Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-10-03
SgritmItaraI.
LET US PLANT VINES.

corner of Vermont, was struck by one
unwelcomed chsnge--the destruction OF
fruit-trees. There are fewer thrifty,
bearing apple tIees in all that section then
there were forty years ago; and. while
many orchards still standing are dying
out noted very few young ones be-
lieve the case is much the same through
ont all New England. apart from The
vicinage of two o. three great cities.
Peaches formerly grew in Southern Ve:-
mont and New Hampshire, where thee
are none now; Cherries, PIums Gc, are
scarccr than formerly, So far as fruit
from trees is, concerned, the rural or ag
ricultural population of our country are
generally worse supplied than they were
generation since.
For this two reasons are given: l, The
multiplication aud ravages of insccts;2
The destruction Of forests. Our lands
were generally burnt over when first clea
red, and that insured pretty general
destruction of insects and their eggs.
Cultivation having ensucd, and fires being
confined to houses, insects have enormous
ly multiplicd---a calamity to which the
reckless slaughter of birds has largely
cor tributcl. By these insects, the
choicest fruit trees and fruits are render
ed worthless
y The tall, dense, primitive woods that
forEaerly checked and stilled the fierce
winds of our section have been gradually
consumed Remnants still linger in our
least accessible. mountain regions, but
most Of them have persisted, exposing
our orchards to desolating blasts and sew
ere frosts whereby IAany trees are des-
troyed, aud the growth of delicate fruits I
nearly arrested IA hushel of peaches
were more easily grown in Southern
Vermont or New Hampshire fifty or sixty
years since than dozen peaches are now;
and choice cherries are lillwise growing
scarce
We must try to change this; but, for
the present, ask attention to the multi
plication and diffusion of choice vines.
The grape, under skillful culture, is
eurcr crop to-day than almost any Other
delicate fruit, the straw berry only except
ed. Experienced growers say that grapes I
may be grown. wherever they thrive at
all, for the price of wheat, pound for
pound; ye; while wheat scarcely averages
four cents per pound to growers, grape
can almost always be SOLD at double that
price. We can start the vine aud enjoy
its fruit within three years; whereas at
least thrice that time is required to bring
an orchard from infancy TO maturity.
Our farmers and mechanics their wives
and children, but especially our farm la
.borers and day.laJorers generally, ought
to eat far more good fruit and far less salt
meat and they cannot until fruit becomes
far cheaper and more abundant
would suggest to our Agricultural
Societies, State and loca.I the expediency
Of concerted. systematic Efforts to extend
the cultivation Ct the vine Let us or.
ganize County and Town Societies which
shall have the diffusion Of the vine cul
ture for one of its prominent objects. 1t
would be elsy to have few vines planted
on every farm, and then theta sad dis.
couragement to fruit-growers--w would be
ohviated. Only let us make grapes as
abundant as potatoes aud they will be no
more stolen.
A little well directed effort, by a few
public spirited men and women will Sc
cure to their township AN abundance of
grapes. If the vine is planted OF every
farm therein, it will be seldom that the
crop will utterly fail. There will at first
be many diverse species or varieties and
experience will show which is best adapt
ed to the climate and soil of that locality.
Time will teach many valuable lessons,
and a few years will give US thousands of
skillful vine dressers. We shall live
longer and better, have more comfort
and less disease, when every dwelling shall
be surrounded by its vines
hope our Agricultural Societies and Far
mer'siClubs will devise and adopt fit meas
ures to stimulate the planting of the vine;
meantime, |, as mere beginning will
pay premium Of 5000 to the first, and
500 to the second township of not less
than 100 houses, whose three principal
officers shall certify to me that every
dwelling in that township has not less
than two well planted. thrifty vines.
HoRAoE GREELEY
New York Aug 81 1867