Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-07-23
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A Branch of Industry That should Have Uni

A Branch Of Industry That should Have Uni
versal encouragement
From the Country Gentleman.
There is at the present time a feeling OF
doubt among orchard planters, as we'll as
with nurserymen who supply the trees
whether raising fruit for market is to con-
tinue profitable business Prices generally
have become much reduced. Instances have
occurred the present season where in large
cities the price OF strawberries has been less
than the wages for picking them, not count
ing the cost OF raising, expense Of shipping
and ices paid for commission. Orchardists
Will remember when the best pears readily
brought i've times the sums now paid for
them. Some of the leading sorts sold by the
quantity on the trees for three dollars a
bushel, which now will not bring more than
dry cents The best grown specimens Of
the Anjou then were readily disposed OF in
Eastern cities attwenty dollars q barrel. Dur
ing the past abundant pear season thousands
OF bushels were allowed to decay for want of
a ready market, aud in the preceding year a
still greater waste was allowed TO take place
with portion of the enormous crop of ap-
pies. Evaporsted fruit for a time brought
satisfactory prices but these prices have
been much reduced. Apples were more ex-
tensively planted long years ago, aud as a
matter OF course, prices continued nearly the
same.
All these facts bring shade Of discourage.
ment over The minds of those who are en-
gagged IN the business, or who are about to
enter 1t. There are ample reasons however,
why this discouragement should not be felt
Most OF the changes which have taken place
IN prices are the singular result of natural
causes We can well remember when, of the
great multitude of the people at large, not
one in hundred ever tasted some OF our
finest fruits, much less had a regular supply
OF them. The few who first raised them,
therefore, found strong demand when they
were placed before the public-the demand
| then greatly exceeded the supply-snd they
| wealthy purchasers. Men of moderate means
| had to go without These high prices stm.
| ulated over-production in quantity at the ex.
pense OF quality. There was much Needless
planting, without adapting the supply to the
| probable demand. Hence the surplus iu
| some directions, while want still remained
In Others. Insects aud disease discouraged
| many planters, and encouragement is al
| ways a fruitful source of careless treatment
| and inferior quality Another drawback W as
| a want of careful asserting in packing for
| Market and still another was deficiency In
system In shipping. That all these difficult
| ties and draw backs may be substantially
| overcome, is shown by the fact that there is
| now, during the present year, more money
/ received for fruit than at any previous Pc
| riod
The fruit sales during the past year, In
| some of the western counties of this state,
/ amounted to more than half million dollars,
| and in one county to almost a million. This
| was owing to the great increase in quantity.
| The reduced prices placed the supplies in the
hands of vastly augmented numbe of pur.
chasers. The costly dainties of the few in
former years, became the accessible dainties
OF the multitude.
What We now want, is more generous treat.
ment In raising fruit generally, and more
skill with insects and diseases. The errone-
GUS notion must be dIssipated that fruit trees
Will take care OF themselves and that straw
berries and raspberres are cheaper when
| neglected. Instances could be nsmed where
| skiitful cultivators have realized more than
double profits by reducing their plantations
10 an extent in which the very best treatment
could be given, in thorough drainage, deep
uliase high fertilizing, and careful selection.
The man who raises larger, hsndsomer and
| better fruit than any one else, can obtain &C.
cess to ready markets with high prices, when
| common fruit in excess cannot be sold.
with all the fruits that are now raised an
| nually, The great majority of the people at
large are poorly supplied. Prices, il in some
instances still lower, with facilities for a uni.
| versal supply, may give demand so greatly
/ increased, as may result in making fruit
raising more general and fairly remunera-
tive business. And yet there will be few
who " I'LL raise fruit 80 much finer and better
than the average as to always lead in the
| market.
Men will never give up eating fruit, and
| whatever may be the future in raising it for
| market the planting and cultivation for home
use should never be omitted. Every owner OF
land, large or small, should have general as
sortment ample enough and sufficiently we'll
selected to give daily supply on his table
the year through beginning with strawber-
ries in June, and with the aid of cherries, rasp-
berries, currants, peaches, grapes, pears and
long-keeping apples, 10 extend the supply
into ths following June. The selection must
OF course be adapted to the climate where he
lives He should inform himself sufficiently
as to varieties, to make good selection, and
to know how to give good care and yearly
addition OF few trees should be made to
keep up the supply. He runs no risk in thus
supplying his family market, for he has no
cost to pay for packing shipping, express
charges, and commission, and no risk to in
cur from the fruit rotting on the way or for
failure from an overstocked market To give
every land owner in the country such home
orchard and garden, would more than ex.
hanSt every nursery now In aNistanca