Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-03-02
AGRICULTURAL.
Pratt CuI,ur. In wiudbpm Ceunty.

Rruit Culture IN Wiudhnm County.
Mr.. c. Tyler Of Hrauleboro suggests the
question of Embarrassing for the cousidera-
ton Of The Phoenix and the farmers Of
Windham county, and asks 'if more fruit
might not be raised at profit, the word
profit covering the pleasure and benefit
the family would derive from liberal use
Of berries and other fruit.
The suggestion is what might be termed
in law phrase "a point well taken" There
is no other portion Of the state so well
adapted to fruit raising ms large part of
Windham county. That part Of the valley
Of the Connecticut which lies in Windham
county, the West river valley, and other
valleys in the county opening towards the
south or southeast, are probably, in average
temperature, the warmest portion Of the
state. The soil seems specially adapted to
the cultivation Of fruit. The blockcap
raspberry appears to find its natural home
in the warm soil Of these valleys. Straw
berries do well anywhere in the county.
Plums and cherries are again thriving
where fifteen or twenty years ago they
we're destroyed by the black knot. Apples
and pears can be grown here perhaps as
well as in almost any other locality. 1t is
a little too far north for peaches, but even
this fruit has been successfully cultivated.
With hardy varieties and skilful culture,
there is no doubt that enough peaches for
home use might be raised ON most Of our
farms The adaptation of the soil and eli
mate to the growth of the apple is proved
by the great number Of excellent native
varieties that have had their origin here.
Among these is the famous Warren apple,
which originated in Wardsboro. Native
apples that are fully equal to many of the
well-known standard varieties are not UNI
common.
According to the census of 1880, the value
of the orchard products Of Windham coun-
ty was $9l ,jSG, which was larger than that
of any other county in the state. The value
of market garden products, in which may
have been included small fruits, was more
than three times that of any other county
in the state, with one exception.
With soil and climate so suitable to
fruit culture, and the markets of several
large cities where they may be reached
within six hours, it seems that the produc-
ton Of fruit in this county might he great
ly increased, and to the profit Of the pro
ducers
But there is something in fruit culture
more than profit, or rather there is another
view of profit, limited at by our correspon-
dent, which is worth considering-a profit
not quite measurable by dollars and cents
1t is to this kind of profit that writer re
fers, who would soften the rigid lines" of
farm life, and increase its beauties one
Of the best ways of doing which, this writ
err says, lis by planting and caring for rare
and choice fruits. The city, with its wide
pavements and immense buildings, can do
but little in this line yet the little which
is often attempted there with fruits and
flowers under such very unfavorable con
ditions, shows just how firm a hold such
things have on the human heart. But the
owner of only a few acres of land in the
country may have all the finest varieties of
strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, grape,
currant, gooseberry, apple, pear, peach,
cherry, plum, apricot-is there another
country on the green earth so rich in pom
illogical treasures Planting, watching,
cultivating admiring the opening bios
SONS gathering the ripe luscious fruits
heart at peace with itself and in harmony
with nature and natures benign, munif-
cent Author the restless turmoil Of city
life will be shorn of its attractions. and
must hold out its fascinations in vain"