The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-04-24
A FRUIT GARDEN FOR TIE FAMILY.

q i
den. Fruit is not only great luxury
it is essential to health. A few dol
lars expended in setting out plants and
trees will save many dollar from being
paid to the family physician. Ripe
fruit is anti-bilious, and will ward off
bilious diseases. The physician, if he
is honest, will tell you so. Do farmers
and ether appreciate this fact? Do
they realize that by planting an abund-
ance OF trees and plants to produce fruit,
they arc making the very best invest
ment they can for their pecuniary bene-
fit? If you have but little time and
money to expend that way, expend it
ludlciously. 1t will cost but little, very
little to have supply Of fruit for the
family the whole year. We will offer
few suggestions on this topic, to be
acted on the present spring.
Fmst-You should have q small piece
OF ground, say from one-eighth Of an
acre to an acre for the fruit garden.
This should be deeply plowed once or
twice, and then thoroughly narrowed.
Or it may be worked with the spade in
stead Of the pillow. Now procure from
two hundred to five hundred Strawberry
plants, and set them out in rows three
feet apart, and two feet apart in the
row. Get good variety from relia-
bic source. We prefer the Wilson's
Albany, because it is the most produc-
tive variety with which we are acquaint-
cd, and succeeds in almost every kind of
soil. The Longworth's Prolific, Nc
Avoy's Superior and Downer's Prolific,
are all good varieties. The only cul-
ture they need is to keep out the weeds,
and work the ground occasionally with
the hoe. The following season you may
rely upon a crop Of berries that will do
your eyes good to behold. More bush
els Of strawberries can be produced
from the same ground than potatoes.
A few dozen plants of Gooscberries
should be set out in rows five feet apart
each way. The Houghton Seeding is
the only variety We have found to sue
coed well in this climate. We have
tried more than dozen other varieties,
and the mildew not only destroyed the
fruit, but eventually the plants them
selves.
Currants must not be forgotten.
They are so indispensable to every fam
ally. An their green state, what delicious
tarts and fine pies they make in early
summer time, before we can obtain
other fruit. When ripe, and served up
with sugar on the tea table, they are
liked by nearly every one. And what
delicious jelly can be made from them
to eat with roast turkey Or wild ducks,
or other meats. How can the good
wife get along withou: few dozen cur
rant bushes. The thing is impossible,
and especially to get along we'll. The
Large Red Dutch is the best variety.
Plant in rows about FIVE feet apart. and
be sure to cover all the ground in which
they are planted FIVE or six inches deem
with old straw, hay, httery manure or
something of the kind, to keep the {
soil moist and cool. With this treat /
ment they will make double the growth
they otherwise would; their leaves will
not drop in August, as they do when
they are not mulched in this climate,
and they will yield ten times as much
fruit. Bear this in mind, if you would
have large crop Of currants. {
The luscious raspberry must also
,omc in-for it is one of the finest of
:ruits when in perfection. Put up in
ans or bottles, like strawberries and c
peaches, it far surpasses either. The r
ruit is not as watery as the strawberry,
nd is better on this account for canning
purposes. We always lay in a good
upply, and have never found anv one q