The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-03-01
PLEASURE AND PROFIT IN FRUIT
GROWING.

long service In the cause or American
Independence, began to pour through
the passes OF the Blue Ridge seeking
Lew homes upon the then far distant
frontier along the banks of the Ohio.
It was land, the Unsuitable desire for
more land, that impelled these hardy
pioneers to enter into the new territory
in advance of the government protec-
ton The migration thus began has
continued ever since, sweeping through
the great Northwest territory it crossed
the Mississippi into the lands of Kan
sas and the Dacotnhs On it swept
over desert and plain, until it breaks
upon the shores of the Pacific Already
the refuent wave is forming and the
tide is beginning to flow backwards,
the greedy scramble for the lands of
the recently opened Cherokee Strip
proves how scarce desirable free home
steads are becoming.
A recent writer in political economy
AYERS that if the present ratio of in
crease in population is maintained for
sixty years. the population in the
United Statos in 1850 will have reached
the stupendous figure of $50 mil
lion souls. Then. students, the
burning question of the hour will be
the question of bread, and the solution
of that problem will engage so many
hands and brains that the tide OF popu-
lation will again flow from the city to
the country and from the factory to the
farm, until We have attained the dig
nifty and distinction Of republic Of
farmers
A distinguished statesman in discuss
ing the problems Of the future, ex-
pressed his belief that the coming
man" in America would be farmer-a
man with educated brain and Drawn
who will practice business methods in
farming operations, and science in till
ing-a botanist, a chemist and an ento-
mologist, and withal versed in political
economy and the science of government
as becomes leading citizen fitted tc
assume the duties and responsibilitie:
of an American sovereign.
Idoubt not that among the students
here to-day there will be many Cham
berlains and Terrys of the future-the
farmers and fruit growers that will
shape the opinions and mold the char
acter of the aEriculturists of the TWEEN
tieth century.
To the students who are fitting them.
selves for this new era, to the young
men who are looking forward to agri
culture in some of its branches as vo
cation worthy of an educated and am
bilious youth, permit me to say that nc
more inviting or profitabl field is oper
to-day than that of fruit growing.
The business is not, and l believe
can not be overdone, for only in favored
localities in certain states is it con
Quoted with profit
Profit in fruit growing will depend
upon adaptability of soil and climate
contiguity of good home market, ant
ability to procure competent help il
fruit picking season.
The hills of Ohio are peculiarly
adapted to orchard fruit and when &C
cessible to good market the best re
suits are attainable.
Such standard varieties of the mp
pie as the Baldwin, Ben Davi
| and Rome Beauty attain the highes
perfection on the hills of eastern ane
southeastern Ohio. These hills ar
crowned with orchards. above the fos
and frost level, hence their immunit,
from the blighting frosts and discolor
| alton that prove SO injurious to frui
grown upon the lowlanda
The sterile hills of Lawrence count.
that will scarcely grow beans produc
the finest crops of Rome Beauty apple
grown in this or any other state l
! does not, therefore. seem wise to cult
vate the steep hillsides of Ohio in un
profitable crops of corn and whea
! when their strength and fertility ar
carried off by every dashing rain
Experience and observation ha
taught me that the best location for a
! orchard is a high elevation or rathe
thin soil-not impoverished-and o
well drained land (either naturally O
artifcially), and northern or wester
exposure. A warm exposure cause
premature development of buds onl
to be destroyed by later sever
weather.
A uniform rule can not be adopte
for planting trees, for while low grow
ing and slow growing varieties as tn
Rome Beauty may be planted Is fee
apart on the poor hills OF L,wrenc
county. 80 feet is not too far apart O
the rich hills of Belmont
In planting apple trees be governe
by the character of the soil and tn
growth habits of the tree.
Pick the apples when mature, whetf
er it be in September or October, an
If the weather is warm and sultry, RI
move to a cool cellar or fruit hous
where the temperature is uniform.
| AS to the profits of apple culture,
may add that it is regarded as our mo-
reliable fruit crop. A conservative e
innate of the yield of an orchard in frl
bearing would be 100 barrels per acr
i regard pear culture as the mo-
profitable among orchard fruits whe
properly conducted. One acre devote
to the cultivation OF choice pears wi
yield as good returns as two or mol
acres devoted to apple culture. but tt
difficulties attending their culture a
SO numerous that the averaf
farmer is content to grow a
Piles and give over pear cultul
to the few; hence the high pri'
the fruit commands in comparison wit
other orchard fruit The greatest b'
to success in pear culture is the susce
tibiiity of the trees to blight \
specific has thus far been discovere
foT this fungus, and its treatment is pre-
gentive rather than remedial. The di
ease is propagated by cultivation an
the enrichment of the soil, whic
causes a rank growth of new WOOD
This new wood, when milky and in
mature, furnishes an inviting field ID
the attacks of the fungus which us1
ally begins its operations in the war;
suItry weather Of June and July. :