The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-08-05
From the Agriculturist,
Proposed Convention Of Fruit
Growers


A Convention of Fruit Growers in Maine
was held last year, which resulted in the for
nation of Il Society. A similar convention
for Vermont, to be held at Montpelier IN Oc,
tober next, has been suggested. Many good
reasons may be urged in favor OF the move
ment,-such as the following =
l.. There are many native fruits IN YER
mont, particlarly apples, OF great excellence
and which, as adapted to our SOIL and Inmate
ourht to be generally known. In some cases
valuable varieties have already been lost
having persisted with the original tree. In
others, thcv are known but to a cultiyator or
two, or within a very small circle, To col
lect these and ascertain their real merits
would be of immense advantage to the State,
and it can be done within q reasonable time
only by The labors of an active society.
2. Many kinds are propagated among us
which do not deserve the place they hold
They happen, perhaps, to be among the best
in an ~ill-supplied neighborhood, and are con-
sequently propagated there, and recommend
ed and tried elsewhere, with 10 small loss
and disappointment in the end. They prove
TO be not Of the 3e8t quality, or poor bearers
or slow in coming into bearing, or in some
other way fatally deficient as candidates for
general cultivation. AS attention to the cul-
ture of fruit is increasing, there is danger that
errors of this kind will multiply.
3. Fruit from abroad cannot be depended
on as adapted to our use, without trial. An
apple that surpasscs all others in New York
and New Jersey, may not succeed at all in
Massachusetts. Favoritc fruits in NIassachu-
setts and Connecticut cannot be relied on as
certainly good for our soil and climate. New
York apples that are rejected about Boston,
may prove excellent with us. But as vet adj
equate trial has been made Of comparatively
few fruits of foreign origin and in regard to
those which have been proved, the knowledge
Of the result is limited. An apple that has
been tried and rejected in one town, may be
eagerly sought for and tried again in the next
to be again rejected. A society, bringing to-
gether and publishing the results of expert
ment in all parts of the State, would do much
to guard us against mistakes, and losses from
this source.
4. AS many farmers will be planting
young orchards within a few years, it is of
immense importance that they do it %intelli-
gcntly,-that the selection of fruit be good
by which we mean not merely that the fruit
itself be of good quality, but that it be such
Us to command a good price in market, and
that the trees be hardy, vigorous and prolific,
and come soon into bearing. For instance, the
Blue Pearmain is IL handsome and excellent
apple and sold last fall in Boston for 25 cents
per barrel more than the Baldwin. But it
does not bear young,nor abundantly. A cul-
tivator thinks that taking the two from the
nursery and giving them the same advantages |
the Baldwin may be made to yield fruit worth
500 before the Blue Pearmain will produce
$40. The st Michael Pear (Virgalieu) fails
and is rejected of late about Boston, but in
most parts of New York it is of "%nearly I'M
equallcd excellence" 1t has been cultivated
with perfect success in this country for many
years. We cannot depend on information
from other States without more or less danger
of disappointment. A, State society, by
bringing cultiyators together, and rendering
the experience Of each available for all, might
do incalculable good.
This subject is of the more Importance on
account of the near prospect of a more profit
able market for all our surplus fruit. Itmay
be sent by railroads, and find its way to Eu-
rope. And in regard to the market abroad
we have this in our favor,-that fruit grown
in Vermont will keep better than the same
kinds ripened in warmer regions.
We hope therefore that measures will be
taken without delay to watch over and pro.
mote, by united action, the fruit-growing in
tercst5 of the State. Our vote is in favor Of
a meeting and we do not know who could
call it with more propriety than our friends
in Burlington, who, so far as we know, have
formed the only Association of the kind in
Vermont.