Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-03-30
horticultural.
fFrom the Norristown Heradl
CULTIVATION OF FRUiTs-GRAPES AND
STRAwBERRIES.


STRAWBERRIES.
The Grape is now one of the most market
able fruits that can be raised. 1t is easily
cultivated, requiring but little room and little
labor, and besides its value as marketable
product, supplies most agreeabl', cooling
and refreshing article for family use
The foreign varieties are, as general
thing much too fragile and delicate 10 ]ush'
fy any attempts 10 cultivate them, unless un-
der very peculiar circumstances; but we
have the Ellensborough, Catawba, and the
Isabella-all Of which are native grapes, very
hardy and prolific, and capable of rewarding
almost any degree of care and attention that
that the cultivator may be pleased to accord
TO them We do not enumerate these be-
cause they comprise the whole list OF grapes
CAPABLE of wilhstandng the algid tempera-
ture of our climate, but simply because they
are readily obtained, are generally well
known and highly esteemed. AS 10 the lu-
crativeness of this fruit, ii is asserted that an
individual residing at Camden, New Jersey,
sends annually to the Philadelphia market,
several thousand weigh, Of the Isabella and
Catawba grape, for which he receives from
ten to twelve cents per pouHl. These varie-
ties are very prolific. The Ellensborough
produces fruit smaller in size, but excellent
in quality, and is, perhaps, on many accounts
the best native grape we have.
In cultivaing grapes, one thing appears to
be indispensable, viz The selection of q
suitable soil This should be free, moist,
warm and which loan, and replete with those
principles OF vegetable productiveness which
are supplied by the foliage Of the vine it is
required 10 support.
The very best compost that can be had for
this purpose, is formed of the foliage and ten
drills of the vine itself; and hence in pruning
no particle OF those portions which it may be
necessary 10 remove should be lost or thrown
away The fact that these constitute valu-
able manure, was first discovered, i. is said,
by the vine dressers of France, where CON-
post formed of the prunings, is now almost
the only stimulus used, whenever sulficicn.
cy oft can be obtained 10 supply the demand
Where this is not 10 be had valuable subs,i
tuie is supplied by the foliage Of forest trees
rotten wood, and straw; but these must bt
composted, and great care should be had tha
they be reduced 10 degree offineness whicl
will admit of their being thoroughly and in
timately incorporated with the soil TO whicl
they are applied.
By mixing them, forming them into Close
and compact heaps, and adding few bnshel
of ashes and gypsum, they viii soon be re
duced 10 the required state and consistency
and when applied in the spring, and, as cir
cumstances demand, al subsequent period
during 'he season, will produce highly bene
fetal and salutary effects. No fruits is NOR
easily propogated than the grape, but th
process is now so generally understood tha
any specification Of the details appears TO b.
unnecessary. All that is important to be OBJ
served, is 10 selec, good soil and good vines
and 10 treat them with ordinary care, Will
young If the land be infested with worms
ashes or lime must be applied in suflicien
quantity TO dislodge and drive them off.
The Strawberry is another valuable fTui
which should have place, and a promner
and favored one, in every garden. A goo
strawberry bed occupies but little room,
easily managed, and will produce more ne
income than the same surface devoted 10 an
other fruit that can be grown. In the vicn
tyof cities and manufacturing towns, the fru
always commands a ready market, and
high price. Those, therefore, who are in tn
market line, and who have butter, eggs mill
&C., which they carry daily TO city customer
would find j. TO their profit to cultivate III
strawberry, especially the more valuable Y;
rieties, as il would find a ready sale, and ricl
ly repay them for the labor and expense il
volved in raising and disposing of the frui
1t is asserted that poor widow woman,
the vicinity of Matches, sold from her sma
garden, fruit enough 10 produce the sum
fifteen hundred dollars in a single year.
Those who cannot conveniently obtain in
proved varities, may transplant the nati'
vines which so plentifully abound in Il
fields, and with the fullest assurance that Il
product will abundautly repay the cost.
fruit is characterized by a more easy susce
tibiliiy TO improvement, when judicious
transplanted, than the wild strawberry of O.
fields and forests. Even in lis unculrivaiC
state delicious, it becomes, by the assstant
of art, and more cOngenial locality, equal
the most luxuriant products of the tropics.
have often seen strawberries plucked fro
native vines, which measured one inch
diameter, and instances are mentioned whe
they have greatly exceeded even This lar;
size. II. d. WHITE.
MERcY.-Alercy is goodness in tears Goo
ness is kind TO the good Mercy is kind
the bad. Goodness, extendeth a helpi