The Yale expositor., 1914-05-14

prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture)
One of the most important features
of suburban home, from the stand
point of health is fruit garden main
tanned for the purpose of supplying
the family with fruits. 1t is amazing
that even those who have suitable
| situations and facilities for raising
fruits, and who cannot purchase them
because Of remoteness from markets,
have not established home fruit gar
dens.
The inhabitants of this country are
notably a fruit-loving and fruit-eating
people. Notwithstanding this, how
ever, fruit culture has grown to be
classed among specialties, and few
persons who consume fruit are actual
growers. The possibilities in fruit
culture upon restricted areas have
been very generally overlooked with
the result that many persons who own
suburban home, or even a farm,
now look upon fruit as luxury.
great deal of the land which is now
practically wasted and entirely un-
remunerative can be made to pro-
duce fruits in sufficient quantity to
give them a regular place upon the
family bill of fare, and at the same
time, add greatly to the attractiveness
of the table and healthfulness Of the
diet
With the growth of commercial fruit
interests of the United States the
home fruit garden has been over
Swallowed by the orchard. While both
the home garden and the orchard are
essential to the good Of the commu-
nifty, they bear different relations to
the country as a whole. The home
garden is always forerunner of COM
mercial development, and even IN
those localities where climatic and
soil conditions are adverse to con-
Quoting such industries on an extern
sive scale, the home fruit garden or
RE enthusiastic amateur is certain to
be found.
The home production Of fruit stimu-
lates an interest and love for natural
objects, which can only be acquired
by that familiarity with them which
comes through their culture. The
cultivation of fruits teaches discrimi-
nation If every purchaser was good
Judge of the different kinds of fruits,
the demand for fruits Of high quality,
to produce which is the ambition OF
every amateur as we'll as every pro-
fessional fruit grower, would become
a reality. The encouragement Of the
cultivation of fine fruits in the home
garden will do much toward teaching
buyers TO discriminate between the
good and the inferior varieties OF
fruit.
The maintenance of fruit garden
brings pleasure and healthful employ
ment. and as ones interest in grow
Ing plants increases. this employment
instead of proving hardship. will be-
come q great source OF pleasure. The
possession of tree which one has
planted and reared to fruit production
carries an added interest in its prod
uct as well as in the operation by
which it was secured.
Most persons engaged in the cult.
walton of home fruit gardens will have
as their chief aim the production OF
fruit for the family table. and the
pleasure il affords. Fruit growing
should claim the attention of the pro-
Queer from EARLY spring to late apt-
umn.
In order to secure satisfactory re.
suits in a limited area devoted to
fruit culture one must know the meth
DDS Of pruning, training, and culture
best suited TO the space at command. !
In proportion to size, dwarf trees are
more fruitful than standards; they
come into bearing sooner and are
therefore of special value for use in
fruit gardens.
At planting time all broken or de-
cayed roots should be cut away, |
leaving only smooth-cut surfaces and !,
healthy wood to come In contact with |
the soil. If large part of the root |
area of the plant has been lost in
transplanting the top should be cut |
back in proportion to the roots re-
naming. BY SO doing the demand |
made by the top when the plant starts |
into growth can be met by the root.
The holes in which trees. vines, or
shrubs are to be set should be ample, |
SO that the roots Of the plants may
have full spread without bending |
them out OF their natural course. The /
earth at the bottom Of the holes
should be loosened spade depth be-
low the line of excavation. The soil
placed Immediately in contact with
the roots OF the newly set plant should
be rich top soil. free from sod or
pc rtially decayed organic matter.
Firm the soil over the roots by tramp
ling as this brings the soil particles