The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-03-01
VOL. XXII---NO. 9.
From The american Farmer.
Planting and Keeping Fruits.

Planting and Keeping Fruits.
While we claim to be one of the greatest
liuit-growing countries in the world. the
TACT Is that in Baltimore to-day good APP
pie at retail costs about as much as an
orange, and no pears but those that have
been brought over 1000 miles from Cali
fornia can be had for love or money, and
nearly all OF our winter apples are brought
from the North and West. Even in our
county-town, situated in fertile part of
the state, the only apples for sale are from
the North. | admit that 1877 has been,
from some cause, a remarkably bad year
ior irult everywhere; but in most wears
me same is true, viz that by the end of
January lew apples are seen in Baltimore,
grown in the State, and none of any kind
are to be seen outside of the large towns.
Why is this, and where is the faultP
think there are several reasons why we
nave so little fruit in that season of the
year when it is so much needed. In the
lrst place we do not plant the varieties
that are suited to us or if we do. we do
not pay proper attention to after culture
OF the trees, and far less to the
proper handling and storing of the
fruit after it has been gathered. am
writing this particularly for the Maryland
FARMERS. In regard to the proper kinds of
irult, we have been too apt to plant such
varieties as are good sointer apples North, and
OF hne quality. Now an apple or pear that
IS December or January variety in New
York or New England, ripens with us
mostly In November, and those that come
into eating in March, if grown in New
York, ripen with US in December. We
have stopped growing Redstreaks and
Grlndstones, &C., and substituting in their
places Nothern Spy, Baldwin, &c. Now
while do not think that the former are
equal to the latter in quality, am sure
that they would suit the mass of our farm
ers (who only raise a few for their own use)
better than the varieties that have proved
so good at the North. Considerable atten-
ton is now being turned to some few late
keeping Southern seedlings from Northern
Georgia and North Carolina, and have
no doubt that some of these will yet sup
ply us with what we so much need, viz:
good keeping high favored apples for Feb
ruary, March and April.
PLANTING AND CULTIVATION
But it will be of no use for us to plant
any kinds if we do not take more care of
our fruit trees than most of us do. Two
acres will hold about 70 apple trees, which
if properly selected, would in fair bearing
years give all the fruit needed for the larg-
est family and leave large surplus of
specked and fallen fruit for the hogs. A
few summer and early fall varieties, but the
Tor winter and early spring, when the
supply OF vegetables is light and our sys-
TENS need fruit as corrective to meat and
strong food.
Every farmer knows, or should know,
how trees ought to be planted. Not in
holes just large enough to jam the roots in,
out the whole should be plowed and hur-
owed and cross plowed and subsoied long
before the trees are planted. A good crop
If clover plowed under deeply makes
good beginning, and plenty of good ma
lure plowed in lightly to finish the trees
planted firmly, cut back and secured to
good stakes for year or so. The lot can
De used for potatoes and growing veg
stables, running the different way
zach year. This culture will do the trees
10 harmon the contrary benefit them, if
he work is done by careful hand. IN
Ter this treatment trees will do better and
give more clear profit than dozen acres
n the usual slovenly way that trees are of
en- planted.
PRESERVATION OLE THE FRUIT.
Again, we may raise a good crop of
ruit, and if it is not carefully handled and
watched, premature decay or Storytelling
will be the result Years ago l spent con
iderabe time in the N. w. of France
Normandy and Brittany and mostly in
he fall and winter months l do not
hink / ever saw ll-to-do-farmer who
lad not regularly appointed fruit room,
where the fruit is kept on shelves and not
n barrels These
nd narrow, with shelves round the sides,
nd apples and pears are carefully placed
N these-some two, three or four feet deep
The rooms are invariably kept dark and
DOL. All fruit intended for winter use
8 carefully hand-picked and kept in
halow heaps until it has gone through
weat; then again carefully picked over
nd all that are the least specked, or
'ruised, or otherwise hot first class, are
lot put i'll the fruit-room. BY being placed
n shelves it is easy to detect any rotting
efore it extends too far. The care of the
is as regularly attended to as
ny other domestic duty. | have often
ad the pleasure of visiting these fruit
ooms and been surprised at the great
uantity of fruit that can be stored ina
DOM say 10x7, with 2-feet shelves on three
ldes. The shelves are mostly Slated and
bout one foot apart. have no doubt but
lat room of that size would hold from
0 to 60 bushels of fruit if not more.
When our farmers pay more attention to
uch things as plenty of books and vegeta-
les, fruit and flowers, their homes will he
easanter and their young people more
ontented.
G. H. s.
Hartford County, Md Jan 18, 1878.