Middletown transcript., 1874-10-03

years having been very profitable Gil
all other branches olindustry similar
remunerative in their effect on produ
tion), has stimulated the enterprisir
farmer to too great an effort in the pr
duction of this particular commodit,
and this fact must certainly, in season
when there is crop, cause redundal
| cy of supply in the market, considers
bly, exceeding any demand than can ez
ist at remunerative' prices, and
course with little if any profit to tt
producer. And in seasons like th
present and past when we have no croE
or a very meagre one, the returns al
no better; with large breadth Of Ian
occupied with trees, with small return
if any, and certainty that this Ian,
thus occupied is constantly diminishin
in its real fertility and substantia
value, the question arises. What is th
remedy?
do not at all propose that W
should abandon the fruit culture bu
would suggest plan for the gradua
reduction of our orchards and an increas
of the number of acres for other pur
poses.
Would not all our interests be pro
NOTED if each producer for himsel
would gradually reduce the quantity o
land at present adapted to the produc
ton of this fruit, and thus diminish th
supply for the market?
BY this process we can give better
culture to the remaining orchards. which
thereby will grow better fruit, car
gather and market it in better vondi
tion, and thus obtain better prices than
under the present system, in many cases
of neglected orchards and bad market.
ing, superinduced by too great an
amount Of work to be performed in the
short space of time incidental to the
culture of the trees and gathering the
fruit.
1t is well understood that peach trees
in the large amount of foliage and crops
Of fruit some times produced extract
largely from the soils fertility and re-
turn to it but little substance of value.
The present plan of very large or
many orchards renders it necessary for
most farmers to plow almost all the
land each year. reserving only very
small division (from peach culture) for
purposes of pasture, with small
crops of wheat and corn, affording but
little forage for the stock and thus pro-
ducing but little food for our overtax-
ed and hungry soil; the reverse policy
Of the old system by which much larger
tillages afforded an abundance Of land
food on much larger scale. The plan
of a gradual reduction Of the breadth of
acres at present allotted to peach trees.
in affording greater number of acres
devoted to rest and the growth of ce-
reals, would enable US to grow red clo-
yer and green grass, to greater ex-
tent; the former to be plowed under
for purposes of fertilization and wheat
production, process SO general and ex-
ensive and SO highly approved of in
iormer years; and the latter for pas
urage for the stock, is one which
hink could be resorted to with great
ldvantage. We could then give lit
lie rest to the earth which needs it so
much, have larger crops of grain and at
he same time horses and cattle of still
greater excellence for all useful purpo-
les and for exhibition at our future an
lual meetings.
This question of q proper apportion-
nent of the land for the different pro-
luctions is, | think, worthy of much
consideration at this particular juncture
o our affairs, and it is all important
or US to determine whether if we
would but bestow greater devotion at
he shrine of Ceres, and less to that of
POMONA or Pomology, we would mol
ave larger balance to our credit in
he bank, and preserve for ourselves,
nd those who are to succeed US better
nd more valuable landed estates, and
the same time while we are benefit
,g ourselves, afford increased advan-
ages to those on whom some of us de-
end for their cultivation. Let US 90
ack to first principles. and draw a
between the old plan Of
heat raising and land improving. un-
er what might be denominated the
me and clover system. with the new
Ian, which I call the phosphate sys-
IN this latter plan rendered necessa-
7 BY the too rapid culture Of the soil,
nd consider the present disparity Of
le production of the present system,
neither it be per farm or per acre, as
with the old system, there
IN be no other conclusion arrived at
ian that we are at present progressing
the wrong direction. and that if we
ut reduce the dimensions of our orch
'ds where they are greatly extended,
I'd increase the area of acres devoted to
heat culture, rest and pasturage (and
,ply mari where it is attainable) and
~ more lime and clover seed and less
,osphate. considering also the great
,certainty Of peach crop, and still
eater when there is crop, of remun-
ative prices; we will have more mon
and better land. I have digressed
@a4hat from any design l had enter
= to the proper subject or sub ;
y presented in this desultory
perfect address, if indeed my re-
\ Qepld be dignifed by that ap-
But convictions came irre- ,,
p6n me. as I have expressed
re subject, which than any :
kdeeiye to be Of greater con- /,
~ farming communities Of
and I would be faithless !.
III citizen, and also to :
which has been pleased :
- a position from which l !
this day to give utterance, !;
1ean expression Of views,
1nble they may be, which
,,ro1r