POMOLOGY, GARDENING, POaESTRY, HORTICULTURE, RURAL ARCHITECTURE, BEES. 



Vol. II. Des Moines, Iowa; Leavenworth, Kan., April, 1871. No. 4 



MARK MILLER, 

 Editor atid Publl»?ier, - - Ves Moines^ Imca. 



DR. J. STAYMAN, 

 Aitodatt EiUor, - - Leavmworth, Kansas. 



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Bt (iUEllCUS. 



Who Ib Quercus ? Well, I will say (if it is any 

 one's bnsiness) that I am a great old gnarly White 

 Oak, standing on the bluffs of ono of our Western 

 rivers, which bluffs are noted as being one of the 

 finest fruit-producing regions of the West. 



What right has an Old Oak to set himself up as 

 critique In horticulture ? 



I will explain. My first recollection Is, that I was 

 one among a grand old forest that crowned the bluffs 

 above our beautiful river. About forty years ago a 

 stalwart son of New England appeared amongst us, 

 with a gleaming ax on his shoulder. He soon be- 

 gan to lay my brethren low. The proudest and 

 noblest fell first, were rent asunder and hauled away 

 by piecemeal. I shuddered whenever our pigmy foe 

 approached me, but my fears were groundless. He 

 nearcd me once, gave me a glance, but turned away 

 with a frown. I had stood somewhat remote from 



my brethren, in a little ravine, and was full of 

 knots and branches, and they saved . me. Tears 

 rolled on. Having lost my companions one and all, 

 I began to see things, for before our time had been 

 occupied in flattering ourselves and each other. I 

 saw the fragments of my companions stretched over 

 tlie plain below. I saw my master planting little 

 silly looking twigs of trees on the side hill just be- 

 low me. I saw him cultivate and care for them with 

 the tenderest care. Soon I saw them covered with 

 bright flowers, then with golden and ro.9y apples ! 

 not acorns ! I saw his two stripling boys grow up 

 to manhood. One day these boy-men came on my 

 bluff. The younger, whonj I had always seen oft- 

 enest among his father's trees, talked much and 

 earnestly, the elder but little, and assentingly. They 

 came back again with teams and tools, tore out the 

 old stumps, deeply plowed the ground, and then 

 planted the bluffs for nearly as far as I could see 

 with little trees and tiny plants, of all the kinds that 

 t/iey called fruits. They cared for them kindly, they 

 kept the soil mellow and clean, all the lime talking 

 of them and their products, and the youger brother 

 talking to his pets, the trees, when the elder was not ' 

 there. I soon leared their lauguage, and stored up 

 all that was said, having nothing else to do. The 

 younger, whom we will call Acorn, took all the pa- 

 pers treating of his business, and sought my kindly 

 shade in which to read them. I soon learned to 

 read. lie also attended all horticultural 'meetings, 

 and told his brother and me all he had learned. He 

 put in practice all uew theories that seemed reason- 

 able, and compared results. So you see, dear reader, 

 that the Old Oak, having nothing to do but watch, 

 listen and learn, may be a better counselor than you 

 might think. 



Old Oak will never criticise merely for the sake 

 of criticising, never lose his temper or worry that of 

 others, but will kindly point out to the beginner the 

 most valuable as well as the dangerous points made 

 in the columns of the Pomologist; will gently let 

 the gas out of fine-spun theories that have been tried 

 at the bluff orchard and found wanting. 



