Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1868-05-22
For the Republican.
RAISE MORE FRUIT.

TOLEDO, May 18th, 1868.
Mr. EprroR:-Will you allow me little
space in your valuable paper, to say word
of encouragement to our farmers-uron the
subject Of setting out fruit trees; have long
entertained the idea, and still hold it strong>
er than ever that there is nothing more proht-
able for farmers than raising large orchard
This can be easily demonstrated, Apple trees
can be brought into bearing from six to ten
years from setting out. Apples in this coun-
ty, will undoubtedly average one dollar per
bushel for the next twenty years, While the
orchard is young and growing, the land
which it occupies, can be used also for other
purposes so that its useis not lost After the
trees get to bearing well, say ten years hence
from planting, what crop, we ask, can be
raised upon the same number Of acres gilmore
value? Certainly not wheat or corn, our
great Agricultural staples. What crop re-
quires so little labor and expense? Certan>
" none can compare with it in that line. The
orchard to be profitable should contain liber-
al proportion of Pear, Plum and Cherry trees.
These will always, at certain seasons OF the
year, be as saleable as Apples. The great de-
tering cause, that there are not more fruit
trees generally planted each spring, is that
nearly or quite three fourths Of our farmers,
are too impaticn to make the greatest posi-
bic profit Immediately, and will not risk any
venture, worth mentioning, from which to
| realize large returns in ten years future
But we think the noble example set them, a
! few years since, by o very few Of their most
entcrprising class, and upon which they are
| now beginning to realize nice profits, will
open their eyes to the importance Of raising
] fruit, even as source Of profit. So also
think Mcssrs. Knapp s Niles, who have re-
Gently started very promising Nursery, in
the south part Of our town. These gentlemen
have commenced setting out their Nursery
this spring, and can assure oil, that it is al
ready assuming what consider giant pro-
portions, just such proportions as our county
needs, and Toledo may well be proud Of
These are my conclus ions from actual obser-
vatious. They have sold large quantities of
ed me, they have set out 30,OOOgrafts, 10000
seedlings for future grating and budding,
have sown two acres Of apple seeds, which
will make 100000 young roots, in which
they will insert gratis of choice varieties
They are about setting out three fourths Of an
acre to choice varieties Of black berries and
raspberries. Also an acre of Strawberries
in short when they get through with their
present spring labors, they intend to have at
least eight acres of ground covered with nur-
sery products.
We think this IS making large start for
the first year, and we really hope our farmers
will wake up to the Importance Of planting
more fruit trees in the future, and if they do
We are sure, they cannot be so blind to their
interest as to prefer foreign stock, which fire.
quently comes dried, bruised and brokcn and
fit succeeds in living, when it comes to bear
ing will make its labels blush, for the un-
truths they have told. But call upon Mes srs,
Knapp d Niles, and receive what they call
form healthy and fresh condition, which
will insure its future growth. ~