Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-02
Small Orchards.


1t will not rs a rule pay general
farmers to 60 into fruit raising on
large scale, or attempt TO do so An
enterprise in this line o! any magn tude,
re luircs 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 generous sup, ly of
wholesome fruit for the farmers :ami-
~, will be found much more satiSac-
tory on the whole than larger uud l.
takings, for they can be managed with
out interfering with other farm worl
To any great extent. We are all apt Is
take little more pains with that which
is intended for our own particular
u 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 IL is only question OF
dollars and cents, ranking the same
as wheat field in our calculations of
loss or gain.
Certain it is. that, with perhaps few
exceptions, small orchards are more
thrifty and pro luce much more fruit 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 remunerative. He never
hesitates in doubt as to his cap
ability to manage particular
undertaking. but sails in with all
his available capital, and makes things
gee" This Is Il very commendable
quail ~. and when applied to wheat
raising. or any other pro ect that will
not require vrry extended knowledge
or experience, it usually insures sue
cess. But when we get down into the
finer practices of agriculture. and es-
pecially horticulture. it is sometimes a
very dangerous element to success.
The farmer. who. with but slight pre-
vious experience. lays out 800 or $500
in trees at one ''Swoop" is pretty apt to
lose good share OF the purchase money
and an immense amount of labor along
with it. And this is not all that he
loses, he loses all liking for the bust
ness, il indeed lie does not contract a
hearty dislike. lie failel. probably,
through pure ignorance rs to the needs
of n 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. undra ned land. some
were set too deep. and were not properly
trimmed. Fresh manure ut the roots,
no mulching. or a 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 ness by this time
and thinks It will not pay to fool away
any more time on il: so the few remain
ing trees came up as best they can in
their ragged. scattered condition.
His less venturesome neighbor COM
meuces early in buying few common
kinds, and setting them near the house
where he can frequently spend q few
minutes at work among them. As he
has but few, he can give them better
cSre 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 a little
more. His experience and study keep
pace with the increase of his trees. and
by the time he has q fair-sizsd. little
orchard he knows just how to take care
of il, and make the most from it. He
knows what kinds do best in his pa-tic-
uiar locality. and what the most favor
able conditions for each variety. He
knows how to buy his trees economical
ly, and how to start them advanta-
geously.
An orchard can not be built up in q
month OF year. Like library, /,
must serve TO build itself up. The first
acquisitions must furnish the knowl.
edge for gathering others about them.
Capital viii hurry things up a bit. but
it takes time and experience to do the
work perfectly.
Don't put OF starting an orchard until
another year. Spasmodic horticultur,
can not be . success. so 60 steady. bul
sarely-W n BOyRtoR, IN Frair..
Fay7ssr