The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1867-05-23

undersigned proposes to present for
the consideration Of your numerous
readers, a few articles on the sub
ject of fruit growing in general, and
especially in reference to Ottumwa
and its surroundings as a suitable To-
cafity for cultivating the various
kinds of fruit usually found in the
markets of our large cities, situated
above the 39th deg. of N. E. The
writer proposes to present the sub
ject under two general heads. First
"Its Advantage" second ats Prac-
liability" In pursuance of the first
part it it will be examined morally,
physically and pecuniarily, being
fully persuaded that it will commend
itself to the favorable consideration
of the more enlightened portion of
the community, when viewed from
either of the aforesaid stand points.
First. The moral advantages to
be obtained by Fruit Growing: The
foundation of all true civilization is
the Bible, and tits such simply be-
cause it teaches men his true rela-
tion to bis fellow man. As funda-
mental principle in ethics it develops
the family as an institution insepara-
bic from the civilization and even the
christianization of the human race.
The recognition Of the various rela-
tionship of the family, husband, wife,
father, mother, son. daughter, broth
er, sister must be fully established to
insure any degree of social enjoy
mcnt. When paternal and fraternal
regard exists, happiness is found in
the same ratio. Cultivate respect
for the relationship, and you advance
the scale Of individual enjoyment,
and at the same time moral force for
the defence and higher development
OF the state. As one of the means
by which this may be accomplished
home must be made the most attrac-
tive place on earth. To be truly
loved it must be made lovely and the
moral bearing of home upon the men,
eers of a family will be precisely in
the ratio Of their love for it. It is
not the costliness ofa house and it's
appointments that necessarily make
it truly home. Adaptation and the
poetry of well chosen surroundings
have much more todo with the young
heart than spacions halls and gaudy
fixtures. Who is there that has an
acre Of land, or even city lot of the
smallest limits, but can bring around
afamily residence, some ofthe sublime
beauties OF nature in the shape of
grape vine, a cherry tree, astrawber-
~ bed, currant bush, or, perhaps
all OF them, with many other species
and varieties supercecded. The busi-
ness of cultivating fruit for homo
purposes has refining and morali-
zing influence upon the members of a
family. 1t is so varied that every
child old enough to labor at all can
ind employment. Children acquire
habits Of industry. They become
acquainted with the labors OF nature
in that regard. Having common
interest in the success of the work in
which they are engaged, tho family
ties grow with their growth and
strengthen with their strength. No
matter whether one is engagedin the
simple act Of taking the surplus run
ners from a strawberry plant, or the
more intricate one of introducing a
favorite, but into nm otherwise useless
stock, each feels the consciousness
lot useful employment, that they are
not dronas ia the hive, but that they
are acting faithfully their part in the
drama Of home life.
A constant supply Of the various
fruits in their season, is calculated
to teach the youthful mind the good
ness of God in th1s making provision
for the happiness of lis creatures. 1t
fills the soul with gratitude, and pre-
disposes those who are .hus surroun-
ded to accept the richer blessings
which the Creator has provided for
us in the Gospel. Viewed then from
the single stand point Of morality, is
it not evident that proper attention
to the growing of fruit is demanded
lat the hand Of every land owner, no
matter how small the spot may be.
Do not parents owe it to their chill
dren-thc present generation to the
future to see that every home is thus
made attractive. That where per.
chance noxious weeds are now grow
ing, the fruit bearing tree and vine
and bush may soon DO found.
EGYPTIAN.