The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1903-02-06
The Growing Of Fruit.


The growing Of fruit while re-
celvlng more attention OF late than
formerly, does not yet receive the
attention its importance merits.
The fruit industry should be
worth hundreds OF thousand oil
dollars TO this State. Hardly a
season passes apples do not sell in
this market at from one to two dol
lars per bushel. Spite Of this fact
the home product is almost as
nothing compared to that shipped
here from other markets.. 1t is
not contended we can complete
with California in growing OF GER
tain fruits but many Of them can
be very successful raised aud be-
ing near the centers OF consumI-
llon we have the advantage Of
shorter freight hauls aud earlier
deliveries after the gathering Of
the fruit.
The California fruit must be
plucked green for shipment; that
Of this section may be ripened on
the trees, thereby acquiring the
perfect flavCr which is always lack
ing In green plucked fruit.
In view Of the growing impor-
tance Of the fruit industry 1t is well
enough TO remind those who pur-
pose going into 1t that success can
not be achieved by any "rule OF
thumb" proceedings. IL will not
suffice 10 stick tree down-in the
earth and depend on nature and
luck to do the rest. Intelligence,
care and patience must be exercised
or the orchrad will be a failure.
There are great many things that
the fruit grower ought to know,
II he hopes TO win success. The
character OF the soil the selected OF
stock, the influence OF climate, the
preparation OF the land, pruning
! spraying, fertilizing, ETC., all hav.
ing important bearing on the crop
to be raised. For instance, loca.
tions that are subject to fogs will
not produce first-class fruit. The
aspect or slope of the plantation is
another matter OF importance. A
southern exposure will ripen fruit
sooner than north exposure and
the color will be better. In prun-
ing, apple trees and peach tree,
must be treated differently, since
the apple bears only on new wood
while the peach bears only on
wood OF the last seasons growth.
land then the ounce must be
pruned differently from either the
apple or the peach. Certain fruit
trees should bo pruned to an up
right form and others to a droop
ing form. The use of "cover drops
in connection with the growing o
fruits is closely allied with thu
fertilizer problem. 1t is very i'm
portant, therefore, TO know wha
"cover crops" will give the treei
the plant food they need. Spray
ing is comparatively recent de
velopment for the protection o
fruit trees against pests. To know
how 10 spray effectively may meal
the saving not only Of a crop bu
an orchard, The farmer shoulC
know precisely why he sprays, o
he is merely doing guessing work.
He does not know If he is ap
plying the right remedy ut tn,
: right time unless he understand
the subject. He may be using al
insecticlde where he needs TO us
no fungitude. And then there ar
details of gathering, asserting
: packing and marketing tina
should have attention.
These are a few OF the point
that have been gathered by tn
United States department c
! agriculture, and published i
: Farmers Bulletin, No. l6l, unde
the title OF "Practical Suggestion
for Fruit Growers" The bulieti
I goes throughly into the subject an
gives d great deal OF valuable II
. formation. 1t can be had free 0
application to the department i
Washington.