Springfield-Greene
County LibraryS. I. HAZELTINE, Springfield, Mo. The leading orchardist of Greene County comes from an old Colonial family of Scotch descent who were early settlers of Now Hampshire and Vermont. The grandfather of our subject moved from Vermont to Wisconsin in 1843 and settled in Vernon, Waukesha County. Ira S. Hazeltine, father of our subject, is also one of the principal orchardists of this section, owning the largest orchard in Greene County. He came to Greene County in 1871. S. I. Hazeltine, his son, and our subject, was born May 1, 1849, at Waukesha, Wis., received an academic education and passed two years in the State University, at Madison, Wis. He came to Springfield in 1871 and was station agent at Dorchester, on the "Frisco," a position which he has since filled. He assisted his father to set out 7,000 apple trees in 1871-4 and the orchard is in good bearing condition. In 1883 Mr. Hazeltine bought eighty acres of land in East Center Township and set out 3,912 apple trees-mostly Ben Davis variety--one mile north of his residence. The trees began to bear in 1888 and a crop of 300 barrels of merchantable apples was produced. and the next year 500 barrels were produced; in 1889 and in 1890, 2,400 barrels were produced, and in 1891, 3,600 barrels; in 1892 only 200 barrels were produced. This shortage was occasioned by continued wet and cold weather during the blooming season. In May of that year a cold, dry wind chilled the blossom buds, in addition to the frost of the spring of 1893, making an almost total failure of the apple crop for 1893. This orchard has received the best of care since it was set out, has been cultivated since planted, and hoed around the trees and mulched. For the season previous to this; the entire orchard has been kept thoroughly cultivated, with the idea that but one crop should be taken from the ground each season. Mr. Hazeltine has erected two stone storage buildings on the " Frisco " track capable of holding 5,000 barrels of apples, and one in the center of his orchard with a capacity of 13,500 barrels. These buildings have three floors each, are lined and have air spaces and are admirably adapted to the preservation of fruit, as they keep a cool and even temperature. Mr. Hazeltine has now one of the finest apple orchards in Missouri. He has carefully studied the business, and worked on an intelligent theory of his own, and has now a beautiful and thrifty orchard capable of producing in one year an ample remuneration for his labor. So far, the orchard has been moderately remunerative and is just now in condition to be very profitable. On Mr. Hazeltine's method it costs per year about $1,000 to keep it in cultivation. He is a man of education, understanding botany and its application to the fruit business; and be is a horticulturist of experience and brings into his business the force of a skillful and educated mind. He has invented a tool called a "weeder," which is now generally used; with this tool, in connection with other tools, he removes the borers from the trees effectually. Mr. Hazeltine married, November 23, 1871, Annie L., daughter of William M. and Mariana (Irving) Miller, of English and Scotch descent, and to Mr. and Mrs. Hazeltine have been born four children: Edwin I., Alfred E., Charlotte A. and May. Edwin I. is a graduate of the high school Of Springfield, class of 1893. Mr. Hazeltine is a member of the People's party and is noted as a man of broad ideas; he is a lover of nature and brings into his business not only good judgment but a patience which will insure success.
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