266 



THE ILLmOIS FARMEE. 



Sept. 



be no question as to the correctness of this 

 choice, taking; a series of years together; both 

 are vigorous growers, abundant abd sure bear- 

 ers, and both of the best quality of strong fruit. 

 Were we to add to the list we would include Ste- 

 vens' Gennessee, Louise Bonne de Jersey and 

 Fondante d' Automne, and for winter, Winter 

 Nelis. 



THE Xt^KSn Y 



Grounds of Mr. D. contain thiny two acres close- 

 ly plai ted. Dwarf and standard pears, the 

 enial! fruits and evergreens are the leading sta- 

 ples, though a liberal space is given to the floral 

 deptiiiiiieiit, whtn the dahlia and peonia stand at 

 the head, an 1 are rather speciulities. 

 We Dcx: viaited the pear orcbaid of 



A. S SIIEKMAM. 



!Mr. S. purchased the grounds som." half a do- 

 zen veiv- since. It then contained twenty-five 

 dwaif pears then six years set, making tbem 

 now twelve yeais from the setting. Most of these 

 are Louise Bmine de -Jersey, and now loaded with 

 fruit. The trees are large and vigorous. They 

 stand up'>n t'^e sumniii if a pretty high ridge, 

 with f;oo<l natural drainage and protected on the 

 north and west by a large apple orchaid, build- 

 ing and shade trees. 



1) liLDEIts KOi! IMULCH. 



These Ifirge trees are mulched with a liberal 

 sup'lj' of gianite boulders, which protect the 

 roots and maiutain the trees in plac •. Mr. S 

 ],u live hiinirid dwarf and stauJard pear trees 

 and !ill 0' thetn have this rock mulching. The 

 newiy set trees fii'sl receive a good conting of 

 straw cr pniirie hay, and as his stock of bould rs 

 were exhn-itted hy the large trees, he uses quar- 

 ri<^d stone to . lace about them. From the very 

 vigoi-iuK growth of his trees we must infer that 

 ttis treat ii-.ent is of considerable ailvantage, and 

 we feel (Mspnsel to recom^-end it when the stone 

 can he re .di!y pr cured. His yotjne orchard is 

 set eight by rwe-v^ feet, half dwarfs and half 

 Stan lar.l, anl ■■•et alternat^-ly Among t'e stand- 

 ard is o<;e hllIld^^■d and fif^y of the Flemish Beau- 

 ty, and one hundred and twenty-two of Louise 

 B' nns lie Jtr.-.'v, almo. t the entire nmouiit of 

 the st:indard. When we consider the niultiplici 

 ty of oevv pi'irs and the desire for ntivelty we 

 IDMy ci)vsil-r mir Waukegm friends a little old 

 fo^y -h in t*!. i'- rt IhesiOD to old and well t ied 

 frie;id< ; tlie res'ilt is plenty of fruit, while those 

 who run after novelties have plenty of trees such 

 as 'hey are. 



BABK LICK. 



The bark louse had become so abundant on the 

 apple orchard of Mr. S. that fears were iVlt of 

 its destruction, and it became necessary to look 

 after some eflFectual remedy. Mr. S. uses lin- 

 seed oil and tar in equal quantities. Th se are 

 mixed over the fire by a gentle heat to di.-solve 

 the tar. This mixture is put on wiih a bruh at 

 any time during the winter or early spring and 

 has the appearance of a varnish. It has the ad- 

 vantage over the alkaline washes used on the 

 young insects, that it can be applied to a 1 parts 

 of the trse without the least injury t > toe shuots 

 or buds, while it is death to the insect. His trees 

 are nearly free of the insect and have become 

 vigorous and fruitful. 



THE LOJIBARDY POPLAR 



Is being used by M^". S. for a belt on the outside 

 of his orchard shelter. They are of rapid growth 

 and easy culture, requiring only cut'ings set 

 'hree feet apart and cultivated for the first two 

 years, when they will have become well est ib- 

 lished. Mr. S. has planted a part of his pear 

 orchard to strawberries, but we apprehend that 

 he will not find them a desirable ciop, belter put 

 in small hard crops. 



Waukegan abounds in fine gardens, but we had 

 no time to look through them, a- our oSiciai u- 

 ties would require all the time that it was possi- 

 ble for us to devote from home at this st-ason, 

 and with some regret we parted company. Mr. 

 Bragdon was booked for a tour in Wisconsin, and 

 Mr. Chase was compelled to return lo Ciiic^igo, 

 while Mr. Hull and myself took the down tiaia 

 for Wiuetka, to examine the 



TaAN I'l. \i\rED FORKST TliK S 



Of Mr. Charles E Peck. Mr. P. has twenty-two 

 acre- which last year was dignified with the imme 

 of farm, and upon which he received the fi^jt 

 premium for the best farm of twenty acres. If 

 twenty-two acres, surrounded with an expeosive 

 rustic fence, ten of which is laid out into p«rk 

 and twelve of it into the most beiuitifal orna- 

 mental t;rounds, with its miles of pravoled w^ilks 

 and thousands of oriamental trees, plants -iid 

 shrubs, with a mansion and out buildings c-s'ing 

 sixtein or s ivente !n thousand dollars, is a fain, 

 then this is one, hut not such as s'\ uid he re- 

 commended for th-! snail farmer, unless h\< rent 

 and ba.k account was more ample t > tn in it of 

 most Sii'aU firm TS. We have a curios 'y to see 

 the report of the committee and t > learn s me- 

 thing of the working and culturo of ihis fiirm. 



