Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-20

Washington, April 19-One of the
most important features of a subur-
ban home, from the standpoint of
health, is a fruit garden maintained
for the purpose of supplying the fam
lily with fruits. 1t is amazing that
even those who have suitable situa-
lions and facilities for raising fruits,
and who cannot purchase them be-
cause of remoteness from markets,
have not established home fruit gar
dens, says the Department of Agri-
culture.
The inhabitants of this country are
notably fruit-loving and fruit-eat-
ing people. Notwithstanding this,
however, 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 a
suburban home, or even a farm, now
look upon fruit as a luxury. A great
deal of the land which is now prac-
tically wasted and entirely unremun-
erative can be made to produce fruits
in sufficient quantity to give them a
fare, and at the same time, add great
~ 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 ver-shadowed
by the orchard While both the home
garden and the orchard are essential
to the good of the community, they
i -.
try as a whole. The home garden
is always a fore-runner of CONNER
cial development, and even in those
localities where climatic and soil con-
ditions are adverse to conducting such
industries on an extensive scale, the
home fruit garden of the enthusiastic
amateur is certain to be found.
The home production of fruit slim
ulates an interest and love for natural
objects, which can only be acquired
by that familiarity with them which
comes through their culture. The eul-
tivation of fruits teaches diserimina-
ton. If every purchaser was a 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 teach
ing 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 a hardship, will be-
come great source of pleasure. The
possession of a tree which one has
planted and reared to fruit produc-
ton carries an added interest in it's
product as well as in the operation
by which it was. secured.
Most persons engaged in the culti-
walton of home fruit gardens will have
as their chief aim the production of
fruit for the family table, and the
pleasure it affords. Fruit growing
should claim the attention Of the pro-
Queer from early spring to late au-
tumn.
In order to secure satisfactory re-
suits in limited area devoted to
fruit culture one must know the meth
Jus Vi pruning training, ana 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, leav-
ing only smooth-cut surfaces and
healthy wood to come in contact with
the soil If a 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 below the
line of excavation. The soil placed i'm
mediately in contact with the roots
of the newly set plant should be rich
top soil. free from sod or, partially de-
cayed organic matter. Firm the soil
over the roots by trampling, as this
brings the soil particles together and