West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-01-29
ERUlT CULTURE.
Vscts Deserving Of the consIderatIoa al
Beginners.

To the beginner In fruit culture,
many obstacles arise which, for the
moment. seem almost insurmOuntablo;
and yet so simple lis the remedy which
may be employed for their removal,
the frnit-grower is surprised when he
becomes cognizant Of the means used.
that he should allow himself TO become
! disheartened in the work before u was
fairly begun. / am aware that much
advice is being given TO those who are
about making their first attempt in
| fruit culture; aud we are strongly i'm.
pressed with the fact that, If those who
| presume TO advise aud i'm the maiori-
J ty of cases personal experience gives
their words weght-would say less
about the different varieties Of fruits.
and point ont ways and means whereby
the beginner may avoid the imnumera-
bic 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 n variety. IL is
rare indeed that we find any variety of
fruit which may be depended upon to
succeed in all sections of tho 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 q selection of varieties,
take INTO serious consideration the diff
fnrnnnn e
OF the place where it originated, and
your own: A variety may do exceed
| ingly well in New Jersey, and be n
total failure in Michigan. and yice
oerSd. III possible, ascertain il tho
the variety you wish to plant has been
tested in your immediate locality. Look
Tor reports concerning IL from exreri-
enced growers near YOU.
z. III reliable reports concerning tho
variety can not be found, then plant
Sparingly of IL; or, better vet, establish
an experimental bed where the now
varieties OF the different fruits NAV be
tested thoroughly, before setting out i'm
large quantities. This idea deserves
more Than passing mention. We
hho" OF no other way by which the
lrult-grower, especially those wno grow
Tor market, can so completely control
ms selection, with the positive proof
mat ne Is not making a mistake i'm 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 small plot turned
into an experimental bed, laid ont i'm
squares and planted with the new
varieties of fruit i'm 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 peradventure just what variety
ms soil and climate are best fitted to
grow.
3. 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 plant a
certain variety which Is large and vet
! has no place in the market, if we ara
planting for market; and it Is lust as
nnwisc to plant good market berry
Tor home consumption when Il il in
terror TO othor kinds which will succeed
as well in the Same soil. 1t is a fact to
ne regretted that appearance and color
are the points which Wholesale pur-
chasers consider, rather than quality:
but so long as this is what our Gus
toners desire, it W ould be folly to grow
anything else for market We have
an example of this in Skaters Colossal
raspberry. 1t is unquestionably one OF
! the inest, II not the finest, Of all rasp-
berries, red or black, to eat out of hand
or for canning purposes. Its dark,
"lItS-iooklng purple color, however,
ehtirely excludes 1t from the market.
The selection of varieties with are
"eil-adapted to ones particular soil
and climate brings to mind circum-
stahce winch came under our Observa-
non some years ago. A gentleman.
residing in the West, had Visited me-
md was particularly taken with the
1lce appearance of variety of red
raspberry on my place. Soon after his
return home he sent me letter, askino
hat forward him dozen plants OF
'uch varieties as would succeed with
llm. did so; and. knowing the nat
IRE OF his soil and the climate, did not
send plants Of the variety he had ad.
mred so much.
In due course of time came a letter.
IN which he expressed lis disnppoint-
ment at not receiving plants Of the va
nety spoken of. L explained the mat
ter to the gentleman, but nothing
would satisfy him but the plants They
we're sent--a different lot every spring
| md iall for three years but it was i'm.
| possible for them to survive under the
climate to which they had been trans
| planted.
Thus 1t is in great many cases; and
we feel safe in saying that the great
| majority Of failures i'm fruit culture are
Tue to Just this first great mistake IN
tbe selection Of varieties. II beginners
IN fruit culture will be more obscryant
IN this respect. at least one of the great
obstacles to success will be removed
" T. independent.