Autumn and 



IVinter, 18Q5. 



Again the days are growing shorter and the evenings so chilly that we gather about the open grate to enjoy 

 its double charm of beauty and warmth. 



The fairy flowers, God's voiceless messengers that bring us daily near to Him and make us at times almost 

 forget our many cares and anxieties, like the beautiful green sward of summer, are losing their brightness. But 

 the Apples and the Pears and the Grapes are ripening; and those who will may have a royal good time. 



That the starting to school of the little ones and the leaving of home for college of the larger children, thus 

 ending their delightfully happy summer vacation, produces a sadness that is akin to pain, we must all admit. 

 But earnest work must be performed that blessings may follow ; and it is as necessary for us now to look toward the 

 future and act, if we would have an abundance of Fruits and Flowers, as surely as it is for the children to enrich 

 their minds. We sincerely hope and trust all our friends and patrons have had a summer holiday as well as 

 the younger members of the family ; if not like them for months, for several weeks or at least a few days. We 

 are confident they all deserve it. 



And what a glorious summer it has been ! No destructive drought, no bad storms; nothing but continued 

 good growing weather. To be sure there have been some warm days, very warm ones; but this has been nece: - 

 ary for the perfection of the Cannas, the Melons, the Corn, the Tomatoes, the Grapes and numerous other veget- 

 ables, fruits and flowers. 



By glancing over the following pages it will be noted that we have added Bulbs and many other things to our 

 stock. We have also constructed large and perfectly appointed cold storage houses, which enable us to ship 

 many hardy plants at any time during the winter ; which, in the past, we were unable to do. 



FALL PLANTING. 



The advantages of planting in the Autumn are so many and so great that we cannot refrain from again 

 endeavoring to impress them upon our patrons. With the exception of Cap Raspberries and Evergreens, 

 the very best way to handle nursery stock is to have it shipped in the Autumn and planted at once in the 

 orchard or garden. If circumstances prevent the planting of stock in the fall then it should be u heeled in" upon 

 one's own grounds so as to be ready at hand for planting in Spring at the earliest possible 

 moment. Our springs are treacherous. If the procuring of trees and plants to be 

 planted, is deferred until Spring the preparing of the soil where they are to be set is 

 liable to be also ; and by the time the stock can be obtained and planted it is so late that 

 growth has started and dry, hot weather almost always follows before it has had a 

 chance to get a hold and become established, causing a good share of the very best 

 plants and trees to die. More nursery stock is lost from late planting in Spring than 

 from any other cause. Not only this, but those that live become more or less stunted and 

 make only a feeble growth compared with those planted in early Spring or Autumn, 

 for these have the advantage of the early and heavy Spring rains to settle and firm the 

 soil about the roots and the first warm days to make growth which will not be checked. 

 In the Autumn the planter has more time to prepare his ground carefully and thoroughly 

 than in the Spring, and the rush upon the nurseries during March and April is often 

 such as to render it practically impossible to make shipments promptly. When trees are 

 planted in Autumn a small mound of earth should be made at the base of each one to 

 prevent swaying, as shown in the accompanying figure, which should be reduced to the 

 level in the Spring as soon as the ground has become "settled." A similar but smaller 

 mound of either soil or manure should be made at each Blackberry, Raspberry, &c, after planting, to prevent 

 repeated and severe freezing at the roots, and removed as recommended for trees. The best and most thrifty 

 fruit growers throughout the country — the progressive, forehanded ones — practice getting in their supply of 

 nursery stock in the fall. 



