The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-03-04

Editor North Pacific coast:
No.. >.

4
Dc0r Sir: The difficulty is not to
find enough to say upon this prolific
theme, but to sift from the great abun-
dance such points as may be most
prOfitably treated in Il brief cOnsidcra-
ton of the subject, and present them
in such dress as to interest and profit
those of your readers who desire in-
formation upon this interesting sub
ject, and who shall honor these brief
essays with perusal.
| tried in my former article to i'm
press on the mind of the average
reader, both male and female, the i'm
portancc of planting fruit trees, in Il
moral and social point of view, and,
as it affects the common needs and
comforts of life. And now perhaps |
cannot do better than devote part of
this article to Il financial consideration
of the subject, and hereafter give such
information as can, briefly, as to the
selection, planting and management
of trees.
First, however, let me say a word,
which perhaps scarcely needs be said,
as to the general suitablencss and
adoption of our climate and soil to
fruit raising. Our climate is generally
being such as rarely oiniure ourtrees,
and our springs in most localities so
free from frost that, from that cause,
we seldom have even Il partial failure;
while our summers are free from such
extremes of moisture or drouth rs ever
prove materially damaging to field
crops or orchards. Our soil j. gcner-
ally good, producing with proper care
and cultivation bOuntful grain crops,
and all kinds of vegetables, a. we'll H.
fruits of every variety, except those
requiring more southern climate.
Indeed, there j. manifest power of
adoption in trees. II iS not necessary
that all the natural conditions should
be of the most favorable Kind. There
would then be little for human indus
try and skill to overcome. IT j. only
Indispensable that such conditions be
reasonably favorable. knowledge and
industry are competent to overcome
the obstacles and supply defects. In
all other productive industries, and in
the trades and professions, persons
have not only to labor, but stIdY dill
gently To acquire that knowledge of
their calling> which is essential to
success. Why should the exemption
from study be expected for the orch
ardist and the farmer? The employ
meme Of the mind. n well a. muscle,
appears Indeed TO bc natures eXacting
vet benevolent and elevating plan
throughout the wide domain of pro-
ductive human effort.
We cannot change the climate. We
must depend (as TO some extent we
mav,) upon the capacity of adoption
in the tree, to resist or conform to the
eXigeucicS of fclimatc-giving ii such
aid as we can by the hcalthieSt modes
of propagation, and such subsequent
cultivation as will make it strong to
resist unfavorable influences. Soil, if
not in too great degree unfaVorable,
NAV be changed. "Self preservation,
however, in trees as we'll as animals.
is the "iir>t law of nature.N lfplantcd
on land tOodry, the roots will go down
to find the moi,ture,-if on land too
wet, they will run near the surface To
avoid it. This i the way trees have
of keeping their feet out OF the water.
Still this power or capacity OF adap-
tiOn will not overcome impo>>ibilitics
or conform practically 10 extreme un-
suitablenes>. | would not plant an
orchard on very wet land without
more than ordinarily favorable tacil-
itcs for drainage, nor on land whose
immediate subsoil i a bed of gravel,
under any circumstances. Morris it ut
all necessary, where more suitable soil
j. abundant, as in Washington Terri
tory.
| beg your pardon, Mr.. Editor, and
the readers, for dwelling SO long on
this branch of the subject. 1t i not
enough To show that fruit Is pleasant
to look upon and good to the taste,
and even indispensable to the health
and comfort of ourselves and families,
and that our climate and soil are add
mirahly adapted to its production
The Interested reader will ask, rs
there money in it?N and ii is right
that he should. have already prom
i>cd To devote Il portion of this article
to that interesting branch of the sub
iect, and do not know a. can do
better than to extract briefly from my
own catalogue of IS and 20, with such
slight notifications as have been Sug-
gested by later experience and obser-
vation
1--WE would say to our readers please
consider the following carefully: IL
farmers would set out reasonable
portion of their improved lands in
prunes and plums, and other fruits
adapted to their locations and the
markets, and bestow upon them for IA
few wears the same amount of labor
that is required for the successful pro
duction of wheat and the othercerals,
they would realize from the vegeta-
bles and other products of the orchard
land enough to pay for the trees and
.I... l..