Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-30
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
FRUIT.

r In no way can delicious and yet l''xurl-
ous food be so abundantly, cheaply, and u,
Universally obtained as in the cultivation OF
fruit. However billy, rugged and rocky
the land although 1t refuse the plough ana
the scythe, there Is scarcely an acre IN our
country which viii not produce good irmt
of some kind. The marsh which bids de-
6ance to cultivation without expensive drain
aoe, Yields whortleberries and cranberrles,
each highly valuable in its way. The glen
and mountain side may easily be made pro-
h6c in the cherry, pear, peach and apple,
and on the more favored portions Of the soil,
where wheat, corn, and grass are easily ana
abundantly produced, viii fruit repay the
room and labor in rich reward. 1t Is De-
ieved that good fruit tree will yield more
real market and nutritive value than any
other crop that can be procured from the
soil. No labor of the farmer, and no use OF
the soil paw more abundantly than when ap-
plied to the culture of good fruit. AS a tree
O: choice fruit covers no more land than a
poor one, it is of the first importance to
make the best selections, and render the
most faithful attentions to its full develop
ment Man does not use one halt the guam
tity of fruit that he should do as an article
of food. Thousands of farmers live mainly
on salt beef, pork, and fish, who might have
the luscious luxury Of fruit at every meal,
every month in the year. Besides, man Is
adapted in his nature to subsiSt principally
on vegetable and fruit diet, and would be
far more healthy, happy and long lived for
so doing. As an article of general food,
fruit in its vast varieties is without paral-
lei. Our friends, at distance from cities,
will find 1t source of profit, railroads now
bring them so near to market as to enable
them to compete with farmers in the SUBJ
urbs of cities. We have felt keen regret in
travelling in different portions Of the coun-
try to see so little attention paid to the sub
ject Of good fruit-and have been still more
panied to see orchards forests Of miserable
sour, rusty apples, only fit for vinegar. Let
fre-wood be made of such miserable trees.
The Spaniards have maxim, that man
is ungrateful to the past generation that
planted the tree from which he eats-and
deals injuStly with the next generation I'M
less he plants the seed of that fruit, that it
uldJ Iul uiou IOOu lOl lIiOSC VIII COlllG dltSI
him. Thus when son of Spain eats a
peach or pear by the road side, wherever
he is he digs hole with his foot in the
ground, and covers the pit or the core
Consequently, all over Spain by the road
side and elsewhere, fruit in great abundance
tempts the taste and is ever free. This is
an easily wrought charity, and an evidence
of a noble soul. Let this practice be imita-
ted in our own country, and the weary wan
derer will be blest, and bless the hand and
liberal charity that ministered to his COM
fort and joy. We are bound to leave the
world as good or better than we found it,
and he is a selfish churl who basks under the
shadow, and eats the fruit of trees which
other hands have planted, if he will not also
plant trees which shall yield fruit to coming
generations. No young man should vote or
marry until he has planted at least one tree
as an evidence of good citizenship. Who
planted the elms of Boston Common, and of
New Haven, so justly celebrated? Surely
not the present generation. Let fruit trees
In like manner be bequeathed, that unborn
generations may be grateful to this.