St. Landry democrat., 1889-08-17
Fru;t Growing in St. Tammany.

Fruit Growing in St. Tammany.
Agricultural Editor of the Times Democrat:
sIn order to insure their safe arrival in |
New Orleans, the sample peaches sent |
with this were picked while quite imma-
ture. However, they will ripen fairly |
well in day or two, though the eating |
qualities will not compare with fruit per-
mitted to ripen upon the tree.
1.-THE specimen apples promise to be
good winter fruit. Last year the crop was
picked from the tree on November 5, when
all had been more or less damaged by the
birds hence their keeping qualities are
not known. AS they still have nearly
three and one-half months to grow to
reach maturity, you can, of course, not
Judge their quality. There is little doubt
that with judicious selection, patience and
perseverance, not only good summer and
fall apples can be grown here, but good
nter-keeping apples are possibility.
Proper training of the tree being one of
the principal requisites, late apples must
be grown in the interior of the tree, pro-
tected from the direct rays of the sun, as
during the latter part of the summer fruit
exposed to the sun becomes scalded and
decays.
est. Tammany parish is eminently
adapted to the production of peaches, pears,
plums and early apples many semi tropi-
cal fruits also flourish here. IS the Japan
persimmon, pomegranate, fig and several
varieties of Oriental plums; and for grapes
it is unsurpassed by any section of our
country east of the Rocky Mountains. The
various classes, as Estivalis, Riparia and
Labrusca, as hybrids and Scuppernong va
rieties, are healthy and productive.
"The capabilities of this pine hill coun-
try will not remain forever moderated.
The time must come when the folly of
competing with the tiller of the alluvial
lands in the production of ordinary farm
crops will be recognized, and then will
these incompatible health-giving and
health restoring pine hills swarm with
happy, prosperous people, engaged in the
production of fruits, poultry and dairy
products.
cit is claimed that considerable capital
is required to make home in these poor
pine lands. Money, and good deal of it,
is undeniably good thing to have. 1t is
also safe to say to the poor but able
bodied man in the city. engaged in loos
ing fight against poverty, that poverty in
the country is easier to combat than pow
erty in the city, and man endowed with
strength, health and emery, and a dispo
sition to expend at least four. ffths of that
energy in the right direction, need have
little fear of not being able to supply him
self with the common necessaries of life.
cat least one home has been built under
the most adverse circumstances home
that would not to-day be exchanged for
even fairly good city residence. This is
the result of united feeble efforts and
stubborn persistence of family composed
| of five children, the mother, feeble
woman, and the head of the family, ply
steal wreck. Of course, many privations,
and much hardship had to be endured,
which, however, was preferable to living
ON charity in the city, with absolutely no
prospect in the future. Interested parties
and intending settlers are cordially invited
to inspect Arboret Homestead, as yet rather
modest in dimensions, but nevertheless in
dicative of what might be accomplished
with intelligently directed effort in the
! 'piny woods
"Up to this time, the work on this place
has been mostly experimental to ascer-
tain what varieties are best suited for this
soil and climate. Experiments are being
made with forty-fve varieties of apples,
|
plums, twelve of pears, in addition to
many varieties of Japan fruits, berries,
grapes, pomegrapates, figs, loquat, ounces
and many small fruits. 1t is crafty ing to
say very few have to be rejected. There
| is strong reason for believing that a sue
| cession of peaches can be had for six
months and fresh apples for ten months,
if not the entire year. Beginning with
strawberries in April, and ending with
apples and Japan persimmons fresh from
the trees in November with plums, figs,
pears, grapes and many other fruits In the
intermediate period, with milk, honey,
eggs and butter, which are here produced
as cheaply as elsewhere, it seems that the
proverbial poor piny woods fare should
be displaced by as wholesome and sub
stantial fare as is enjoyed by the honest
toiler anywhere. Here we have requisite
conditions of soil and climate to aid in the
successful pursuit of several branches of
agriculture. The one thing lacking is the
right kind of men to develop these re-
sources. J. J. BIERY."
The specimens received show conclu-
sively that our correspondent has by no
means moderated the capacity of St. Tam
many for the production of fine fruit. The
1 podCu6S, WHICH WcI6 VI oAC0llcub 4udtIty
and flavor, were labeled as the Stonewall
Jackson, evidently seeding of the Chinese
Cling, and the Berenice a yellow freestone
variety.
There were also two varieties of the ap-
pie, one Siberian Crab, the other a win
ter apple without name, but from its
characteristics as described will prove to
be desired acquisition, especially to fruit
| growers in the Gulf States. We would
suggest that fully matured specimens be
| selected to test their keeping qualities.
We fully agree with our correspondent
in his estimate of the value of our pine lands
for the small farmer, fruit grower or dairy
man. With only ordinary good cultiva-
ton remunerative cropAof sugar cane, sor-
ghum, mill4t, cotton, ride, tobacco, various
species of grass and clover or fruit, may
be grown, and with but little expense.
And, in addition, the country is healthy,
water good, land cheap, and transportation
| facilities excellent.
| Crazed by Spiritualism.