The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-03-01

ter the trees have been well started by
q few years cultivation, seed the or
chard down and keep in sod. When
any blighted branches are discovered,
remove promptly and burn
Pears should be picked when mature
and stored away in cool cellar or fruit
house, and if sold to consumers direct,
should be ripened under woolep robes
Treated thus they take on the golden
and vermillion hues SO tempting to the
eye and purse.
Standard trees may he planted twen-
ty-four feet apart and dwarfs ten feet |
apart The best use to make of dwarf |
pear trees is to convert them into half |
standards by planting them so deep |
that the pear stock will be enabled to |
throw forth roots, when the tree will
grow into half standard, while re-
tanning it's early fruiting traits.
When accessible to a good home mar
ket cherries are very profitable, pro-
vided abundance of help can be pro-
cured at picking time. They flourish
on all soils. but need good drainage,
and, for the best results, 4 northern ex-
posure 1he buds are very tender. and
if prematurely developed by reason OF
warm southern exposure, they are al
most certain to be destroyed by subse-
quent cold weather. Cherries are not
as subject to the depredations Of in
sects as either plums or apples, and IN
years of plenty no spraying will be
required When the fruit is scarce one
or two applications Of Paris green and
water when the cherries are small will
destroy the curculio. The sour varie-
ties are the most profitable because
they are more hardy, less liable to rot,
and more in demand for cooking and
canning purposes. The sweet varieties
are the most prolific, but more suscep-
tible to rot if the weather is moist.
Large commercial orchards OF peach
es have been planted on the highest,
blankest knobs OF Gucrsnev. Belmont
and adjoining counties AMI many more
are in contemplation.
An extensive peach grower from the
peninsula of Maryland expressed the
belief that peach growing in Maryland
is destined to a steady decrease on ac-
count of the spread OF the yellows.
while steady increase would take
place on the hills of Ohio because OF
our exemption from yellows and adapt
ability OF soil and situation. Peaches
may be planted fifteen feet apart each
way, and if the ground is enriched
with stable manure the orchard may be
cultivate in corn or potatoes for three
or four years Thus treated the trees
will respond to vigorous and healthy
growth At four years OF age the tree
will have reached maturity of bearing
q paying crop.
In choosing varieties OF peaches,
plums and pears. let me repeat the adj
vice given with reference to apples:
Don't be tempted to plant largely of
new and untried varieties. Plant few
varieties and only such as are adapted
to your locality. The hills of Belmont
county produce the finest Strawberries
in the world, and the possibilities of
this typical soil in berry growing can
| hardly be estimated An acre of ground
will contain nearly ten thousand
plants, and if the soil is enriched and
given proper cultivation it may be made
! to yield ten thousand quarts OF berries,
that should net s40o to the grower.
| A Young man who recently invested
$4,000 in the purchase Of badly ne
| elected farm near GAINESVILLE enriched
fifteen acres of it and planted in small
| fruits The berries were carefully cul-
tivated and judiciously handled, and
here are his figures for two years:
Gross receipts, 1892, 81. 45I 90; 1s93'
| s2,4T6.O0. After deducting all ex-
penses (including $500 each year for
his own labor), his net in
come, not including his living
off the farm, 500 in 1892, or Is per
. cent on total investment OF So, 600 His
net receipts in 1898 were 81, ,17S, or 23
! per cent on his investment over and
above all expenses
Raspberries are regarded as even
more profitable than the strawberry
and more attention is being given to
its cultivation in eastern Ohio. Sue
cess with either will depend upon en-
riched soil and good tillage.
Now, in conclusion, let US sum up
the possibilities of a few acres devoted
to fruit growing, and will endeavor
to be moderate in my estimate:
acre of pears in bearing, 100 trees. ..s2oO
acre In apples 4S trees. ......---... 100
acre In cherries and plums, 13o. ......- 23J
acre in peaches, 191 trees ooO
acre in straw berries .... 4)U
acre In raspberries, currants, ETC.. 2jU
Total for six acres -..-.........l. .l.ot
Assuming that only portion OF the
trees would produce annually and
there would be loss from frost and
blight, let US strike off 3SH per cent
and we still have margin of 81, 1000 for
the labor and capital invested.
While the trees are growing the land
is not idle. Corn, potatoes, strawber
ries and raspberries may be cultivated
between the rows with profit to the
farmer and advantage to the orchards
until the trees come into bearing.
To him who loves to commune with
nature in her visible forms" fruit
growing will prove a source of never
failing pleasure, charming the sense:
with the wealth and fragrance of it.
blossoms in spring, appealing to oul
love of the beautiful in the bright hue!
that paint it's fruitagc in summer, anC
tempting our appetite with the arom'
of the orchard and vine in autumn
Bryant expresses it beautifully in hi
"Planting of the Apple Tree
what Plant we in the apple trcc2
Sweets for a hundred fiov cry springs
That freight the May Winds restless wings
When from the orchard row
j. pours its fragrance through The open door.