Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-01


ing the place of meat. The high price Of
the latter is increasing the consumption
of fruit. Fifty and sixty years ago the
question of over. production was raised in
Europe and the Western States, but in
stead of such results, fruit is bringing bet
ter prices, and finds more ready market
then it did then.
CAUSES FOR LACK OF SUCCESS.
Even in this favored country many
thousands have failed to make fruit.grow-
ing a success, and many thousands more
may fail to make it profitable in future.
We must if we would make it a success,
use the necessary intelligence and energy.
We have many evils to contend with,
among which are insect pests of numerous
kinds but the greatest trouble usually Is
ignorance. 1t is as absolutely necessary
for fruit.grower to understand his busi-
ness as it is for the mechanic or merchant
to understand his. To be successful he must
begin right. The first step is proper Sc
lection of soil, locality as to shipping facil-
itie etc, Next, to select the right fruits
for tine soil, climate and market, etc. Then
the ground must be prepa1 I'd thoroughly,
planted properly, and afterwards receive
the necessary and intelligent care. To
select locality and also varieties, find out
what has succeeded in that locality or a
similar locality and climate. Obtain all
the data you can relative to the best fruits
to plant in that particular locality. Get
your trees from responsible nurseryman,
and one who has a reputation to maintain.
VARIETIES TO BE SELECTED
There are some old. standard varieties
that succeed almost everywhere, and are
safe to plant for profit. There are Iso
some new varieties originated from seed in
this State that seem to be peculiarly adapt
ed to most of our climates and soils. This
is especially true of the peach. There are
a few new apples of California origin, but
not many. | have seen several advertised
which were old varieties under new name.
We ought to have a horticultural work
peculiar to this coast, in which all varieties
which are really new could be fully de-
scribed and their full history given. For
a market orchard not many varieties should
be selected, only enough to give success.
sion of fruit through the season. If the
grower has only a few trees of kind, he
will never have sufficient for shipment at
any one time. Fruit, especially for long
need to be picked quite green !;
and those accustomed TO picking fruit for
commence picking when they can
get but very few samples on each tree,
and thus 90 over the trees five or six times
to gather the crop of a season. As a
result of this method. every one that is
taken off enables better development of
those remaining on the tree. Thus it can
easily be seen how important it is to have
many trees of each variety. After the Sc
lection of variet es the
PREPARATION OF SOIL AND PLANTING
Is of the next Importance. Prepare the
soil well by deep plowing and cultivation,
and dig large holes, not less than three feet
wide and three feet deep; fill up with dirt
and leaves to proper depth to admit the
tree to stand say two inches deeper than it
stood in the nursery. Plant carefully, and
do not forget to cut the tree back well when
you plant it. The best dug trees in the
nursery have been robbed of half or more
of their feeders in taking them up, and
consequently half or more of the tops
should be cut off. More people fail at this
point than any other. They dislike to cut
off the beautiful top, and consequently
leave the brush all on, and expect half
root to support whole top; but it cannot
do it, and dead or at least sickly tree is
the result. Trees one year from bad or
graft are usually best and safest to plant.
This is especially true with all the stone
fruits. In trimming, they should be cut
back and forced to branch low down, so
that the tops will protect the trunks from
the sun. Thousands of trees die annually
by the bodies becoming sunburned. The
trunks should always be protected by wrap
ing or otherwise. a low trained tree Is
decidedly better in many respects. The
best orchardists in the State have come to
that conclusion after years of experiment
ing.
TREATMENT AFTERWARDS.
All through the life Of an orchard tree it
should be kept we'll trimmed and well cult
waited, and the fruit judiciously thinned
out every year. Especially wnere a tree
is heavily loaded, is it true, that by
proper thinning, large, fine fruit can be ob
tanned, which will command the best price,
and at the same time nearly as many
pounds of fruit For instance, suppose a
peach tree to have 500 peaches on il
that will weigh 100 pounds when ripe.
By taking off 300 OF them, the remaining 200
will still make the 100 pounds, and will
bring twice as much money, and at the
same time not strain the tree nor impair its
vitality for the next season. In this way
good annual crops can be secured and
healthy trees maintained. The habit OF
many tfees-to bear only every alternative
years caused by being allowed to over
bear IN a single season. Orchard trees
should be manured when it can be done
1t will well repay the cost, though our land
needs less OF it than in most other coun-
tries, owing, | think, to the presence of
alkal IN our soil. Alkali, in limited guam.
titles, is q most excellent fertilizer, while,
in excess it is injurious. Trees should
not only be properly pruned, cultivated,
etc, but vigorous warfare should also be
inaugurated and kept up against all insect
pests. have not space to give any di.
reotions, but would refer the reader to the
works of Matthew Cooke, of this city, for
information. The time to fight them is
when they are first discovered, and close
watch should be kept for them. 1t is good
for the trees to spray them every year,
whether they have insects or not. Many
persons object to growing
SMALL FRUITS AMONG ORCHARD TREBs,
But think in very many cases it is wise
to do so for at least two, three or four
years, particularly if the orchard is irri-
gated. The same water that irrigates the
small fruits will serve the trees, and nice
revenue can be bad in that way while the
trees are coming to bearing. Another way
TO make the most of orchard land is to
plant trees that are long lived and grew
large, such as apple, pear, cherry, fig and
olive, the proper distance apart, say thirty
to thirty two feet, and then plant peach,
plum, quince, etc, between the tees both
WAYS, 30 as TO have three times IS many o!
the temporary trees as there are Of the
standard. They will fruit successfully FOL
several years before the standard trees viii
need the ground. Then they can be re-
moved. To repeat, in conclusion, the Sc
lection of varieties should be with specia
reference to shipping fresh. canning or dry.
ing. Most OF the fruit at present Is shipped
green or canned, but | think the greater
portion will have to be dried after few
years, and when properly dried will pay
well.
-
THE PoNT.-A Brooklyn lawyer re
ceiyed visit the other day from farmer
looking man, who said he would pay );
for little advice. Very well, salc