Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-08-04
Raising Fruit for Profit.


Raising Fruit for Profit.
Fewer bright anticipations have been
realized in raising fruit for the supply of
markets that any business enterprises
in which sensible and intelligent, and,
withal, industrious persons engage. The
great majority of persons who embark
in fruit-rasng rs an occupation where
by TO gain Il livelihood are the victims of
disappointment. Generally they are su-
perior in mind, culture and learning to
ing, dairying or stock-raising. Ordina-
rily they have more means than the per-
sons who engage in the other pursuits
to purchase land in the vicinity of one
of the much lauded fruit-growing dis
tricts, and more is needed to buy stock
and support q family till the trees, vines
and bushes come into bearing Observ-
alton shows that large proportion of
the persons who engage in fruit-raising
on large scale are men who have been
bred for the learned professions or who
have good scientific attainments. Ordi-
narily they are well acquainted with
botany, entomology and ornithology.
Theoretically they are well acquainted
with fruit-growing and the business re-
lations growing out of it. Many OF them
have good libraries of books that treat
on every department of fruit production
and matters pertaining to it. The books
that compose these libraries have not
only been read but studied. Fruit-rais-
ers are generally studious persons. They
own more books as rule than farmers
do and take more magazines and papers.
They also attend more conventions and
meetings devoted to the matters in
which they are engaged. No class of
men are at greater pains to inform them
selves in relation to every department of
the business in which they are engaged
than fruit-raisers. They are always dill
| igent in acquiring knowledge.
What is more, they are generally dill
gent in business. They also possess
another element of success. They are
in love with their business, and are oft
en- completely fascinated with it. They
are fond OF talking about it in season
and out of season. 1t is as easy to dis
tinguish fruitraiser as it is clergy
man or q school-tcacher by his conver-
sation. Men often engage in farm
ing or continue in it against their
will by force OF circumstances. but the
fruit-raiser is generally such by choice.
He chooses the occupation out of
love of it. OF course he expects to
make money, and he deserves to do SO
on account of the energy he displays.
Still he very often fails. He does not
acquire fortune or gain competence.
In many cases he loses the place he
has spent the earrings and savings OF
half a lifetime to acquire, and is then
obliged to fall back on some unconge-
NAL pursuit in order to gain living.
Although the number of professional
fruit-raisers is much smaller than that
of general farmers, still we hear oi
more failures among the first than the
last. 1t is somewhat easy to account
for these frequent failures. The bus:
ness of fruit-raising is a hazardous one
The fruit crop is more liable to injuries
than ordinary field crops are. A long
er time is necessary to mature it. More
kinds of insects injure trees, vines ant
bushes and the fruit they produce thar
destroy corn, potatoes and small grains
The prospect OF a crop of fruit is likely
to be destroyed by unfavorable weather
at any time from the formation of tn,
buds till the period of ripening. 1t il
rare that several crops of large STANDARD
fruits are raised in succession. Orchard
lists know that "bearing" year is tol
lowed by an "off'' year. During tn,
, first fruit is low, and during the seconC
there is little to sell. AS fruit-raiser
are generally men of "great expecta
tions' they are liable to run ia debt.
Raising peaches in the region abou
Delaware Bay has been profitable for
very long period. The success OF tn
4 peach-growers there can be accounte
for in various ways. The climate /
= very favorable, the transportation facil
tiles are excellent, and several larg
A cities are in the vicinity. Raising ap
| Piles in Michigan, New York, and i
o several of the New England States ha
also been profitable for many years
Raising grapes in the vicinity of wine
making establishments where cas-
market is always assured is generally
). prosperous industry. The cases of fai
ure are mitch more common than thoS
n of continued success, however, in raj
: ing any kinds of fruit ON large seal
a in most parts of the country. The lare
- fruit enterprises established in Southei
a |
3 turned out much like mining ente
prises. A few persons met with su
a cess for short time, q much small,
q number were quite successful for
I term of years, and large number con
=. pletely failed in realizing their expect
# lions. Many went into the busine
is with good capital, and after stru
N Cling for IA few years were forced TO +
Il tire with none. AS with mining,
). with fruit-raising; one fortunate succe
At caused many TO engage in busine
III that led TO disaster. The story of h
q. man who realized $500 from an acre
to strawberries in one season travels
m over the country and induces many
80 plant vines. The reports OF the ia
urcs of Il hundred of these persons ne
er appearin print. Torender the gro
ing OF fut for the supply of dista
ut city market profitable it is necessary
n, have an excellent location in regard
%. climate and soil, good transportation
Int cilitics, and an opportunity OF disposi
no of articles at canning establishmel
~ that cannot lie disposed OF in the gC
cral market. - Chicago 1iyse&