Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-08-27

being made by these gentlemen In the way |
of growing fruit and raising trees for mar
ket. Their experiments with the smaller |
fruits are yet In an embryo state, sufficient |
time not having elapsed since planting for |
the production of a crop. They have a
large lot of raspberries Of the Philadelphia |
variety in their second years growth, which |
they expect will produce good yield the |
third year, If circumstances are favorable. |
A large lot of land sunder cultivation with |
the Lawton and other improved blackberries |
in the third year of their growth, and though |
they have produced some berries the pres |
emit year, yet large yield Is not expected |
until the fourth year. They have not been |
what we would call extensive growers of
Strawberries, though considerable attention |
has been paid to the culture Of that fruit, 80
much that they are fully convinced that
It is profitable and paying business, and
they are already making preparations for
setting out several acres in that fruit. Their
| limited sale of Strawberries forms no critic
| rion upon which to base an estimate of the
profits of the strawberry culture. ! was al
so shown a lot of cranberries set out in a
low piece of ground, but no estimate can
yet be made in regard to the yield OF cram
berries, as the experiment is yet in Its infan-
cy, but they are Of the opinion the expert
ment will prove complete success. The
piece of land on which they are planted is
admirably adopted for the purpose.
| 1t is their intention to construct bitches
| and sluice gates so as to overflow the ground
| at proper times and guard against the con-
tingency of dry weather, which has been
urged as an objection to the culture of the
cranberry in Delaware, and from what
have seen feel pretty well convinced that
these gentlemen will be successful in their
experiments.
After leaving the berry patches we came
to pear nursery of several thousand trees.
The ounce stock upon which the pears are
budded were all imported from Europe, be-
sides these is another nursery OF pear trees
of the natural growth, these trees will be
ready for transplanting during next year,
and besides supplying their own immediate
wants they will have very large surplus for
sale amongst their large varieties of pears,
the Duchess and Bartlett variety are the
most favored on account Of their prolific
yield and immense size and delicious flavor.
Besides these nurseries they have two 9th
er orchards containing 1000 pear trees just
commencing TO bear, some of the dwarfs
are loaded with fruit of a very large size,
but the trees are too young yet for gener-
al yield.
: Apples which for few years past have
done so poorly are not on that account ne
, elected by the Messrs. Ross, but instead of
1
. them fair trial, and have planted 1000 trees
! in three orchards sozse of the trees have
attained a good size, spd will, we hope,
+ soon reward the labor0B. In some places,
9 pears and apples are planted in alternate
rows, and in others, peaches, pears and
s apples are planted in the same manner.
a l was then shown couple of vineyards
v occupying in all about d to acres. Twen-
il ty different Varieties of American grapes
=. bsa tn tact
If them and see which are the best and most
n prolific, and then engage largely in the grow
ing of grapes and the making of wine.
J. They expect next year 70 realize the first
a fruits of grape growing. Mr.. James Ross
n is fully qualified to carry on this branch of
/ industry, he having gone to Cleveland and
4 learned tho business in one of the leading
v Vineyards in Ohio. They have no doubt Of
e their success in the raising of grapes.
l. But to resume the peach subject from
/ which my mind has been inadvertently di-
t. rected our road lay, after crossing the cleal
of sparkling brook as it run from the Cranberry
al meadow alongside of peach orchard Of
id eight years growth, which appeared to b.
ID suffering decline, which was informed
tie was to be treated in the same manner as til,
I'd twenty-five year old trees which have alrea
to dy noticed. 10000 trees will be in bearing
next year. a large number Of which will b,
n, crop cannot reasonably be expected, tn
n crop this year is an entire failure; but tn
trees are making wood very fast during thu
lei present season and will be in very health.
til condition for large crop next year if othe
re circumstances are favorable. From four Il
NJ five thousand trees bore peaches last yea
IT. which netted about $4,000 to the growers
lg- They have also large peach nursery, q
he every variety of trees, sufficient not only t
tl,n;, but
of support their neighbors and others also
his The peach culture is no experiment it is th
no result OF practical test dating back for NOR
lid than a quarter of a century and found to b
he a profitable crop, not only on the farm
til, Mr.. Ross, but all over the peninsula.
nd think have now from personal obseryi
zen ton, as well as from information game
,ur from these gentlemen, given you in deta
nd such description OF this large farm and i
on products as will lead the reader to the col
so clusion that Sussex county is not all a ba
ant rem waste made up alternately of sand banl
sly and boys, neither can it be Judged by Il
ing foregoing description of what think al
in justified in calling s'the Model Farm of Dc
not aware
out Mr.. Ross complains very much of son
cry letter writers in writing from Delaware
some agricultural paper or periodical in Il
ag- North, in their Misrepresentation of the tr,
be- he says, representing Lower Delaware
ate having rich fertile soil, much neglect
of through the Incidence and idleness of Il
the people that all the emigrant has to do is
in come on, scratch up the ground and pla
will corn and raise sixty bushel TO the acre, a
late every thing else in the same proportio
rge These misrepresentation have not only be
by an injury TO our State, but have deceiv
lffl- persons coming here who have read in mort
per- ern journals these highly colored articles.
1t was labor that enriched the soil of &c
in ernor, Ross plantation; labor clothed the
The large fields with such tremendous coat
into tangled grass, and besutifed them with the
of orange hedges. Labor has raised those or,
ring forests of corn, and without labor these
orn, chards would soon wither and die, and [
rass fields become like too much land In Suss
to county, covered with pine DarrenS and Dlat
nch encd stumps. The soil Of this farm, VIII
in is light sandy loan. is not superior to
ltel- soil which for miles surrounds it.
anne farms of Col. Wright ND DR.. Martin VIII
med adjoin it are of the Ame kind of S,
lar and also in high state N cultivation, blu
ents has required hard unremitting toll to
them in the condition in which they
she'd found. The immigrant coming into
the State expecting to mako living by farm
titles without labor had better turn his attent
lish- in some other direction. The land in I
sent section of the State. it is true, is easily
ants, tivated, but phosphstes and manures
sing wanted to make it produce well; these c
n by a considerable amount of money; being
have titute OF the means for purchasing til
ice commodities subjects man to many inc
Della veniencies and he may have to strug
fruit against the tide for many years, before
Is coming extricated from the difficulties VII
.ders surround him.
,ents What Elk Governor Ross farm is, OF
e or farms may become there is no Ii
sta about Seaford but what can
nent. made its rival. There are many parts
eight Sussex county where the land is natur
Iy of superior, and with the same appliances
yet art and industry could be made superior
cess the soil of this s'model farm, but il mus
as done with well regulated system of int
n the gent labor and a liberal outlay of money
S live the purchase OF manures to get the land
which der a stiff sod of grass and then the rest
most be easily accomplished
after Having made the circuit of the ex- Gov,