206 WISC 
Washington’s Orchard 
It is said of Washington/ ‘Provi- 
dence left him childless that his 
country might call him Father.” 
That is a distinction only one man 
can achieve, but it is not the only 
way in which Washington was dis- 
tinguished. Besides the title 
“Father of His Country,” Wash- 
ington has some claim to the title 
“Father of American Horticul- 
ture”, as will appear from the fol- 
lowing facts: 
On Mar. 18, 1774 George Wash- 
ington leased to one William Bart- 
lett 125 acres of land, “in the 
barens of Bullskin,” a part of the 
present Berkeley Co., W. Va. 
The grantee was “to have and to 
hold (the land) for and during the 
lives of the said William Bartlett, 
Mary, his wife, and Frederick, 
their son and the life of the longest 
liver of them.” In addition to six 
pounds annual rent, it was agreed 
that Bartlett should leave a certain 
area of timber untouched, erect the 
buildings, raise 10 acres of “Eng- 
lish Grass” and “that within seven 
years an orchard of one hundred 
winter apple trees, at forty feet 
distance every wav from each oth- 
er, and that one hundred peach 
trees shall be planted on some con- 
venient part of the said demised 
land, and the same to be kept al- 
ways, during the continuance of 
said term, well pruned, fenced in 
and secured from horses, cattle and 
other creatures that may hurt, and 
if any of the said trees shall die. 
decay or be destroyed, that others 
of the same kind shall be planted 
in their place, and the entire num- 
ber thereof be kept up during the 
said term.” 
This orchard of 200 trees is sup- 
posed to have been the largest or- 
chard of its time. 
It is interesting to note, further, 
that the site selected by Washing- 
ONSIN HORTICULTURE 
ton for his orchard has since be- 
come one of the largest fruit reg- 
ions of the state. “Apple Pie 
Ridge” boasts of one orchard with 
a record of 600 barrels of apples 
per acre. 
Squash Bugs 
A little late for talk about 
squash bugs but the following by 
Mr. Fracker of the State Entomo- 
logist office may still be helpful. 
“No remedies which are com- 
pletely satisfactory to growers and 
to entomologists are known for the 
striped cucumber beetle. The 
greatest success seems to result 
from efforts to cover Ihe upper and 
lower surface of the leaves with 
spray materials or other finely di- 
vided substances. The beetles will 
not eat leaf tissue which is cov- 
ered by such substances as lime, 
Bordeaux mixture or wood ashes 
if the substance is applied in such 
a way as to completely cover the 
leaves and stems on all surfaces. 
This may be accomplished in the 
case of powders, such as ashes or 
lime, by scattering them in the 
early morning while Ihe dew is still 
on the plants. 
Commercial growers often cover 
the plants with cheese cloth or 
screens while they are small and 
particularly subject to injury. It 
also still seems best to plant an ex- 
cessive quantity of seed in order 
to have a sufficient number of sur- 
viving plants after the insects have 
taken their toll. 
These suggestions do not apply 
to the large sucking insect known 
as the squash bug which seems to 
be included in your request. This 
must be handled in an entirely dif- 
ferent way and directions for it 
will be sent in case you are trou- 
bled by this insect. The striped 
cucumber beetle is usually distin- 
August, 1917 
guished from anything else attack- 
ing cucumber and squash by the 
yellow body with three black 
stripes. 
S. B. Fracker, 
Assistant Entomologist. 
Green Corn in Winter 
For more than 40 years we have 
enjoyed green corn in winter and 
like the product from the process 
to be described better than from 
drying or canning. Gather the 
ears when at best condition for eat- 
ing. If too old it will be tough 
and if the juice is watery instead 
of milky it will not keep well. 
Strip the ears carefully of the i 
husks and silk. To make husk- 
ing much easier cut off the butts 
close to the corn with a sharp 
butcher knife. Cook the corn on 
the ear in a large boiler until the 
(milk) has set giving a little less : 
cooking than if for immediate use. 
As soon as the ears have cooled af- 
ter taking from the water cut the 
corn from the cob, cut lightly and 
scrape from the cob so there shall 
be only com to pack away. Have 
ready earthen ware jars sufficient 
to hold the quantity desired. In 
the bottom of the jar place a one 
inch layer of dairy salt, next a two 
inch layer of corn, following with 
half inch layers of salt and two 
inch layers of corn until jar is full 
finishing with a one inch layer of 
salt. A wooden potato masher 
should be used to press the corn in 
firmly. The original recipe called 
for a coating of lard over the last 
layer of salt. 
We now think it more conveni- 
ent to pack in one or two quart 
glass fruit jars, with about the 
same proportion or less of salt and 
omitting the lard covering. Use 
the covers of course. Press the 
corn in firmly so that a little juice 
