Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-11-23
Orehardtnr IN Nrrmnn1.

During our short larry among the Nermout
farmers, it WIS our pleasure to meet Mr. lie
Vi swift very successful orchardlst IL the
town of Middlesex. a locality by the way
which has not generally been considered par
tlculariy favorable 10 fruit culture. though
many good trees and a few nne orchards may
be found IL favored situations Mr.. Swift is
a young man, occupying q small farm Ct TO
acres. which 10y the death of mis- father
came under his own control some ten years
ago, while yet but boy, and with q debt up
on it Of about $500 Eighty apple trees
had been set by his fGsher seven years earl-
er, and the young man mad been carefully i'll
structed in all the details Of orchard planting
and tending Never was land better prepar
ed for trees than was Mr. Swlfts before
planting. some two years being devoted to
putting 1t IL the best possible condition
Then the trees were selected with the great.
est good Judgment and most carefully plant
ed
Three years ago, 100 more trees were set
and within the past year. 22U more making
il all 400 trees The orchard Is some dis
lance back from the valley OF the Winoosk
river. Oh q yellow loan soil, not steep enough
to wash, but pitching slightly towards the
west and thus gets the cold winds in winter.
which, while not usually severe enough to il.
ylEt TIE lTttb. uOlue lu6ll DhCk ITOu Starting
prematurely IL early spring. For the trst
few years after setting the land is kept
ploughed, but is afterwards seeded to grass.
Whether pioughed or IL grass, the trees are
always cared for as much a. a corn or potato
crop would be, the soil being Kept constantly
rich enough TO produce any ordinary farm
crop.
Wood ashes are freely used In connection
with stable manure as top-dressing every
year. Insects are kept of, and the trunks Of
the smaller trees are washed with strong soap
suds once or twice year. The trees are a.
loved to branch out low, and they are trim.
med to let in due amount Of sunshine aud
air.
As enough good. grated fruit is not grown
II the vicinity to supply the home demand
Mr.. Swift often finds a nome market for MS
crop, and stores portion for winter sales
His cellar ls Kept Is cold Is can be. and not
freeze. and as there Is a stream of water run.
ming through II, the temperature can be kept
quite low without danger Of freezing the
fruit when headed up in barrels piled on their
sides. Although less than d quarter Of the
trees have yet come into bearing. enough mas
been sold from the farm during the past
eight years to pay of the debt. remodel and
repair the buildings, aud pay for the new
trees set out
MI bWlIl' though mOQest, and showing
no disposition 10 Drag about his business was
free to give his figures, and told US that be
mad made the farm pay hin about $1,000
clear. after paying al expenses during the
last eight years or nearly $500 per year. and
TINS while building mp a business What the
farm will do ten or fifteen years hence. VI
der the same careful management, and when
all the trees come into bearing our readers
can estimate according to their owl iudg
ment
Some OF the varieties which are most high
~ esteemed II Boston market (the Baldwin
and Rhode Island Greeningl are found too
tender for this climate The Red Astraohan
Is liked well for very early and the Duchess
Of Oldenburg for later market The latter IL
great tavorite generally throughout the
state. The American Golden husset and
Holman Sweet are both commended. also sew
eral varieties bearing ioca names, which are
not found IN the fruit books
Pears and plums are also successfully
grown, the Olapps Favorite and Flemish
Beauty both being sufficiently hardy for this
latitude being among the best We are glad
to notice the Flemish Beauty, which cracks
so badly IL Massachusetts as 70 have become
utterly worthless, Is still healthy IN Vermont
We found trees loaded down with this variety
along the lake shore, the color and size so
deceiVing that 1t was hard 10 believe it really
the same pear that mas long been ruled out OF
the lists for culture or exhibition. There is
room for good many apple and pear Or
chErds il Vermont and Mr. Swifts example
Is worth following by good many Vermont
boys.--N. Z. Farmer