Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-06-26
| FARM and FIRESIDE.
Fruit Culture.

ltulI SuibulS, anu VIC ldCAiOICo lVA
marketing as great or greater, do not
show a result in this direction even ap-
prsximating that reached in IllinOis|
Now, why ask this question, when You
have, in the main, answered it IL that
very issue?
After reading pages l76 and III, Of
the April issue, do you suppose any one
will ask the reason OF the success Of the
French orchardist and gardener? We
trsw not. But there are some questions
that carry a very strong affirmation,
and we are inclined to think you intend
that when you ask ARE we lazy peo-
ples' Undoubtedly we are. in all
matters of detail. We are perfectly
willing, nay glory in farming thousand
acre-plantations and losing 10 to 20
per cent. on capital and labor invested
each year, but when it comes to study
ing the habits of an apple tree, the dis
eases to which 1t is liable, the nature
and habits of the insects that attack it
and its fruit, the discovery and applica-
ton Of preventives and remedies, then
we haye neither time nor inclination for
the work. 1t requires too much
patience, too much care; we cannot
sleep until A. NJ, while the curcuho
stlngs our young plums, and yet hope to
obtain a crop. 10 fight these, 1t is
necessary to be up and at work before
the sun has dispersed the dew drops
Industry. patience, observation and a
fondness for the first and most delight
full pursuit in which man ever engaged.
are requisite to produce the results you
desire.
The reason q Partisan trucker makes
'ths main effort Of his life the forcing Of
asparagus, is not, simply, that he may
gain a subsistence; he does this, and
what is better, always has some francs
to lend his government in It's hour Of
need-par parenthesis, Frenchmen don't
know how 10 repudiate, nor permit their
government to do it-but he lores his
work, he studies carefully the nature
and habits Of his plant, the character OF
soil 1t needs; he keeps abreast OF the
times in the sciences connected with
agriculture; greedily deyOurs all he secs
and hears on agricultural chemistry; eX-
periments and makes practical tests OF
all new doctrines; compares his own
experience with that Of othes-being
ever willing to instruct, as well as TO
learn. This is the secret Of his success.
In less degree, but still to a great
extent, this is also the cause Of the
Northern and Western fruit-growers
superiority over us. They take into
consideration the circumstances and
requirements of their situation when
they plant orchards, while we too ire
quently plant anything called tree
with hitler egard either to quality o. tree
or fruit. Take one illustration: Al
though the prairies Of Illinois are eX-
posed to furious winds, we hear no
complaint from her pomologists Of
fallen apples; and yet, here in Virginia,
during the little centennial squall Of
September, 1876, two-thirds O. the Or
chards in the State were stripped Of
their fruit. The reason is plain The
Illinois orchardist requires that the
varieties he plants shall have, among
other good qualities, that Of adherins
tenaciously to the branch. \ case IN
point suggests itself here, besides
affording opportunity for calling at
tention to what is probably the best
winter apple for Virginia and northern
North Carolina, and if we have your
pardon for frightening to 'communi-
cation what was intended as a 'sqUib,
will state it.
When the storm Of September, 1876
almost denudsd the apple trees through
ont Tidewater Virginia, there were six
trees on the historic field Of Cold
Harbor laden with fIhit, from which
not an apple was blown. save a few
defective ones. This variety was the
Johnsen's fine winter or York imperial
and while even the old iayerite Wine
sap succumbed TO the wind, the Jshn-
sons held its ground, or rather its
tvig. Thus you see one important
point that should enter into the calcu-
latlon in planting an orchard. a
further consideration Of this same
variety viii suggest other points de-
nanding the attention OF all who wish
success in fruit growing. 1t is, in this
climate, vigorous grower, regular
bearer, above medium-indeed may be
called large-2t the first quality, and
highly-nayored, aud withal, a very
handsome, bright-red fruit. During the
month OF March, it vas shipped to this
cityfrom the Valley and Western Viz
GINA, commanding readily So per
barrel. We saw it selling at that price
early in March. and while deeming it
worthy Of the best price, still we felt
with you that there was a screw loose
somewhere when 10 the poor this
delightful and alimentary fruit could
not be furnished. Do try 70 get that
screw tigh!ened.-Soatkon Planter anil
Eprm>r.
DO RAISING ToMATeEs.-A coTespon-
dent writing to the New York hds-
pendent on the subject says: On your
agricultural page Others are giving their
experiments, and | offer you mine, for