The Portland daily press., 1878-12-31
AGRICULTURAL.
PrincipIes Of Fruit Culture

The importance of fruit is acknowledged
by all. So is its variety. 1t is not the least
agreeable part to have so much to select
from at any season. Being at the same time
healthful and disposiDg to cheerfulness, our
fruits form large part of our domestic en-
joyment. To the true pomologist their cul.
ture is hardly second to their esculent prop
erty; SO that there is pleasure all around, and
profit can be made out of them. This, how
ever, is not generally done, or not to large
extent. Much of this is owing to lack of
knowledge, though there is much mystery
connected with fruit-growing. But the de-
mand for fruit must increase, and it is for us
to prepare to meet this demand. The i'm
portant element is quality. This never clogs
the market This and variety secured. we
have safe basis Of fruit culture. We should
not aim at mere quantity which has the
tendency to cut off profit. fruit being not un-
frequently the most unremunerating when
most abundant. Quality improves taste, in
creases demand, and thus will put the fruit
interest in more enduring position.
In order to be on safe ground we must
avoid extIemes- both to secure health in the
plant, and open the way to vigor and good
quality, to yearly crops and sound and inn
proved fruit, and not to premium yields, al
ways implying strain on the plant. To do
this requires constant attention, which is
what we do not give our fruit in general /;
and the neglect is sure to tell. Better not
to undertake the cultivation than TO do it in
the usual careless way. This principle has
been thoroughly tested. Now and then an
exception is reported in favor of ignorance,
where the conditions happened to be favora-
BILE. But we cannot he governed by excep-
tions, any more than we can by premium
crops. Information therefore is the first
step, perseveriDg application the second.
We must know how to have the soil invaria-
bly, drained, or dry; to transplant quite young
trees shrubs, vines, &C., rather than older
ones; to protect with a mulch during the
winter; to cultivate in the summer, and
largely, in lieu of manure; to rely mainly
upon thumb and finger pruning; to thin
out the fruit when the yield is great, one Of
the most neglected points in fruit culture,
and that includes another important one,
namely, sufficient growth and the fipening
of wood for the next years benefit.
These are the principal requirements Of
successful fruit culture, any one of which
neglected will make itself felt; if not at once,
soon after. But all brought to bear, with
Others that might be mentioned, will make
fruit culture successful, unavoidable acci-
dents excepted. like an extreme season or the
attacks of insects or disease the latter, how.
ever, too often the result of reckless treat.
ment, such as too severe pruning, and the
over bearing of fruit; also an excess of wood
growth, which implies too rich soil. The
two extremes of wealth and poverty of soil
must be avoided, and balance between the
wood and the fruit growth must be main.
tanned. This will favor a crop each year,
and of superior size and quality, which are
the most important recommendations in the
fruit matter. All this requires care and at
tention with some intelligence The knowl.
edge Itself, in order to be fully available, must
be supplemented by experience. This, per.
haps, is discouraging view of the case, but
to present anything but the truth would be a
deception. The principles that govern in the
case must be understood, and the man must
rely upon them, and not upon mere rules laid
down, not always based upon the facts Of
nature. He must therefore, first of all, in
form himself, and gradually work his way
into the business, experience benefiting him
as he proceeds.-C0untYy Gentleman.