Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1897-04-02
Developing Flavor.

American Gdfdcaag: Inc one
quality that is Of the highest i'm
po,tance in fruits and vegetable is
flavor. Yet too frequently many
are willing TO sacrifice this point il
only they can obtain an article
that looks well when it reaches the
market, trusting to its looks TO sell
it. Bat the men who cater to the
best trade are fully aware that
while handsome appearance is
valuable, fine quality or flavor is
the one great feature upon which
critical buyers insist; while all
must acknowledge that In case OF
frnit or vegetables raised for ones
own table the matter of flavor be-
comes of the utmost importance.
1t is of interest, therefore, to con.
slider how flavor can most success
fully be developed.
In tie first place the fruit or
vegetable must have good favor as
an innate characteristic. Some
varitles are naturally excellent in
this respect, and these are the fruits
and vegetables to select for cult
ratiOn, tor while some excellence
OF flavor can be developed in even
an insipid fruit by proper handling,
it is folly to fall short Of something
better when that something better
is to be had. 1t is Unwise 10 reject
anything which nature has to offer
in the way of quality.
Having, then, been careful to Sc
Iect fruits and vegetables Of a
naturally high order Of flavor, ii
remains for man to do his part
toward developing the possibilities
Of that flavor to the highest point
This he can do by proper cultiva
ton, proper dressing. wise thinning
and proper handling of fruit whei
gathered. The choice flavor which
eharacterizes "gilt-edge" butteranG
brings to 1t the highest prices, re
suits to large degree from the
proper ripening of the cream. Now
rIpening is breaking down Of The
particles composing cream or iruit,
and the conseo Ient liberation OF
aromatic oils and acids, and other
principles. A complete ripening
can only take place under the best
conditions, and in the case of fruit
these conditions are perfect de,
veIopment of the fruit; perfect &C
cess to it Of air and sunshine, ana
such care after harvesting as tn,
individual fruit requires.
No one realized the, possible
excellence in the much-abused
Kieffer pear until it was picked
from the tree in a particular stage
OF its development, placed in a
crate and packed away in the dark
in u cellar and left there until
Il, WAS III just the right condition.
Some fruits reach their finest de
reiopment upon the tree or bush,
others must be housed and treated
according to their individual needs
The foundation, however, for eX
celience Of flavor is laid while the
fruit is yet growing. IL must have
ample nourishment, and Fertilizers
Srong in potash play no small par
here It must have good culture.
We are acquainted with two Porter
apple trees, the one standing in al
old garden where the soil was kept
clean and constantly stirred about
it, and where it had abundant
nourishment, and the other stand
ing Il little way off, in an old SOD
that had never been broken for It
score of years. The former CAV,
high-grade fruit, while from the
latter the yield was hardly recog
nizahIc as being the same variety
A fruit tree must have food and
good culture in order to produce
fruit Of the highest quality.
Then again very much depends
on the proper pruning Of the tree
or bush to let in the air and sun
shine, for the air and sunshine are
the chemical agents by which the
substances Of the fruit are broken
down and the fiavoring oils and
fruit acids that give favor are de.
veIoped. 1t is subject that is
worth more careful thought than is
given to It by the average fruit
grower, for with increased flavor
his own and his family's enjoy
ment of the fruit will be greatly
increased, while the markets will
smile broadly and lucratively upon
the heaped-up baskets that be
brings to 1t.
Import more Japs.