Cedar Falls Gazette

Messrs Editors;—By your permission I have thought of preparing a few short articles upon the subject of planting trees and growing fruits in Iowa. In a few weeks the season for tree planting will be here. There is no enterprise or avocation, of more importance to a prairie country, save agriculture, than growing trees and fruits. A home on the prairies without trees and shrubbery surrounding it, is dreary and desolate. Trees, shrubs, plants and flowers, encircling the farmer's cottage, make home a pleasant, healthful and inviting spot; and there is no investment of time and money that pays better than the planting of shade, ornamental and fruit trees. Beside the pleasure and comfort enjoyed, it enhances the value of property one hundred per cent. above the outlay.

At present it is more particularly my purpose to call the attention of farmers, gardeners and others in this locality, to fruit growing. In Northern Iowa, as in Northern Illinois, the question, has been whether we can make fruit growing a successful and paying business. In Illinois the question is solved beyond all doubt in the mind of every observing man, that an abundance of fruit, of the most choice varieties, can be, and is now yearly grown,—also in Southern Wisconsin. It is already fully developed in many localities of Northern Iowa that fruits can be successfully grown. Wherever good healthy trees of hardy varieties, have been planted and properly cared for, they have done well. To evince this fact I would like to make a statement of what I saw a few days ago in the south-east part of Black Hawk County, Spring Creek Township, of an orchard of 35 acres containing 2,300 apple trees. This large and valuable orchard, is the property of Mr. John Bouk, a friend and acquaintance of the writer, who left Winnebago Co., Ill., ten years ago, with small means, and entered some wild prairie lands on the line of Buchanan and Black Hawk Counties. Nine years ago he broke some land and planted three bushels of apple seed, with a view of engaging in the nursery business and orchard ing, as fast as his small means would allow. This seed came up well, and the following spring he put out one hundred and forty thousand grafts. The succeeding winter was that severe and memorable one of 1855-6, which so universally killed all tender varieties of fruits and nursery stock throughout the North-west. Mr. Bouk, with others, suffered nearly the entire loss of his promising stock of young trees, and at the time was much discouraged. He sent to Illinois and bought a few hundred apple trees to start an orchard, and cultivated the surviving portion of his nursery, and as they became fit for transplanting he filled up his orchard to its present dimensions, consisting of some fifty varieties, most of which already are beginning to bear fruit. Last year his crop was over 100 bushels, and from the appearance of fruit buds now on his trees the prospect is that the present year will produce at least 500 bushels of apples. The leading varieties in Mr. B.'s orchard are of Summer apples—Early Red, Early Pennock, Sweet June, Red June, Summer Queen, Hoeking and Yellow Ingestrie. Winter—Domini e, Famuse, Tallman Sweeting, Ralls Jannett, Yellow Bellflower, Golden Russet, White Winter Pearmain, Paradise Winter—Sweet and others, all of which are vigorous and healthy.

It has been my privilege to observe orchards for the last few years in all the Western States, as well as Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri, and I have no hesitancy in saying that this 35 acre orchard of Mr. Bouk's is the best young orchard that I have ever seen anywhere. It is worth a ride of 100 miles to see it. No man after seeing it will have any further doubt of the success of growing apples, at least, in Northern Iowa. This orchard is located on the prairie nearly a mile from timber.

To such as intend planting fruit trees this Spring, the writer would refer them to his advertisement and circulars, informing them how they may procure good healthy, western grown trees, which by all means should be chosen before those grown in the East. I have just learned from the proprietor of the Rockford (Illinois) Nursery, that his stock is in excellent condition. It is my purpose, as soon as the frost is out of the ground, to go in person and bring to Cedar Falls, for this spring planting, a large quantity, and good collection of fruit trees, Evergreens, Shrubbery, Grapes, &c., which will be sold on more reasonable terms, and will be much more reliable stock than can be obtained through any transient tree peddler for Eastern nurseries.

H. P. SLOAN.

Cedar Falls, March 2, 1864.