844 



tiful specimen evergreens of the older varieties. 

 Many of them, however, are spoiled of their appear- 

 ance by having to be cut on one side, the result of 

 injudicious planting, which, 1 am sorry to say, is 

 too much the case, not only here, but in most places 

 by crowding plants together — not studying the na- 

 ture of the trees, and the extent it requires when 

 grown to makj it a fine specimen,. Here are three 

 fine vineries, prodjcing the finest fruit, and abun- 

 dant crops — chiefly Black Hamburg, and other 

 excellent varieties, worthy of cultivation. Much 

 praise is due the gardener for his success with his 

 vines, for few larger or better crops ever were ob- 

 tained in this country. Besides, here are two 

 greenhouses nicely stocked with plants, well taken 

 care of, and which make a fine display in the win- 

 ter months — yielding an abundance of flowers. The 

 kitchen garden with framing, forms a compact and 

 well kept place, well worth seeing at any season of 

 the year. 



"Clifton," is the country seat of Mr. John Hop- 

 kins, is an extensive place, and has pleasure grounds 

 on a large scale. Here are found fine specimen 

 trees of evergreens especially, such as Pinus excelsa, 

 Auricaria Cunningharaii, Thuya aurea,Cryptomeria, 

 (25 feet high.) with many more worthy of notice ; 

 but, for want of proper planting, many specimens 

 are spoiled because they have not room to show 

 their beauty. The grounds are kept in as good or- 

 der as can be expected, under themanagement of Mr. 

 Wra. Fowler, the gardener,considering the few hands 

 he has to assist him. Here is a large kitchen gar- 

 den, the produce of which is taken to market ; and 

 a large quantity of fruit, especially pears and figs, 

 which are disposed of in a similar way In addition 

 to this garden are five houses for grapes, running 

 over 400 feet. The vines are in the best condi- 

 tion, producing everj'' year a full crop, and bunches 

 of the largest size, yielding a fine income to the 

 owner. There are also two greenhouses with a fine 

 collection of plants — making a nice display at all 

 times. Some fine old specimen plants are in this 

 lot, — especially Acacia cultriformis, the best of its 

 class for winter flowering. All the houses are heat- 

 ed by hot water, and taken altogether, it is the 

 largest private place around the city, situate about 

 two miles north thereof, on the Harford road. — 

 Rural Gentleman. 



Orchard ofL. W.Lyon, Alton III. — The com- 

 mittee on orchards respectfully report that they find 

 upon the one hundred and thirty acre farm of Mr. 

 Lyon, forty acres in fruit, comprising two thousand 

 apple trees, of ages ranging I'rom twenty down to four 



years — reckoning from the time of planting — and 

 one hundred pear trees. The varieties of apples 

 are Newtown Pippin, ¥/inesap, and Janet of win- 

 ter sorts. There are also old trees of the Nickajack, 

 which proves here a strong grower and tolerably 

 productive of fair frait, resembling externally the 

 Pryor's Red, but inferior in quality. Of summer 

 varieties. Early Harvest, Carolina Sed June, Pri- 

 mate and Eg.rly Strawberry are preferred. August 

 Pippin (a local name) proves very satisfactory, and 

 Fall Wine has proved very productive. The trees 

 are planted forty by forty and then a tree is planted 

 in the centre of the square, or fifty-four trees to the 

 acre. The trees were mostly planted in holes dug 

 with the spade, but Mr. Lyon has latterly practiced 

 the more satisfactory method of plowing ridges a 

 first and second times, and planting u|)on the cor- 

 ner of the elevation of the loose soil. Mr. Lyon 

 prefers two-year old grafts, and considers one-year 

 old better. than three. The orchard is plowed in 

 June and in the fall as late as it is possible to turn 

 in the vegetation before it is killed by frost. 



Mr. Lyon has a small nursery and grows most of 

 his orchard trees himself. 



His experience with pears thus far is quite satis- 

 factory ; as he has thus far escaped the ravages of 

 the blight, although he has trees seventeen years of 

 age and under. 



The younger trees of Mr. Lyon look very thrifty 

 and shapely, and upon the whole your committee 

 would rather not undertake any adverse criticism. 

 — Proceedings of the Alton [111.) Society in Rural 

 World. 



The Fameuse, Willow Twig and Wagener 

 Apples. — There must be something wrong in Mr. j 

 WiKOFP's experience with varieties of the apple. \ 

 Having seen most of all the leading varieties tested j 

 by the side of each other, and in soils and situations ! 

 where every variety that was not very hardy, was j 

 injured or killed, I will send you an account of ■ 

 how they have done in this section. 



Fameuse has but five equals in hardiness, is an 

 early and annual bearer ; our trees bore a good crop 

 last year, and are overloaded this. Could I have 

 but one variety, I would take this. Willow, while 

 young, rather tender, when large, second class as 

 to hardiness; sufiiciently hardy for favorable loca- 

 tions ; a good bearer, long keeper. Wagener, se- 

 cond as to hardiness, the deficiency being in the 

 trunk should be worked in the top of some variety 

 whose trunk never fails ; an early, annual, and one 

 of Our very best bearers of good fruit that is in use 

 a loner season. 



