Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-30
NUMBER THREE.

CRops.-On the subject OF crops think
this remark, with but few exceptions, will be
found true,-that the higher the latitude or
elevation at which fruit, vegetables or grains
can be matared, the better aud richer will he
the quality. The Vermont watermelon patch,
when successfully cultivated, illustrates this
iact Though the fruit may be smaller, It's
crisp, saccharine interior is in marked contrast
with the insipid watery pulp Of melons
brought from more southern ATTITUDES North.
ern musk-meons are sweeter and of richer
flavor than those raised in the south. Apples.
raised in Vermont, have rarely the corky in
terror 80 common in apples grown in the
Middle States. They may be knurly, through
the effect of cold season, or late spring
frost, or by the depreciation of insects yet
their juices are pure and fresh This fact is
also well illustrated in berries and pums that
mature in Vermont Sweeter backberres,
either wild or cultivated, are not to be found
elsewhere As to grains, Indian corn raised
at the north weighs from four to six pounds
per bushel heavier, when raised in New Eng
land, than that raised at the south | know
there is prejudice against northern spring
wheat, as compared with the winter wheat of
the state Of Indiana, Ohio and Missouri.
But all the spring wheat of Minnesota and
Wisconsin is not sown sufficiently early to
mature before the prevailing rains in July
and August. Fields of from hundred to
twenty thousand acres cannot he sown in a
day Hence, the aggregate crop is affected
by the mixing of the early with the late sown
fields. In California, wheat sowing COM
mences in December and continues till Feb.
ruary; and between February and June
sufficient season transpires to perfect the crop
for the harvest commencing in the latter
MONTH Hence the uniformly superior quail
~ OF the California wheat California fruits
derive their peculiar xcellence--makine
them an exception to the general proposition
stated-from their growth in the dry season.
The roots Of fruit trees and vines penetrate
to the moist subsoil, below the effects of sum.
mer heats, and SO produce an abundant crop,
to be ripened in the sun and dry atmosphere,
developing richness of flavor rarely equalled
elsewhere. California apples, however, are
an exception, and do not compare in flavor
with those raised in Vermont.
As general rule, no crop should be at.
tempted that will not usually rpen and ma.
ture in the latitude whore it is to be raised
Virginia corn may answer to plant for fodder
but not for grain. Orchardists have made
great mistakes and failures in bringing tree
from Pennsylvania, and even New Jersey
and subjecting them to the rigors Of Yer
mont winter. Hardy varieties from Cauadi
would do better, yet il is better to find you
trees in the same climate where, by specia
culture, you hope to make them productive
Grated fruit trees, at best, are less hard,
than those produced from seed. They ar
more tender, more uncertain in their bear
ing and go earlier to decay. Hence, frui
lancers seek improvements by careful pain
with choice seedlings. have sometime
been left to doubt If the fruit business woul
not have been improved, in the greater cen
taihty Of its results, if grating had neve
been thought Of, and better attention ha
been paid to natural fruits The longeyit
Of apple trees, in their natural growth j
about a hundred years, while you will scarce
ly End grated tree Of forty years standing
For use on the farm the natural fruit will Q
az far as any other, and the certainty of
crop is scarcely oyerbalanced by the create
marke, value of the grated varieties.
In the choice of crops, the use that is t
be made Of their products must determin
the point Of economy in their selection. Tha
which can be easily produced, and has read
market on the farm, should not be supercede
by specialities that depend entirely on pul
lie market for return of the outlay. tn
farmer who gives up the raising of stool
wool, or grain, or other things that enter I'M
the support of human life, for hops or toJa
60, is entitled to no sympathy either on Il
failure Of his crops or the failure of his ma
kei for mankind, in either case, may he IL
better for his failure.