5 
occurred since the replanting. One tree, broken more than half 
off, eighteen inches from the ground in the spring of 1857, by a 
badly driven team, so that the top rested upon the ground, was 
spliced up like a broken limb, using wet compost and splinters, and 
wrapping it tightly—has entirely healed over, and in 1861 and 
1862, it bore one bushel of excellent and beautiful apples, each 
year, which was increased this season to nearly two bushels. I 
have mentioned the particnlars of this case, for the purpose of 
saying that no such results could possibly have attended similar 
appliances upon a half-starved or feebly growing tree. And at the 
time of the casualty, that tree was depending almost entirely upon 
the preparation and manuring given to the soil, before its planting. 
The success of the orchard as a whole, I believe is chiefly attribu- 
table to the same cause, in connection with the continual good cul- 
tivation, and repeated enriching of the soil. 
KINDS OF TREES TO PLANT. 
If the lamented Dr. Kennicott, of Chicago, that noble pioneer 
nurseryman of the North-West, thought a few years ago, that 
“ten years’ more experience is required in Northern Illinois to de- 
termine what varieties are best suited to cultivation there,” certainly 
in Iowa we should have a little indulgence, being confident that we 
can prescribe in that regard for her, far more understandingly after 
a few more years’ of aczlimating and experimenting experience. 
And, indeed, so many lists of hardy varieties of the various 
kinds of fruit have been so frequently given by nurserymen and 
fruit committees, that it would seem nearly useless to repeat them. 
Besides this, so great diversity exists in different parts of our State 
that for one’s own particular vicinity, it is really safest to obtain 
information as near home as possible. Some old standard varieties 
of apples, as yellow Bellflower, Talman Sweet, Red Astrachen, 
Rawle’s Jennet, and Wine Sap, are all right, iu all places; while 
the Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening, Rambo and Porter—great 
Eastern favorites—seem to be more or less hardy and useful in 
different localities. In searching for light as to best varieties, let 
the amateur refer to the pioneer in his own vicinity, and he will 
obtain a better guidance than from any other source. 
Norturern Spy.—The very name of Northern Spy is usually 
taken as a warrant for its hardiness, in any cold climate. As [ 
