Smyrna times., 1890-08-13
A New Era Probable in Fruit
Culture.

Fruit culture, like farming, in this
country has been comparatively easy
The early settlers introduced fruits,
and the apple, the pear, the plum,
the cherry and the peach together with
small fruits, were raised more or less
plentifully in colonial times. AS new
lands were entered upon, and local
markets developed, new orchards and
fruit gardens were planted But sue
cessfully each branch of the industry
when extended has found new and nu-
merOus enemies in insects and fungi;
and especially is this true since rail
road facilities have been increased and
and quick transportation and ready
markets have favored the planting of
large areas. The extension of fruit
grounds and the increase of fruit enc
mics have proceeded parj passu, good
breeding grounds and a supply of nu-
triment favOring the PARASITIC hordes,
until it has seemed that their destruc-
tiOn was possible only by the destruc-
tiOn of the hosts upon which they live
and rear their progeny.
For some years past, one has seldom
been able to see sound apples, whether
the orchards have borne abundantly
or sparsely. The great enemy of this
fruit has been the Goblin moth, and for
years it baffled the ingenuity and per-
severence of orchardists for its destruc-
ton; now we have learned how to
deal with it, and year after wear
sees the practice extending of spray.
ing the trees with Paris green when
the fruit is just formed. And this prac
tice must be continued by ali who ex-
pect to raise sound apples. Some, per-
haps many will neglect to make use of
this means, and as a result will have
only wormy fruit, which will command
only low price in market. Those
who will not take the necessary pains
to secure sound fruit will eventually
be driven out of the business.
1t cannot be expected in the condi-
tiOns which now prevail throughout
the country, whereby crops of good
fruit can only be obtained with unre-
mitting care and a large amount of
skill, that the relative number of fruit
growers will remain as large as has
been only those who combine intelli.
gence, energy and industry will sue
ceed, others will find it Improbable.
And, again, it is but reasonable to sup
pose that good fruit of certain kinds
will command a higher price than ever
before.
All the rOts, blights, rusts, mildews
and scabs which are so injurious to
fruits and fruit trees are fungi, and
the termination of their spores is
greatly favored by excessive moisture.
and it is but reasonable to conclude, as
observation also shows, that dry lands
are more exempt from their ravages,
while moist, undrained lands are their
most favorable breeding grounds. The
proper preparations of fruit grounds by
undertaking has never had the at
tentiOn given to it that its merits de-
mand, and fruit-grOwers must fortify
themselves on this point.
In regard to the equipments for
spraying, quite number of fpumps and
other apparatus are in the market, and
the announcement is made that the
government has been engaged with
the problem of designing an effective
and cheap portable apparatus for
small places-an instrument on which
there will be no patent, and which,
therefore, can be manufactured any,
where. For large orchards and vine
yards, casks or reservoirs of considera-
BILE capacity must be employed, which
shall be drawn by horses.
Spraying both for insects and fungi
will be practiced on a much larger
scale this year than ever before, and
the results will be looked for with
great interest. The results of the nu-
merous trials last year have settled
conclusively the general value of the
operation, but undoubtedly this years
experience will make clear many
points and details upon which there
remain still some obscurity and
doubt.
Fruit culture is now entering upon a
new era, and the fruit grower of the
future must be intelligent and watch
full, and prompt to meet any emergen-
cies in his work, and the rewards of
his labor will, no doubt, increase in
comparison with the greater difficult
ties encountered. Improved methods
in fruit-growing are sure to give better
results Picks Magazine.