Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-23
House, Farm and Gar den.
L. ID. r. COLLINS. Editor.
Fruit Growing in Orleans Co. ---No. 2.

Fruit Growing in Orleans Co.---No. 2.
In company with the proprietor, 7. Fl.
Hoskins, l visited the Memphremagog
Seed Farm and Nursery August 10. We
first passed about the well kept grounds
around his residence in the pleasant vii
lage of Newport. The fine show of flowers
Of different colors and styles of growth,
from the low bedding plant to the more
aspiring Gladiolas of dozen different
shades, first attract the attention, but we
almost forget them as we test the merits of
ripe gooseberries that load the branches,
the monstrous blackberries of two bites
each, white and red raspberries and the
more profitable and productive black caps,
the Doolittle. Then passing through the
sweet corn that is already fit for cooking,
we inspect a dozen different varieties of
grapes trained to stakes, and although but
three years old show many good punches
of Delewares, Concords, Adirondacks, &c.
This garden does not seem crowded as we
easily pass among its productions yet
there is so much growing that one can
hardly be blamed for being covetous and
thinking unfavorably of other gardens of
weeds and vegetables of a baser sort.
The Seed Farm and Nursery is north of
TIE lake and west of the railroad. We
cross the lake in skiff, and the Doctor
shows he handles the oars as we'll as the
grating knife and hoe. About three thou
sand thrifty young trees from gratis set
last winter show his skill with the one and
| the freedom from weeds all about his
grounds show that the hoe has been per-
| sistently used. / know how rarely we see
it, yet admire the clear brown dirt among
the growing crops. No f1anking upon the
right and left with weeds. The apple trees
referred to are in rows four feet apart and
one and one-half feet in the rows. Between
these rows are white marrow beans which
will make crop that will pay for the cul
tivation yet not injure the trees. DR.. H
has many varieties of apples from othel
sections Of the country in this latitude, a.
Maine, Iowa, and Minnesota While ht
has other fruits he intends making apples
a speciality. The north border of the 10
is occupied by several varieties of straw
berries, raspberries, blackberries and goose
berries. The merits of each are candid,
given as they appear to the proprietor.
The potatoes are not the least interesting
part of the products as they are from yer,
high priced seed in some cases. The Earl
Rose has been mostly dug and sold for eat
ing at the hotel and in the village. 1t i
a good potatoe. Breezees Prolific, Peer
less, King of the Earlies, Vanderveer'
Seeding Excelsior, Early Mohawk an
Calico are some of the kinds on trial. III
custom is so prevalent among our farmer
to dig all their potatoes at one time, al
lowing the early ones to stay in the groun
until the regular time of digging, inquiI
ed the Doctors opinion. He said, "AftC
the potatoes are ripe the best place fC
, them is in the cellar The temperature
even and the potatoes dry in the celia
while in the field the hot sunny days, fro
, ty nights and continued rains tend {
cause the potato to rot" Dig early pot;
toes when they are done growing, let the
dry before picking up, avoid bruising, stoi
in dark part of the cellar.
A small piece OF land of an acre
apple trees has also yielded fifty dolla
, worth of Early Gem peas sold in marke
and is now bearing a splendid crop of 30
ton Marrow squash, estimated two tons
$40 dollars worth. Carrot, beet, and tu
nip seed occupy place, and fine pie
Of field corn already ripening speaks of Il
substantial rather than the speculative.
:. Various compost heaps show that ca
is taken for fertilizers. was we'll pleas
- with the universal thrift and success in e
! cry department, and there is somethil
very encouraging that the light soil is oh
g sen for fruit raising. It is reparted tn
+. about Geneva, \. Y, where hundreds
- acres are devoted tonurseries, that of gra
set last spring not more than one in TIVE
ty has grown on account of dry wealth
and the loss is hundreds of thousands
dollars, yet upon the dry soil of the la
shore judge not one in twenty have ia
ed. With the extensive experiments n
being tried it will soon decided whetf
we are to have fruit in Orleans County.
~ u. f. JAMESON
. Irasburgh, August 10, 1870