PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 123 



at the Institute, especially on preserving apples past their common season. 

 Distance prevents, or I should attend with you those Club meetings, which 

 to me are so interesting and beneficial. If possible, I would like to pre- 

 sent some specimens of choice apples, called ' Limber Twigs.' They are 

 medium size, excellent keepers, rich, fine flavored, do not ripen until April, 

 neither are they fit for use until spring. They do not rot any until May, 

 We have them now in use plentifully, June 2t. How kept: November 1, 

 placed on shelves in a large cellar, which has plenty of air and light; 

 Avindows opened every day except the coldest, and not covered at all 

 through the winter; and the apples remain there yet in the cellar. In the 

 first place I had only eighteen bushels; sold none, but in June could sell 

 for one dollar, while last fall they, with other choice fruit, sold for fifty 

 cents a bushel. I have five trees which bear every year — more bountifully 

 every other year. This year they are full, and will bear about sixty 

 bushels. The trees have been bearing about eighteen years. Next June 

 I will send you a barrel; I would now, but we have nearly found the end 

 of them. 



"I am a farmer of two hundred and forty acres; fat seventy hogs, raise 

 as many acres of corn, and other things to match. 



"Pardon me for intruding upon your time, but I wish to m'ake a little 

 inquiry: if you know or can recommend some kind of thrifty timber that 

 can be planted on our prairies for fuel, fences and other uses, which timber 

 will be good to last? We thought our common locust would be the tree 

 wanted; they have an enemy called the borer, which kills them by whole 

 groves, in some instances, so we cannot depend on them. A gentleman is 

 now introducing the gray willow, to be set out next spring; he says that 

 it grows readily from the slip; is very thrifty, and in ten years the but-cut 

 will make four rails. The fact is, we are afraid of its spreading, because 

 we are now annoyed with a kind of willow that is worse than worthless, 

 as it spreads rapidly and is difficult to be killed out, 



" We now have fine weather for vegetation. Corn looks healthy, and is 

 coming forward very rapidly. Our wheat is gaining in prospect for a 

 middling crop; some complaint of the chintz-bug or fly. Oats are very 

 promising. Potatoes doing first rate; just wet enough and warm. Rye is 

 heavy, and has long heads. Our tame meadows good. The above is in 

 reference to my own farm and my neighbors' around me." 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — I have heard of this "limber twig" apple, and 

 have procured grafts, and have them now growing upon my farm. The 

 chestnut tree grows here very rapidly, and I think it would grow on the 

 prairies. I hope Mr. Matteson will give it a trial. The peach tree makes 

 excellent fuel. I understand it grows very rapidly on the prairies of Illi- 

 nois. The alianthus, when it gets age, makes very excellent timber for a 

 number of purposes. 



The subject of the day, "Country Houses and their Surroundings," was 

 then called up. 



Mr. R. G, Pardee. — There is a very ancient proverb, but none the less 

 true at the present time, "fools build houses for wise men to live in." 



It is no wonder that the proverb was uttered, and has been so often 

 truthfully repeated, in view of the things every day to be seen. There is 



