but now we have ripe hlack- 

 berries which are white^ and green Stoofc-berries which are 

 red. Assorted gooseberries and the new raspberries, Fr:ai- 

 conia and Fastolff are finding their way into our gardens. 

 The Antwerps we have long had in abundance. If next 

 spring I can produce rhubarb weighing two pounds to the 

 stalk, shall I have surpassed you ? I have a seedling which 

 last year, without good cultivation, produced petioles weigh- 

 ing from eighteen to twenty ounces. My wrist is not very 

 dehcate, and yet it is much smaller in girth than they were. 



In no department is there more decided advance among 

 our citizens than in floriculture. In all our rising towns, 

 yards and gardens are to be found choicely stocked. All 

 hardy bulbs are now sought after. Ornamental shrubs are 

 taken from our forests, or imported from abroad, in great 

 variety. Altheas, rose acacia, jasmin, calycanthus, snow- 

 berry, snowball, sumach, syringas, spicewood, shepherdia, 

 dogwood, redwood, and other hardy shrubs abound. The 

 rose is an especial favorite. The Bengal, Tea and Noisettes 

 bear our winters in the open garden with but slight protec- 

 tion. The Bourbon and Remontautes will, however, drive 



