THE VIOLA VINEYARD.

Prominent among the places of interest in Mercer county is the vineyard owned by J. M. Erne, contiguous to the village of Viola. In 1875 Mr. Erne purchased twenty-two acres of timber land, joining the village on the north and east, and by ceaseless labor and excellent man­agement he has removed the timber and is now the proprietor of the largest vineyard in the county. He carries on the business in a scien­tific and skillful manner. The hillsides facing the southeast are orna­ mented by rows of vines, numbering in All about 6,000, and consisting of about thirty varieties of grapes. In 1880 these vines produced about fifty tons of fruit.

In addition to these he has about 600 apple trees, among which • about twenty varieties of apples are represented. He also has about fifteen different varieties of strawberries, six of raspberries and three of cherries. He is experimenting with German prunes and several other kinds of fruit which have heretofore been unknown in the American vineyards.

Among the novelties to be found in his vineyard is the " Viola Ordb," which is indebted to Mr. Erne for its name, and which is des­tined to figure prominently among the fine fruits of the country. The tree from which the grafts were taken was discovered by Mr. Erne in the timber south of Viola, and seemed to be a cross between the tame apple and wild crab apple. The fruit resembles the Roman stern in shape and color, and Mr. Erne thinks it superior to any fruit of the crab genus in existence. This fruit is supposed to be transcendent. Mr. Erne is carefully cultivating this novelty and thinks his labor will be rewarded by his being lmown as the discoverer of a fine species of fruit.

He is also experimenting with seedling grapes and the result of his experiments are several new varieties of that delicious fruit, upon which he has not yet conferred names. He has developed an extra fine white, and a fine copper colored fruit,. and also a kind that grows in very compact clusters. He has also developed a seedling peach that ripens early in July, called the Early Mercer.

Mr. Erne deserves great credit for his perseverance and untiring diligence in developing this fruit enterprise. He also manufactures large quantities of wine of an excellent quality.

GREEN BOWER NURSERY.

This enterprise, managed by James Ferry, is situated about four miles southeast of Viola. For many years Mr. Ferry and his father have devoted a great deal of their attention to fruit growing, and in 1869 James opened his nursery. It is handsomely situated and the trees and shrubs so tastefiffly arranged as to present a pretty view. The land on which it is located, consisting of about twenty-two acres, is rolling, the hills sloping to the south and east. Mr. Ferry keeps on hand about sixty varieties of apple trees, and a dozen of raspberries

in blackberries he makes a specialty of the "snyder" and "killina;" in grapes of the "concord." Of strawberries he keeps about ten varieties. Aside from these are found all kinds of ornamental trees. The nursery is well protected on all sides by a natural grove of oak

trees. It is also well drained, and with these natural advantages, together with the enterprise and excellent judgment of the proprie­tor, we see no reason why it should not be a long-lived success.

THE STEAM MILL.

Early in the spring of 1869, an elderly gentleman, of suave man­ner, appeared on the streets of Viola, introducing himself to some of the citizens as William Cannon. His business in the village was to ascertain the feeling of the people in regard to having a steam mill added to their list of enterprises.

After finding the sentiment favorable to his project, he very modestly stated that he would need a little pecuniary aid in constructing the building, and proposed that in case the citizens raised him $2,500, to proceed at once with the work. Enough kind-hearted gentlemen were soon found to make up the desired amount, and as security they were given a lien on the property. At the expiration of two years, the time when the money was to have been refunded, the double-barreled firm of Cannon & Cannon collapsed, and the wily creditors pounced down on the property.

After gaining possession of the same they were informed that other parties held claims on the mill amounting to nearly $5,000. After liquidating these liens the property was sold to L. S. Hunter, the present proprietor, for $1, 800. Just how much these philanthropic gentlemen realized from the speculation, except that they had been swindled, is not known.

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