702 ANNUAL RE2PORT- OF THE Off. DoC, 



tluil was covorod witli rocks, stones and stumps, cut up by roads 

 and washed gullies, 1 have to day what Kev. Lan, former pastor of 

 the Lutheran Church in this place, called a paradise on earth. I« 

 there any secret as to how 1 have done this? No. By planting va- 

 rieties that had been tried and not found wanting, saving and apply- 

 ing all the fertilizer I could get, cultivating, pruning and caring for 

 my trees and vines, is the only secret I know. You may ask why did 

 I start on a rough, broken piece of land. The one word, poverty, 

 explains it all. ^Yanting a home of my own, with no capital but a 

 wife and babies — and really w hat more does a man need — I started 

 in and have been fairly successful. 



Go with me in thought, if you please, to the old Luper tannery. 

 Some of you who are here to-day will recall the tine orchardis there 

 while this tannery was in operation. What are they to-day, and 

 why? Utterly worthless as orchards. Cause, neglect. Come with 

 me on around the ridge to what was at one time the old Jacob Gut- 

 shall farm. Within my recollection these were two as fine orchards 

 along the side of the ridge as could be found anywhere. To-day the 

 trees are nearly all dead and the ground covered with locust and 

 briers. Would this be the case if fertilizers had been used and the 

 ground thoroughly cultivated? You may say the reason wdiy these 

 orchards are no longer good is because they were planted in new 

 soil; that the land is worn out. True, but to be successful in fruit 

 culture we must keep the soil as near as possible in the condition 

 it was when first planted. Go into the woods where fire and stock 

 have not been allowed to destroy. Examine the coat of decaying 

 leaves covering the ground. Compare it with your own orchard, 

 then wonder why your trees are not doing any good. 



I cannot in the short time given me go into details as regards 

 spraying, planting, etc. The Department of Agriculture or State 

 College will send you bulletins, if you ask them, making this all 

 clear. Study nature in selecting soil and planting trees. A soil 

 upon which the chestnut will grow be it ever so dry and sandy will 

 grow peach. Where hickory and other hard woods grow the apple, 

 pear, cherry, etc., will thrive. 



There is not a farm in this community but has enough waste 

 ground around the buildings to grow all the fruit needed for family 

 use. Y"et one half our farmers either buy their fruit or do with- 

 out. Cause, neglect. Trying to raise stock and trees on the same 

 ground, fail to fertilize and cultivate their ground, then blame Provi 

 dence or the other fellow for their failures. 



I would like to look and write on the bright side of this picture, 

 but my paper is long enough. Let us wake up, read, think and work 

 more, and success in fruit culture will be ours. 



PLEASURES OF FARM LIFE. 



By MBS. DR. N. A. WBRTMAN. SchmcksviUe, Pa. 



There is no business or occupation which has more beauty or 

 pleasure in it than farming. And no occupation implants so speedy 

 and effectual a love of peace, as country life. The city has its charms 



