Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-11-29
FARM. GARDEN AID HOUSEHOLD,
small W. Lnrre EruIIn.

Charles A. Green, Of the Clifton IN. "
nursery and fruit farm:
We are friends Of the large fruits. We
have nursed them in their infancy,
planted them in their ROBUST childhood,
gathered the productions of their mature
years, and smoothed the pillow of their
old age. We cheerfully credit them
with all their noble qualities, but can
not forget that they are carving high
heads, and need TO have their rough
hides combed down a little at times.
Therefore, shall present, briefly, the
qualifications of the more modest men,
bers of the interesting family, known as
the small fruits, and demand that hence
forth, in their seasons, they play first
violin in the great orchard symphonies.
The small fruits possess the following
advantages over the large fruits: They
bear much sooner after planting; the
plants are more easily propagated, and
therefore less expensive; as a rule they
may be relied upon to bear every season,
while the large fruits have THEN off
years; they are not so seriously affected
by insects and disease; they occupy less
land, and submit gracefully to being
tucked beneath the larger, like the
trundle-bed of our childhood.
1t is to be regretted that we do not
have local exhibitions of the small
fruits. The people are not well.in-
formed of the better varieties, are in
credulous of reports brought to their
notice, and can only be convinced that
strawberries are grown nearly as large
as peaches, and that raspberries, grapes,
currants and gooseberries have been
improved in value to an equal extent,
by viewing them on exhibition. Our
annual fairs are of no value except in
the display of grapes. Why not have a
strawberry show, and other exhibitions
of small fruits? We're it possible that
a complete collection of small fruits
could be placed on exhibition at once,
in competition with the large fruits,
am confident that the former would not
be overshadowed in points of beauty
and excellence.
is the growing of small fruits for
market profitable ?" we are asked. The
production of an inferior quality of fruit,
of any kind, is not profitable. Therefore,
if the inquirer has no tastes that incline
him to small fruit culture, and no ambi-
tion that will urge him to the production
of fine specimens, we would not reply in
the affirmative. But if he loves to urge
the development of his plants, if he
loves to see them thrifty and luxuriant,
if he finds beauty in the leaves, flowers,
fruits and clinging vines, if he hates
weeds, and has fair soil and market, we
reply yes, go ahead, they will pay you
nobly; they are the most generous OF
things earthly. But start slowly if you
have had little experience, or you will
get wrecked on Improbable varieties.
ii your capital is all in brains and
sinews, remember that ten dollars worth
OF plants may be made to stock small
fruit farm, if you have patience to wal
for the increase. Do not feel compelled
to hug the cities, for those markets are
often the most uncertain. The country
and the villages are the most reliable
markets.
1t is possible for 800 bushels of straw
berries to be grown ON one acre. 20(
bushels is not an extraordinary yield
yet 100 bushels per acre might be owe
the average, for there is much poor cul
ture. 100 bushels of raspberries is
satisfactory yield, but often above tn
average. Currants, gooseberries ant
grapes yield generously with good cul
ture and congenial soil, and are highl,
profitable if the best varieties are Sc
lected. The black berry is perhaps tn
most profitable of all, in sections O
country where it does not winter. kill
OF course the grower of small fruit
may be overtaken by drought, har
times, the currant worm and other draw
backs. It won't be all sunshine and fai
sailing by any means. Yet consider
safe to say that from eight 10 ten acres
favOrably located, judiciously plante
to the best varieties of all the hard
species, and properly treated, will yiel
more average net profit than 100 acre
OF ordinary farming.
Feeding Apple Trees.
We shonld think man wild to fee
row of cattle in stanchions, on the sid
next to their bodies, instead of putin
the fodder before their heads. This ii
however, substantially what l saw
man do the other day. He YVES feet
ing lot of apple trees with barnyal
refuse, and piled it carefully up by IL
body of the trees, instead of placing
where the mouths of his subjects coul
readily get at it. The fact of the bus
ness is, we do not know much abo,
roots. Square and cubic roots we leal
by heart in the school-room; but the
cylindrical roots that feed our crops al
trees are pretty nearly sealed book
us. An idea insinuated itself into n
Uranium last summer, while digging
the orchard, to see if the apple wor
did not hide beneath the sod. I notic
the sod was tougher next to the body
the tree, while at distance of eig
and ten feet it was quite meager.
scratched my head great deal over t
matter, but little scratching of &
ground did me better service. I foul
the mouths of the apple tree were O
there several feet from the trunk of &
tree, and sucked in so much of t
moisture and nutriment that the grf
had but little to live on, and gave
the fight. l know how where to fe
my apple trees. - The Christian
Work.
CultivatinR Nut Trees.
The best time to plant nut trees
in the fall, as soon as they drop fro
the trees. They should not be plant
very deep, as it is necessary to have {
frost act on them and crack the shell
They may be planted in the spring,
which case they should be kept over I
winter packed in shallow boxes W
sand and left out Of door. It is best
plant two or three nuts in place as I'll
are not certain to sprout. If all sprc
the best ones can be reserved and 1
others destroyed as soon as they
large enough to be out of danger. 7
first years cultivation of nut trees C,
sists in keeping the earth loose alb,
L. E.