Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-02
What varieties shall we plant /? This is a

difficult question to answer. Some kinds
do well in certain locality, or soil, while
they fail in others. If the fruit is wanted
principally for home use, considerable va
riety is required to keep up rotation dur
ing summer, fall and winter. Ii home
market is to be supplied, summer and fall
apples should be supplied.
Ii for distant markets, or a winter sup
ply, the varieties should be few. Every
planter, to be successful, should know
what kinds are adapted to his soil, and
should plant them almost exclusively.
l have seen the Smokehouse for several
years past growing IN a rich clay loan,
where the roots could dip into running
water, the fruit coming to perfection. and
Keeping in prime condition until after the
holidays. If any one has such soil ard
situation he may plant the Smokehouse, to
any number OF trees, with great prospect
of success.
But in such situations many other vari-
cites would flourish. The Baldwin would
do we'll, and even the Newton Pippin and
BelltlOwer could be grown proiitably.
On high ground the varieties that are
reliable winter apples are not plentiful.
Smiths Cider is promising. and the York
Imperial is one of the most reliable vari-
cites We have.
would not be understood to say that no
other varieties are worthy of being planted.
but. as l said before, the planter should
know what varieties are adapted to his
situation.
In answer to a question by DR.. Green,
MIR. Hitler said the russets We're worthless
when planted on dry hiIlsides, but would
do we'll in such ground as the smokehouse
apple thrives in.
DR.. Green made some remarks to tie
effect that fruit growing, if intelligently
followed, may be made the most profit
able branch Of farming, except perhaps
the growing of tobacco. He thought
more attention should be paid to the analy-
sis of the soil. and then russcts may be
grown here as well as in the Genessee
valley. He also suggested that more atten-
tion should be given to the extirpation of
fruit-destroying insects.
S. p. Eby thought the reason for
our decreased fruit crop is because of
the change of climate, which has
occurred since the cutting away of our
forests. The reason of the increased
insect depredations is because there are
few trees now left for the insects to feed
on except the fruit trees.
Casper Hitler said in his section of the
| county more grass, wheat, corn and to-
| bacco is now grown than was grown forty
years ago, and yet apples cannot be grown
on our hill-sides as they We're forty years
ago; it cannot, therefore, be changed to
the want of certain chemical clements. for
nearly the same elements are required for
grain and grass as are required for apples.
John c. Linville could not agree with
DR.. Green that a mere analysis of the soil
and the application of the missing elements
will produce the desired results. Last
summer year Lancaster county produced
an immense crop of wheat, while last
summer there was scarcely half a crop !;
this cannot be charged to the want of Ger
tain elements in the soil for they We're
was well enough in theory, but it will not
| always do in practice, and this is now ac-
knowledged by the most advanced scicn-
| fists.
Webster L. Hershey was of opinion that
chemistry was stepping stone to agricul-
ture, but it is yet very little understood
and it will not do to depend on it alone to
secure good crops. Mr.. Hershey mention
| ell severa! instances in which the theories
of the scientists had entirely failed in prac-
tice.
Mr.. Engle was much pleased with the
essay read by Mr.. Hitler; he agreed that
we do not grow as much fruit nor us good
fruit as formerly. He believed we could
do so, however, if we thoroughly under
stood the wants of the orchard. The
| greatest causes of loss to fruit growers
are the ravages of insects of various kinds.
The coeling moth is the greatest destroyer
of apples. If any means for protecting the
fruit from its depredations can be found, a
great increase in fruit will result.
Referred Questions.
"By what means can the forest lands be
best preserved, and the planting of timber
be encouraged" was answered by Levi
S. Reist, who quoted the act of Assembly
passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature at
it's last session, to encourage the planting
of trees by offering premiums to those who
plant them. The act is dead letter but
Mr.. Rest thought an improved act might
| be passed by the Legislature allowing the
county commissioners to offer premiums
for tree planting forest-tree associations
should be organized in each county and
means should be taken to induce boys to
| plant shade and forest trees-those doing
so to receive reward when the trees at
tain a certain size.
John H. Landis read an extract from
Hayes's message on the subject, and also
an act of Assembly introduced by himself
in the Pennsylvania House of Representa-
tives, which provides that all land on
which forest trees shall be planted, shall
be exempt from taxation for term of
years.
S. p. Eby suggested that stock compa-
nies be chartered for the planting of for
ests. Life is too short for any man to
plant and protect the growth of forest
trees !; before they attain their growth,
they fall into the hands of others, who
may not value them as highly as the plant
ers valued them. The only way to pro-
tect the forests is to place them in the
keeping of chartered companies. Mr.. Eby
concluded by saying he had fully intended
to take part in this discussion, but upon
examination of the subject had become
convinced that its great Importance, and
hn ~ io..