Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-11-02
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AORICULTURlSTS.
Some Up-to-Date Hints About Cultiva-
ton of the Soil and Yields Thereof
Horticulture, Viticulturo and Floricul-
ture.
horticultural Observations.

horticultural Observations.
Fruit exhibits at the various fairs
this year have been very good. In
fact, we have no remembrance Of a
year when they were better. We be-
lieve that fruit growers in the west
are getting the business of fruit grow
ing down to science. The fruit
shown is probably much smoother
than ten years ago, as result of per-
slstent spraying by the men that are
most prominent exhibitors.
The fall is not the time to cultivate
the orchard, unless the cultivation has
been continuous throughout the en-
tire growing season. If such has been
the practice, the extra cultivation now
will not hurt, but if there has been no
cultivation previously a stirring or
heavy manuring of the soil now, If
followed by heavy rains, may have the
effect OF starting a fall growth that
will prove very injurious to the trees
OF course, after the leaves begin to fall
the danger of such a growth ceases.
However, even then there is a danger
in disturbing the ground If it has been
packed close during the entire sum-
mer, for it makes root-freezing more
possible. Two years ago we noticed
that many trees died where the
ground had been stripped OF it's YER
dure, while trees in grass near them
were not injured We know that was
an unusual winter. and one not likely
to come again for a long series OF
years, but it is best not to take I'M
necessary chances.
If indications are of value, the per-
simmon is to receive more attention
in the future than it has in the past.
The American wild persimmon has
long been well known and talked and
written about, but no systematic at
tempt has been made to develop 1t.
The introduction of Japanese persim-
mons has perhaps stimulated interest
in this fruit and has led to an investi-
cation being started by the Tennessee
Experiment station as to the possibili-
ties locked up in both the foreign and
native persimmons. The persimmon
has wide range of growth. 1t Is
found as far north as southern Hi
nois, Indiana and Ohio, as well as in
Pennsylvania. 1t also grows at least
fifty miles north Of New York city.
Southwark it grows anywhere on
American soil and is raised from Flor
ida to Texas. That the tree is hardy Is
well known. Within the last two sea-
sons the fruit has begun to appear in
the Chicago markets and is not intre-
quently met with now in the eXhibl-
lions Of our horticultural societies and
it also appears at some OF our state
fairs. The interest in it is on the in
crease.
1t sometimes happens that. fruit
fails not because it is not productive
and valuable. but because the owner
of the plantation does not understand
it's needs At the Illinois State Fair
last week this fact was brought forci-
bly, to the attention of the writer. He,
in company with one Of the most
prominent horticulturists of the state,
was looking over the fruit exhibits.
Said the horticulturist: Here is
plate Of Makada pears, fruit almost
worthless for eating purposes, and yet
a fruit of great value to every man
that grows the Keiffer pear" Its value
lies in the fact that it is fertilizer for
the Keiffer, which does not readily
fertilize itself. This pear is an early
fruiter and begins to flower when it is
three years old. The Keifer is an i'm
mense bearer when it is fertilized, but
bears almost nothing when not ter
tilted by something outside of itself.
Mr.. Augustine related the story Of
man that had farm Of 400 acres, on
which was an orchard of Keiffer pear
trees, 5000 in number. Though the
trunks of the trees had attained
diameter of eight inches they had
never borne a crop of pears. The man
had mortgage of $4,000 on the farm
and subsequently lost 1t. The lack of
the trees was fertilization. Had some
fertilizing pear been grown with them
the crop of Keiffers would in one year
have wiped out the mortgage. This Is
one illustration of the value Of little
knowledge. The acquisition of knowl-
edge is bread cast on the. waters, and
1t is very often found again after many
days.
The next meeting of the Illinois
State Horticultural Society is to be
held at Champaign, in the new agricul-
tural building. We hope that many of
the readers Of the Farmers Review
will begin at this early date to get
ready to attend. The horticultural in
terests of the state are very great and
are certain to become more important
from year to year. We. have frequent
ly urged our readers to attend ire
spective of how extensive may be their
interest in horticulture. An impress
sion seems to have got out among the
people that horticultural conventions