92 STATE POMOLOarCAL SOCIKTY. 



We have now one-fourth of an acre of standard pears in orchard 

 form, planted one by one rod apart, with a dwarf in the centre of 

 each square, and one-half of an acre more to be planted in the 

 spring The land is well plowed, dressed and under-drained. We 

 huA'e also one acre of strawberries, in good condition, well mulched 

 and now covered with boughs ; also an abundance of black cap 

 raspberries, besides currants, gooseberries, plums and cherries. 



Frdit Growing in Connection with General Farming. 



ESSAY BY JOSEPH TAYLOR OP BELGRADE. 



Of all the industrial pursuits among men, for the life-giving sus- 

 tenance of the human family, agriculture is the parent. From our 

 mother earth is derived the supply needful for our phj^sical wants ; 

 and fruit growing is but one of the many branches of agriculture ; 

 yet I deem it one of its most important branches, — especially in 

 the cultivation of such fruits as are native or best adapted to the 

 soil and climate in which they are to be cultivated ; and much of 

 our northern temperate zone seems to be especially congenial to 

 the cultivation of apples, pears, and many of the smaller fruits. 

 But especially do I place the apple culture, and its yield, for gen- 

 eral use, and for profit to the grower, at the head of all the varie- 

 ties of fruits that are grown in our own State, and as a part of 

 the business of farming I think there is no one branch so remuner- 

 ative to the cultivator as that of apple raising, considering the 

 outlay for cultivation, I am aware that man cannot live by apples 

 alone, but inasmuch as "money answereth all things" he can sell 

 his apples for money, with which he can buy more bread and other 

 necessaries for his family than could be obtained for the same 

 outlay of time and labor in any other branch of farming. I am 

 aware also that choice fruit-bearing trees do not spring up spon- 

 taneously in our own country, but need to be planted by the hand 

 of man and nurtured by the skill and with the care of the culti- 

 vator ; and a lack of these important requisites is the principal 

 cause why there is such a failure in successful fruit growing. It 

 is true there are many destructive insects that prey upon our fruit 

 trees and fruit. Some of them may be considered as almost 

 chronic afflictions, but many are itinerants, and rage only at inter- 

 vals, and in particular localities at the same time. Such was the 

 case with the caterpillar last year.- That species known as the 

 Forest tree caterpillar, is, of all the insect tribe, the most insidi- 



