Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1885-03-06
Home and Farm.
Fruit Growing.

truth, in relation to certain kinds of
fruits, is well comprehended, but, re-
gard,ng others, less attention is given
to it than good judgement demands.
Outside OF certain we'll defined areas
no one would think of planting peach
orchards and vineyards for profit; and
more than this, within the past fifty
years the adaptabiiity of certain local
tiles for the profitable production OF
these fruits has greatly changed, in
many cases the result, probably, of
decreasing large tracts of country.
The Heart Cherries, which are
widely grown IN the Central and Fast
ern States, are unsuited to the West, |
where only some kinds OF Dukes and
Morellos can be raised, and some of
these, which have gained a reputation
for hardness, after flourishirg for a |
few years. Unexpectedly fail. Many
kinds of fruit can often be raised i'll
perfection in gardens where they have
more or less pro, lection and shelter
from buildings and trees in the neigh
borhood, which, when planted out on
a large scale in the same locality, ut
terly fail in short time. Twenty-Five
and thirty years since, the greatest
expectations were entertained by many
of good incomes from pear raising,
and immense numbers of pear trees
were planted IN all parts of the coun-
try; and to-day We know how baseless
were those hopes, and how i'll adapted
were many of the sites and localities
where these orchards were planted.
Notwithstanding all the efforas made
to secure suitable varieties Of apples
tor the climates of Illinois, Missouri
and Iowa-and how great these efforts
have been well informed for many
years OF the labors of the horticultur-
lists of those states, can kDow-yet
now. when the trees have come into
full bearing and the demand is made
upon them for steady supply of fruit.
they are giving out in this locality and
that, and many who have devoted
years to the rearing of these orchards
are finding them, at last, proftless at
time when they should be yielding
suitable returns for the capital and
labor they have received.
A new lesson is being learned, which
is that certain locations that were
thought to be favorable for apple Or
chards are poorly suited to them, and
that others possess advantages hereto.
fore unknown.
The small fruits, strawberries, rasp-
berries, blackberries, currants and
gooseberies, are more cosmopolitan !;
and yet these are raised on large
scale In some places better than in
others. These facts are now present.
ed to impress the thought on the read
er of the importance of suitable local.
ity wnen engaging in fruit culture.
There is too much indiscriminate
advice given by the press In regard to
fruit raising. Again, tree dealers and
nursery agents, seeking a market for
their wares, circulate wild statements
about the profits of the industry; and
at a time like the present, when the
prices Of grain are low, it is not diff
cult for them to induce numerous per-
sons in almost every community, who
have not special fitness or experience
for the work, TO undertake, at least IN
a small way, the planting of orchards
or small fruits. 1t requires no highly
gifted seer to perceive that most of
these efforts will prove abortive. The
fact is, the wrecks of ill-conceived frui,
plantations are strewn over the whole
country. We have no desire to say a
word that may discourage any one
from enTaging in fruit culture who will
attempt Ii in rational and business
like manner; but we would warn the
inexperienced to look on both sides OF
: the subject, and it has two sides, one
$ of which is not the rose-colored one
: that Is usually painted by newspaper
: SStwriters.
M NJ Orchards and vineyards require con-
assslderable land TO be devoted to them,
= which usually needs special prepare
vsTtien to fl: 1t for the purpose; and its
: after cultivation for successive years,
with the added interest and necessari
=HslY Attendant expenses, make a heavy
hSoaaay by the time the bearing stage
: : ieasfives, and it is only with ,alr crops
and prices that suitable returns are
VeceNed. The remarkable instances
> oiotlaIse profits in fruit growing, it must
,sLbSSN remembered, are the exceptional
= SSenes. while the history ofthe ordinary
,seasssSre seldom written, and the fail
" fes are buried from public view.
The Intelligent aud energetic man
who, TN well arranged and we'll ma
tur4SAs, engages in fruit culture in
\ a suKANeTpcation. is almost sure of
(Veasona5sssuccess, and if he has a
sspeda feraness for the work he has a
; SsRedosS adaptation to it; but the
ppySseskcky, thriftless soul may
y nessIs hapsslf he can have such an
: aapa ,IIfsas this occupation will
hoRoa the rut of incompetency
sc whieh bS,SSf-imposed, or inherited
'TsSsosS fpIneA Mftted him.
TNuiMioyer needs to have a
couraksbuss heart, and an unbounding
faith " his PURSUIT Hehas numerous
ensmissS &ithSbMh to contend and to
>eonIa sts INIT sSrable seasons are not
\ fnbeapeSt sSnssS1sseus insects and par
RsisssSS & ass> Constantly disputing