The most gratifying success has attended the efforts of this firm in growing stock. Of 150,000 buds set the past season, comprising cherries, pears, plums, and peaches, almost no rebudding has been required, and their stand is unexampled. It is not strange that the firm have the approval of the State Board of Agriculture and nurserymen of experience East and West, especially from the large nurseries proprietors of Western New York. All unite in saying Spaulding & Co.’s grounds, comprising upward of 375 acres, thoroughly tile-drained, for the growing of nursery stock, are unsurpassed. The 1,500,000 one, two, and three-year old apple trees, and 175,000 one, two, and three-year old cherry trees—the latter budded on Mahaleb roots, imported from France—together with their enormous stock of evergreens, pears, roses, shrubs, etc., are matchless in their perfection of growth, whether it be from an Eastern or Western standpoint.
In driving through the nursery we were shown a large block of American chestnuts, from five to eight feet high, and thence were driven to the chestnut orchard nearly all in bearing. The chestnut here seems fully as much at home as any other plant cultivated.
For the protection of their patrons against outside imposition, each of their nearly one hundred selected salesmen are accredited with a certificate of agency.
The long experience of this firm, being nearly thirty years in the business at Springfield, Ill.; the reputation they enjoy; the approval and indorsement they receive from the State—all commend this nursery to the favorable attention of those who have ground upon which to plant shrubbery or trees.
[The Basket Willow.]
A correspondent wishes some information about the basket willow. In Onondaga county, Central New York, this willow is cultivated and manufactured on a large scale and is, in fact, a leading industry. The cultivation is increasing very rapidly and is a great benefit to this and neighboring counties. The baskets made from this willow are better and cheaper than the splint basket, and raising the stock is found to pay much better than other farm crops, while the manufacture gives employment to hundreds of men, women, and children, who would otherwise have nothing to do during the winter.
These willows are grown on high land and on low land, on wet and dry land, and on very cheap land, and on land that is worth one thousand dollars per acre. The crop needs to be planted but once, and an average yearly crop can not be worth less than one hundred dollars per acre. As the timber suitable for baskets is getting scarce and dear, it is plain that the demand for willow will increase every year. In most parts of the country are Germans who understand working the willow, and it is a great benefit to them and to their neighbors to have this industry introduced. Not one farmer in a dozen has on his place as many baskets as he needs, for the reason that they are scarce and dear. This willow is the easiest thing in the world to raise, and yet we import from Europe $5,000,000 worth a year.
About two hundred tons of willow are manufactured every year in one little village in this State. One man in Syracuse told me he should send to New York this winter one hundred and forty tons of peeled willow, mostly of his own growing. In all the large cities more or less willow is manufactured every year, and the amount thus worked in the city of Milwaukee is very large. This industry is a benefit to the whole community and deserves to be encouraged, and the West especially should take a deep interest in extending it. The fact that it gives employment to poor during the winter, thus making comfort take the place of want, should exert a great influence in its favor. Here then is a means by which the farmer can put money in his pocket and help his poor neighbor at the same time. I have no interest in this matter as I do not raise, buy, or sell, but I do know it has been a great blessing to our State. There is one variety grown here that is much preferred to any other, but I can not find out the true name for it. Even the man that brought it here does not know its name.
In a future number I will give directions for planting, etc.