Daily Republican., 1889-05-14
MoRvEN FARM.

From the Farm and Home.
'Morven Farm ia well worth a visit at |
this season." remarked a well-known |
gentleman the other day to the writer OF
this sketch.
Right you are" remarked your re.
porter this evening after he had seen it.
"Moryen Farm" is Just south of Hare's
Corner, In New Castle county, and was
purchased 1--WE years ago by DR.. John J.
Black, oil New Castle. Being firm be
liever In fruit culture and impressed with
the importance of improved methods and
improved conditions IN all farming, he
straightway commenced to act good ex-
ample for his neighbors, by converting
the large grain fields producing 40 cent
| corn aud 30 cent wheat, into asparagus
beds, small fruit patches, peach, pear and
apple orchards and has kept them all in
| prime order.
Cur yisit was made at the invitation Of
the Doctor, and the arrival of the p. u.
train found him waiting at the station
| with comfortable carriage and horse
that proved sure footed and speedy. En-.
terlnR the place from the highway SIX
acre asparagus patch on the right shows
clean culture, and is closely cropped to
prevent the ravsges OF the asparagus
| lect'e.
This patch was set three years ago and
this season will yield its first full crop,
and this will 20 a good way towards pay
ing the expenses OF bringing the plot into
It's present fine condition. We had the
satisfaction Of bearing away, when we
left, couple Of as fine punches OF the
asparagus as we have seen for many u
day. An acre or two oil black currant4
have recently been set and arc looking
well. Smith Il Painter, bottlers of fruit
juices, Of Wilmington, agree TO pay SIX
cents per pound for the product, and as
they are prolific they promise a good
profit. A trial patch of strawberries had
just been set to Gypsey, Sharpless, Jessie
Bubach No. 5 and Clouds Seeding. The
vineyard was clearly cultivated and Hai
just putting forth its leaves. The yinei
Will soon be sprayed with the Bordeaux
Mixture for the prevention of black rot
Beyond tbs are the pear orchards, Bart
lett, Doyenre d. Etc, KeiIer "a rapid
vigorous grower, and a block OF 2,0ct
Duchess, grated on ounce, but set deer
SO as to become half standard. The doc
tor called attention to the fact that there
were no missing trees nor vines in all the
grounds. When one from any cause was
broken oil or died, another was immedi
ately set to take Its place.
On an elevated spot in the south
western part of the farm are five or siz
acres Get In peach trees. They were fun d
young peaches and apparently healthy
A dozen or so of trees showed yellowi
last fall and were dug up and burned
and others set In their places. BY thu
side Of the peach orchard is patch o
Licorice.
Tho vines were just breaking thu
ground, but last years vines showed
they had made vigorous growth. Thes,
plants were put out as an experiment ant
II is too early to predict results.
Having inspected this part OF the farm
We returned and drove through the appl,
orchard. Four years ago this orchar,
presented stunted and neglected ap
pearance. Now It is well pruned, thrift,
and making a vigorous growth; and beinl
s a mass Of pink and white blossoms pre-
, sented beautiful sight. Several trees @
. the Dickinson variety have recently bee
!, set. This is a large red apple popula
in the West. Quite q number of tn
\ Delaware Winter have also been get.
From the eastern side OF this orchar
|, the ground slopes steeply away, and ha
IS Just been planted to Clinton grapes.
! About the buildings are some old pea
a trees that have been regrafted with pear
of the finer varieties.
We found Mr.. j. j. jackson, the wide
. awake intelligent manager. in the pach
ing house superintending the culling an
punching of the asparagus cut that morn
ing. The buncher used was made ate
pattern invented aud used by Capital
}. Emory OF Kent county, Md. 1t is ias
ened 10 a bench upon which the operate
= sits. When filled a strap is brought ov'
y the asparagus and drawn tight by mear
y OF lever worked with the foot. NJ
Jackson considers this the best buueht
made and there lie no patent on It.
Leaving Morven farm we d ose over
j. State Road, where our friend, Mr.. A. !
Rittenhouse, was busily at work ON b
| strawberry patch, from which he picks tn
finest berries taken to Wilmington maj
|. ket Beyond this we pass the farm {
h David Heyd, upon which are the ''el
perlmental acres" under the charge {
o the Delaware Experiment Station. Nea
. Bear station is Que of the Cooper farms
of which DR.. Black has charge. Aroun
, this he had q substantial wire fence, pu
up three years ago, which he rtgards th
model farm fence. The wires are Hat an
4 not barbed, the posts are of oak, larg
ard well set and the fence five wires higt
! 1t has been proof against the WEBSTER
4 steers which have been pastured ther
every summer.
. We enjoyed pleasant call upon MAJ
; shall Mchlullin on the way back TO Ne'
3 Castle, which we reached In time for
| hearty dinner Mt the hOsDitable home c