The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-02-19
Chr BRstern YRmufrat.
CHARLOTTE, NC.
For tie Western Democrat.
GOOD SUGGESTIONS.

GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
MIR YATEs:-With your permission desire
to call the attention Of our farmers, and even
The citizens of our towns and villages, to the
;n,nortance of deyotng some OF their attention
and lands to the cultivation of all the varieties
of. fine fruits; and as the season for transplant
inc is now near at hand and the Importance OF the
subiect not properly understood or appreciated
bv our people, the space occupied by this article
may not be entirely lost upon your readers
1t is beyond doubt the great question OF our
5ay here in the South, how to secure the most
profitable yield with the least labor. Looking
at the immigration of our coored population
from this point to the South and West at the
present time, it strikes NE that the day for rails
ing cotton proftably, or to any great extent, in
our latitude has passed away; and it becomes
the men, and women too, who feel an interest
in the future growth and prosperity of our dear
old State to look around and see If with the
labor of one or two hands properly diversified
they may not be made to secure as great re-
turn as double the number under our old system
Of labor.
Now | propose to demonstrate that there is
no crop cultivated by our farmers, which, for
the time, attention and land required, will equal
fruit in cheapness Of production and richness OF
yield. Take for instance ten acres in apple
trees, which at about thirty (30) feet apart will
give fifty (50) trees per acre, 500 trees on The
ten acres. After the fifth or sixth year, and
for year or two longer, it would be safe to cal
culate upon an average of two bushels per tree;
and after say eight years, five bushels per tree;
which, ut one dollar per bushel, and five bushels
per tree, would be twenty five hundred bushels,
or $2500-tbe return for ten acres. But if it
is objected that the yield will not average five
bushels, then take half that amount, and 1t Is
$1,000. Now what other ten acres Of the Farm
in ordinary crops, with the utmost care and
labor, will render such profitable return.
Next, will take ten acres in Peach trees
planted II feet apart each way Ga very good
distance for Peaches) will be $50 trees per acre,
or 1900 on the ten acres, which, after the fourth
year, will yield an average of one bushel per
tree--ffteen hundred bushels at 81 O0-Sl5OO,
on ten acres devoted to Peaches. Now admit
ting that we only realize crop every other
year, yet with our facilities for marketing all our
surplus fruit, instead of one dollar per bushel,
(the price rated at here,) shipped to the North
ern markets it would be safe to estimate the
price at five dollars per bushel after paying ex-
penses-for by cultivating mainly the early
varieties, they could be marketed North without
any competition except from the States South
of this, so that five dollars per bushel would be
safe ealculation as the price never decends be-
low that figure until the New Jersey markets
commence sending their crops forward. Now,
at that price, if only crop is gathered every
thire year it would be average of one dollar
and 063 cents per bushel per annum, or at the
rate of $500 per year from the ten acres in
Peaches
Again, let us see what might be with safety
expected from ten acres in Grape Vines-plan
ted 6 feet apart each way will give few over
1900 vines per acre, or 10000 to ten acres, and
after the fourth year average of $50 gallons
of grape juice, for making into wine, may be
relied on, which is $500 gallons on the ten
acres, worth IN the Northern market So to SCI
per gallon, with no more trouble to press than
cider, and amounting at the lowest price (S2 pei
gallon) to $4,000 as the return of ten acres
properly planted in vines. | have Intentionally
put the yield low, for after the sixth or eighth
year an acre ought in good seasons to give tc
S00 gallons per acre. and this last result $500
gailons) has been realized in Virginia. without
any extra care or attention.
The ground in the orchard, both Apple and
Peach, ought to be cultivated, until the trees
shade so much that it will not paw in Corn
Tobacco, Sweet or Irish Potatoes, or Peanuts
the. two last the best-and afterwards simply
ploughed once or twice year, not too near tht
trees and very shallow, just to turn under The
weeds, or they might be seeded down in grass
ln the above list of fruits have not men
toned the Pear, which is now more proftably
cultivated North, owing to the high price i
commands, than perhaps any other variety Of
orchard fruits; nor yet the smaller fruits, which
on account OF their extremely profitable return
have been made a specinlty by many of the
Northern market gardeners; but have atteu ed
to draw attention to those named as bette,
known and in more general use in our section Of
the State than others, which, though not SC
common, might by proper cultivation be rem
derod equally as profitable
Yours truly, G. B. G.