Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-05-01
Small Orchards.

It will not as rule pay genera
farmers to 90 into fruit raising on ,
large scale, or attempt to do SO Al
enterprise in this line of any magnitude
| requires more attention than the aver
age farmer can, or will devote to it
more than that it needs skill and edu
cation in horticultural craft. that is only
obtained by long years of experience
and study. Small orchards, intended
mainly to furnish a generous supply Of
wholesome fruit for the farmer fami
ly. will be found much more satisac
tory on the whole than larger under
takings, for they can be managed with
out interfering with other farm work
to any great extent. We are all apt tC
take little more pains with that which
is intended for our own particular
use and we feel more interest in
the welfare OF the few trees that
are to furnish us with our yearly supply
of fruit than we would in raising for the
market; where it is only question oil
dollars and cents. ranking the same
as wheat field in our calcula ions OF
loss or gain. a-., .-
Certain it is, that, with perhaps few
exceptions, small orchards are more
thrifty and produce much more fru in
proportion to the size than large ones.
1t seems, however, to be In the nature
of the American farmer-and especially
the Western farmer-to enter largely
into any ente prise that may look
promisingly, remuneratiye. He never
hesitates IN doubt, as to his cap
ability to manage part cular
undertaking. but sails in with all
his available capital, and makes things
gee This is very commendable
quail ty, and when applied to wheat
raising, or any other pro ect that will
not require avsry extended knowledge
or experience, it usually insures sue
cess. But when we get down into the
liner practices of agriculture. and es-
pecially horticulture, it.. is sometimes n
very dangerous element to success.
The farmer. who, with but slight pre-
vious experience, lays out 300 on 500
in trees at one '.swOOp' is pretty apt to
lose II good share OF the purchase money
and an immense amount of labor along
with it. } Ands this is not all that he
loses, he. loses all liking for the bust
ness. if indeed he does not contract q
hearty dislike. He failel. probably,
through pure ignorance as to the needs
Of a young orchard. In the natural or
der of things the failure, we will say, Is
only partial one Some of his trees
were set, on wet, nndra ned land. some
were set too deep, and were not properly
trimmed Fresh manure at the roots,
no mt,lching, or dozen other causes
might be. given which he had never
before thought of. Now from this state
of partial failure quite share of the
orchard might be. rescued by prudent
and persevering care. But he is dis
gusted with the bus hess by this time
and thinks it will not pay to fool away
anymore time on it; so the few remain
ing trees came up as best they can in
their ragged. scattered condition. q,
His less Tyenturesome neighber com
mences early in buying few common
kinds, and setting them near the house
where he can, frequently spend a, few,
minutes at work among them. As he
has but q few, he can give them better
care from the first than he would be
able TO give If there were hundreds in
stead of dozens These few trees thrive,
and he feels encouraged to add . little
more. His experience and study keep
pace with the increase Of his trees. and
BY the time he has q fair-sized7 little
orchard. he knows Just how to take care
of it, and make the most from it. He
knows what kinds do best in his partic-
ular locality, and what the most favor
able conditions for each variety. He
knows how to buy his trees economical
~, and how to start them sdvsnts-
geously. 81 is = es.7.a - 70: III
An orchard can not Be huflt up in .
month a . ysU. = Like . library, ii
mus serve % build itullfup .Thes 6rst
aeaIsit,ons must furnish the knowl,,
edge for gathering others about them.
Capital VIII buif5 shingsup sbits but
it takes time and experience to do the
work perfectly. s.-rc
Don't put OF starting an orchard until
another year. Spasmodic horticplturv|
can not be success. SO 60 steady, bat
surely.-K D. Boyston. in Prairie
EoSDeT 5000