The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-11-05
NEVER ENOUGH REALLY FINE
FRUIT.

Editor Farmers Voice:-The fruit
interest of the country has assumed
uct must be something stupendous.
What is still more remarkable the de-
mand has kept pace with the supply.
And it is right that it should, Good,
wholesome fruit has beneficial effect
not only on the health, but also on the
morals of a community. Much of the
thirst for drink and tendency to vice
is but the morbid craving of ill nour,
ished or wrongly nourished bodies suf-
fering from ailments which plenty of
fruit could cure. It is surely to the in
terest of the fruit grower to see that
this demand is not only supplied, but
also fostered, encouraged and increased.
But the consumers of fruit are far
more discriminating now than former
ly, and are yearly becoming more
choice as to the quality they buy. The
result is that as the quantity of fruit
increases the poor and inferior offer
ings become more and more drug on
the market~-Qaly good size, well ula
tured and neatly handled fruit of any
kind can be counted on to yield aprofit.
I began shipping peaches as far back
as 1875. For the past IL years have
shipped yearly large quantities of
small fruit, mostly strawberries. Like
most growers of long experience, I
have sold some good fruit and some
bad, and on markets begging for ber-
ries at so cents a quart; on markets
that did not want them at three; and
on markets in all conditions between
these extremes. I have sold some
poor berries that paid. but vastly more
that did not pay. But I have never
yet shipped crate of large, attractive,
well-handled berries which did not
yield me profit, unless delay of ex-
press trains put them on the market
very late in the day. Something that
does not occur with me one day in
season on an average. Good berries
nor good fruits of any kind do not
come of their own accord. It is the
result of high manuring and high cul,
tivation, controlled always, of course,
by good judgment. The result of this
is threefold gain earlier fruit, finer
fruit, and more of it. Either of these
is a very material advantage, and
either would pay alone. The question
Of manuring is a vital one with fruit
growers. It is an indisputable fact
that most of this manuring is unwisely
done and much of it in manner to do
more harm than good. Stable manure
has been too much depended on as all
sufficient 1t is undoubtedly of great
value as component part of the fer.
tilizer used, although there is g great
drawback to its use on small fruit-lts
never failing effect to produce weeds
without end. But stable manure is too
rich in ammonia and comparatively
too poor in potash to be anything near
a perfect food for fruit. Close and
long continued observation in growing
pEdCuCSS SA6HO5S SUI q OO4AASES @OA0PNO@
ries, blackbeFries and dewberries has
fully convinced me that manures rich
in potash, freely and intelligently used,
will not only make large and splendid
crops of these fruits, but that it win
also cure or remove many of the dis
eases from which these crops suffer.
For after all, half of the disAese in the
world is but the result of impHQper on
insufficient nourishment in pla2fk as
well as in animal. A yearly applica4
tion of 900 pounds of kainit and 400
pounds muriate of potash per acre, one
or both, accompanied by 600 pounds
dissolved bone or acid phosphate will |
pay on any land ever saw in fruit. I |
have tried them, and know whereof I
speak. Unless the land is rich In am
monia, 200 to 400 pounds nitrate of