The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-24
GARDEN FRUITs-wILD AND TAME.

berry, currant and gooseberry thrive we'll
both wild and tame-in that district, and
that the crab apple and plum abounded in
all the thickets likewise.
He made some interesting statements
about the tomato, etc. The Husk Tomato
he considered equal to apples for culinary
purposes. 1t is delicious and sweet to the
taste-grows thrivingly and is easily raised.
He recommended its cultivation.
The Ground Cherry was another garden
fruit which grows well here. 1t has ON
excellent berry, is a trailing vine, and was
much liked by every one who had tried it.
The Garden Parsley was an invaluable
plant, which grows we'll here. 1t has
stalk about an inch thick-brittle, and the
leaves answer we'll in the place of asparagus.
The seed could be easily got, and all who
had tried it liked it very much. 1t is an
annual" raised from seed.
PROPER SOIL FOR CURRANTs.
Col. Stevens had tried currents which he
procured from Mr.. Lords nursery, and was
led to believe that prairie soil was better
than the light soil of the forest for them.
His hard borne fruit the first year.
Wild Cranberries seemed to grow scarce
by gathering, as marsh near Minneapolis,
where, in early days, he had picked plenty
seemed to give out. A gardener of his
thought they might be cultivated so as to
grow every year, but on trial, could not
accomplish it. In the East, he had seen
cranberries cultivated, so as to be more pro-
fitable than orchards.
Blackberries (wild) are plenty in Mcleod
county. He had seen tame red raspberries
cultivated on Nicollet Island, bearing fruit
in profusion. He was confident from his
own experience and observation, that we
could raise all varieties of small fruit in this
State.
DOMESTIC CURRANTs.
Mr.. II. G. Morrison, of Pine Bend, Da,.
kota county, said he thought there was no
question about currants doing we'll. He
got some plants of Mr.. Ford two years since
The first year they blossomed, and the next
year all of them blossomed and bore. His
garden was on high ground. He was con.
fdent the currant could be grown in all
varieties of soil here, and that gooseberries,
raspberries, black and red, could be success
fully raised.
THE HUsK TOMATO.
Mr.. M. corroborated the remarks of Mr..
Wells regarding the Husk Tomato. A sin.
gle plant would produce from six to eight
quarts of fruit, the berries being from a
quarter to an inche in diameter. They
are equal to any fruit, and superior, in his
opinion, to apples, being good substitute
therefor.
His Strawberries had grown luxuriant-
ly, and Wild Plums (transplanted) had
thriven very we'll. They were very luscious
fruit.
Mr.. L. M. Ford said that the speakers
tonight, many of them, had not been con-
fined very closely to the subject of discuss
sion. By small fruits, we generally UNDER
stand such as currants, raspberries, goose.
berries, blackberries, Strawberries, and the
like.
They are all very desirable, especially in
new country, from the fact of their COM
ing into bearing in so short a time after
planting. UGH more attention is now be-
slowed on the cultivation of these fruits in
the older States, and farmers are just begin
ming to learn something of their real value,
as compared with grain raising, particularly
in the vicinity of large cities, or near rail
roads. A few acres devoted to these fruits
are sure to pay better than most farms but
they must be properly managed. Here in
Minnesota we had good soil and climate
for these fruits, and they should be grown
by all who can boast of an acre of ground.
They are very scarce with most families, and
we venture to say, there is not one in fifty in
our State that has good supply of these
very same fruits, although so little care is
requisite for their cultivation. Nor is the
expense sufficient excuse for not growing
them more largely. The nurserymen will
supply you with all these for few dollars.
Many of them are easily raised from cuttings
and off shoots, and in two or three years
you may increase your own stock in this
way.
There is no danger, said the gentleman, of
having too many of these choice fruits, even
among farmers remote from market, as there
are so many uses to which they may be ap
piled. By canning them we may have
them nearly at all seasons, fresh and in
fine condition. Vast quantities of the so
SHhSu OuuoA IL uiCo, oAC INV uoCO III IuIo way .
and in this respect they possess an advant-
age over any other kind of large fruit, ex-
cept the peach.
Near our towns and villages, the small
fruits may be cultivated with greet profit,
as they always bring good price,
Farmers situated near market, will do we'll
to raise more of these and less of grain and
stock.
There is much need of information in re.
gard to the cultivation of most of these fruits,
and they are too often left to take care of
themselves. By such course, some kinds
may possibly yield an Indifferent crop, while
other kinds will produce comparatively
nothing. The strawberry will not pay
without good cultivation, or rather clean
culture. Our soil is generally rich enough
without manure. and if planted on our rich
est lands they will produce very large vines,
but comparatively little fruit. Nor must
they be allowed to get too thick on the
ground. If allowed to run over the ground
they must be renewed once in three years.
This may be done by blowing up alternate
strips or planting new beds, which we think
the best course to adopt. For garden cul~