Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-21
CULTURE OF FRUIT

ever It can be easily obtained and n, a rensonahIe
rate, It becomes, not luxury for the few but me-
cessary for ALL Of which all, under such circum.
stances, i'll gladly avail themselves. Good, well
rlpened fruit, when fresh and in good condition. is
great promoter of health II is adapted by nature
10 INC wants, the comfort, and convenience flnan,
and Its abundant supply should therefore be regard
ed by him with peculiar favor.
ne climate and soil Of the United States, not
excluding New England even, arc well adapted 10
me production OF most Of the finer fruits, which
nave thelr natural growth in the temperate zone
We have the best authority for saying that in
Massachusetts, they are produced with less care
than III most parts of Europe, and that our peaches.
pears, pums, cherries, &c. are of even hirher fla
yor than is attained by the same varieties in ola
belle France" that favored Gland of the olive and
The vines" and we have doubt that when our
hortlculturists shall have suct eeded as they will
succeed, in obtaining Seeding varieties Of the
grape, adapted to our climate we shal rival France
|n the culture OF that delicious fruit also.
10 appears to us, then, 10 be very important and
desirable object and one which should be earnestly
pressed upon the community, to consider the eau
scs winch have, to such an extent, retarded and
prevented the general culture Of the finer varieties
of fruit among us, and to take means to ubyIlte
then 50 that not the wealthy alone, but all clusses
OF the community, even the humbes, shall, every
day aud habiiuay, become partakers of the rich
luscious, and health-preservng gifts, Pomona SO
temptingy offers her votaries
a great deal of error and prejudice prevails on
this subject throughout the community. It has
been very common remark, that he who under
takes the culture of fruit trees must be disinter-
ested man, Tor the fruit of his labor could only be
enjoyed by the next generation. This IS all wronr
we Will state case drawn from our own e.xperi.
ence In the sprng Of 1889, we went upon the
place where we now reside and where we have
about one third of an acre under cultivation. At
oF frtit tI,n
ton OF few cherry trees, two plum trees, and
some hve or SIX peach trees, most of which wero
IN pad state from neglect, and seemed hardly
worth the attempt to preserve them. We set about
procuring trees, but nurseryman to whom we ap.
phed' tod us we must not expect to get pear trees
IN bearing, I'D less time than fifteen years. But we
perSevered, and we have now above thirty pear
trees IN bearing, besides others which ave have no
doubt VIII bear next year. Last year during the
season Tor plums and peaches we had liberal sup
ply tor the wants Of large family and for preser-
wing. vi cherries we have an abundant supply,
ana ol the hnest kinds. We set young cherry
tree IN the spring of 1870 and the next spring cut
off most of the top and grated it, From that tree
we hah The present season nearly bushel of Black
lurtalin cherries, Of magnificent size and the IL
nest hhVor. Other similar instances of prLduc-
liVehess OF pear, plum, and peach trees which
nave oeen put on the lot by u.s. might be cited
ouuice 10 say, from that small lot are now able
every day. from the first ripenng of the strawberry
until the coming of the severe fros's with choice
lrut OF some kind or other and in a short time, the
supply OF many OF the kinds will be more than adj
eqnate to the wants of II single family.
neighhor OF ours, few years since purchased
a vacant town lot and built thereon the same year
laying out garden and planting it with fruit trees
In eight years from that tlme the prolsion of fruit
which 1t supplied, of the most delicious kinds too
was sight which would do any body good to look
upon.
! hese are but two among great number of SIM
nr Instances mat We could name, to prove that
iruit may be, and has been, produced abundantlv
IN n very short time. What has been done once.
may be again, and what has been done by one or
Two, may be by hundreds and thousands
jhe OF tile grehtest obstacles IN the way of the
culture Oh gooa frult has been, the very general
ignorance, IN the community at large of the kinds
pest adapted forcultivatlon, and the difficulty which
mas existed IN This vicinity, till within three or four
years Of obtaining them, if known. We hazard
nothing IN expressing the belief that before the
| commencement of our horticultural exhibitions
even the names Of nine-enhs of the most valuable
varieties OF pears, plums, cherries, &c. were I'm.
known TO ninety mine persons out of every hundred
III the community, and of the fruits offered for sale
IN our market excepting apples, we hardly recol-
ect any, beside the ST. Michael pear. which weuId
be reckoned, by experienced growers, among the
kinds worthy of cultivation.
: rec or four years since, friend of ours from
neighoorlng town. who cuuvates fruit extensive.
~ Tor the market, met Us in the street and told nc
he wanted to show us two fine variet 90 Of noors 81
his raising lie took us to fruit stand and furn.
ishlng US with specimen of each kind desired
our opinion OF IT, Wetod him. very frankly tina,
} our opinion did not coincide with his bur that on
the contrary, If we had q tree of the kinds we
should have the top cut off, and some other kind
grated IN, Just as soon as the proper season 70,
: grating should come round. He looked surprised
aud said that he had considered then, fine varieties
that under the influence of that opinion he had
gone great way and taken much pains to get the
gratis. Still, if there were better kinds he was
> glad to know it, and inquired hat kind we should
recommend He has since investigated the subject
more fully. lie has joined the Horticultural So
clety and is an active member thereof, and now he
pats about the same estimate on his pears that we
do.-Norcester Spy
From the Massachusetts Poughman.