Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-04
FRUIT CULTURE.
Facts Deserving II the Consideration -
ReginnerS.

10 the beginner In fruit culture.
many obstacles arise which, for the
moment, seem almost insurmountable;
and yet so simple is the remedy which
may be employed for their removal.
the fruit-grower is surprised when he
becomes cognizant of the means used.
that he should allow himself to become
disheartened in the work before it was
fairly begun. am aware that much
advice is being given to those who are
about making their first attempt in
fruit culture; and We are strongly inn
pressed with the fact that, if those who
presume to advise-and in the majori-
ty of cases personal experience gives
their words weight-would say less
about the different varieties Of fruits.
and point out ways and means whereby
the beginner may avoid the innumera-
BILE plaques which he has to combat.
the result would be much more salts
factory to the grower. 1t is. to say the
least, bad advice to positively assert,
and advise the reader to plant certain
variety of strawberry for example.
simply because the writer has had
good success with such variety. 1t is
rare indeed that we find any variety Of
fruit which may be depended upon to
succeed in all sections of the country;
and we strongly urge that those who
contemplate setting out trees and
plants. will read carefully the points
noted below, and consider them well
before purchasing.
l. In making a selection of varieties.
take into serious consideration the diff
ference Gf any of climate, soil, ETC..
of the place where it originated, and
your own. A variety may do exceed
ingly well in New Jersey. and be a
total failure in Michigan. and rice
Tersa. If possible, ascertain if the
the variety you wish to plant has been
tested in your immediate locality. Look
for reports concerning it from expert.
enced growers near YOU.
=. Ii reliable reports concerning the
variety can not be found. then plant
sparingly of it; or, better yet, establish
an experimental bed where the new
varieties of the different fruits may be
tested thoroughly, before setting out in
large quantities. This idea deserves
more than a passing mention. We
know of no other way by which the
fruit grower, especially those VINO grow
for market, can so completely control
his selection. with the positive proof
! that he is not making a mistake in the
varieties he plants. 1t is by no means
pleasant to contemplate the possibility
that the varieties planted. and on the
success of which depends the living Of
the family. may prove total failure.
BY the means of a small plot turned
into an experimental bed, laid out in
squares and planted with the new
varieties of fruit in small quantities
| (half dozen of each variety, saw. all
the uncertainty is done away with, and.
as we have said, the planter knows be-
yond all peradyenture just what variety
his soil and climate are best fitted to
grow.
5. In the selection of varieties take
into consideration the purpose for
/ which the fruit is TO be used, and plant
accordingly. 1t is of no use to plan: a
certain variety which is large and vet
has no place in the market, if We are
! planting for market; and it is just as
unwise to plant good market berry
| for home consumption when it is in
ferior to other kinds which VIII succeed
as well in the same soil. 1t is a fact TO
be regretted that appearance and color
are the points which wholesale pur-
chasers consider, rather than quality;
/ lN,,% .t,..- - hot
toners desire, it would be folly to grow
anything else for market. We have
an example OF this in Skaters Colossal
raspberry. 1t is unGuestionably one OF
| the finest, if not the finest. of all rasp-
berries, red or black. to eat out of hand
or for canning purposes. Its dark.
| dirtv-looking purple color, however,
entirely excludes it from the market.
The selection of varieties with are
well-adapted to ones particular soil
and climate brings to mind circum-
stance which came under our obServa-
ton some years ago. A gentleman,
| residing in the West, had visited me,
and was particularly taken with the
| nice appearance of variety of red
raspberry on nv place. Soon after his
ii
that l forward him dozen plants of
| such varieties IS would succeed with
| him. / did so: and, knowing the nat
ure of his soil and the climate, l did not
send plants of the variety he had adj
mired so much.
| In due course of time came a letter,
in which he expressed his disappoint-
ment at not receiving plants of the va.
riety spoken Of. l explained the m ~
ter to the gentleman. but notk;ng
would satisfy him but the plants. They
| were sent-a different lot every spring
and fall for three years; but it was inn
possible for them to survive under the
climate to which they had been trans
| planted.
Thus it is in great many cases: and
we feel safe in saving that the great
majority Of failures in fruit culture are
due to just this first great mistake in
the selection of varieties. If beginners
in fruit culture will be more obscrvant
in this respect, at least one of the great
obstacles to success will be removed
N y. Independent.