THE GENESEE FARMER. 



27 



all natural inanures, supplies in least quantity. If the 

 orchard could have a dressinp; of fifty bushels of un- 

 icached ashes, per acre, and an equal quantity of 

 lime plowed under early in the sprins^, and then a top 

 dressing of two hundrpd pounds of i'eruvian guano, 

 sown broadcast and harrowed thoroughly in, and be 

 then sown to peas, which are plowed under when in 

 blossom, or eaten off, on the land, by hogs, the soil 

 would be more speedily enriched than if the guano 

 Lad not been used. ■ Still, plowing under a good coat 

 of barn-yard manure, will, in most cases be a cheaper 

 mode of renovating the site of an old orchard than 

 any other plan we can think of. 



IS THE CULTIVATIOX OF ERUIT ON A MOKE 

 EXTENDED SCALE DESIRABLE? 



The answer to this question appears so self-evi- 

 dent, that after stating a few facts, but little remains 

 to be said. 



First, an abundance of good ripe fruit is admitted 

 by all physiologists to be eminently essential to the 

 preservation of health. This being the case, it be- 

 comes the duty and privilege of every one owning a 

 spot of laud, however small, (if not otherwise more 

 profitably employed) to cause it to produce fruit in 

 the greatest quantity, and of the best quality, so 

 that, after his own wants are supplied he may have 

 some to spare for those whose circumstances prevent 

 them from producing it themselves. 



At present the supply of good fruit is so limited 

 that mechanics and others depending on their labor 

 for maintenance are compelled to use an inferior arti- 

 cle, unripe and unwholesome, or to do without. In 

 either case the health sudfers, and the affluent do 

 not enjoy it as fully as would be desirable. 



The objections often urged against fruit-growing 

 that it is a business which does not immediately 

 make profitable returns, and that it is uncertain and 

 precarious, are prompted by ignorance. The more 

 common and hardy kinds, as the apple, pear, grape, 

 &c., are easily raised, and with less real hard labor 

 than most of the grains or vegetables. Procure a 

 good variety, plant it with care, and a very little 

 trouble thereafter will insure success. 



The glutting of the market is another bugbear. 

 This, it must be admitted, ha.s sometimes been the 

 case in plentiful years, in the neighborhood of or- 

 chards, while, at the same time, thousands at the 

 West, and elsewhere, have suffered for want of the 

 surplus. The remedy for this will be found in a 

 better knowledge of the benefit to health derived 

 from the daily use of fruit, (instead of being consid- 

 ered an extravagant luxury,) and also in the increas- 

 ing means of transportation. 



In the case of this, as in that of every other arti- 

 cle of real value, the demand will keep pace with the 

 supply. 



Then let every landholder "plant a tree," if no 

 more, take proper care of it, and let no one dissuade 

 from planting largely, and with the spread of light 

 and knowledge, he will find an increasing demand for 

 his crops at just and remunerating prices, himself 

 and the world being mutually benefitted. 



Crockett. 



m I ■! 



All paths should be clean, and the edges of beds 

 and borders should be even ; the paths, and the 

 beds and borders, should be well defined, and paths 

 kept high and dry in the middle. 



THE YELLOW LOCUST TREE, 



One of your correspondents asks "how to raise tha 

 locust tree from seed, the time to plant, etc" 1 

 offer you the following answer: 



Get the seeds from the trees in the fall, (though 

 they sometimes remain on the trees uninjured over 

 winter,) and keep in a cool, dry^place until spring. 

 If kept warm and dry they will not vegetate as cer- 

 tainly and. speedily. This is true of all hard-shelled 

 seeds. Prepare the ground as for com, and any soil 

 fit for corn will grow the locust tree. Mark out drills 

 four feet apart, and plant from four to six inches 

 along the rows. Put the seed in a vessel and pour 

 boiling water upon them; let them stand twenty-four 

 hours, and those which have swollen slightly will 

 come up the first year. Pick these out for planting, 

 and pour more hot water on the remainder, letting 

 the seed stand another day, when the gi-eater paft 

 will be ready for use. Cover about one inch deep 

 with mellow soil, and the plants will soon appear. 

 May is the proper month in which to plant. 



The cultivation should be such as is given to root 

 crops. Keep the ground mellow, and free from 

 weeds. Some of the young trees will be fit to trans- 

 plant the next spring, others a yeai- later. Give 

 them a fair chance, and they will grow and do w^ell, 

 unless, as in some localities, the borer attacks them. 



As a ropid-growing timber tree, the locust is of 

 high value. No other bard wood can be raised as 

 quick — at least, we are acquainted with Do»e. Its 

 use for posts, for carpenter work, for fuel, etc., is not 

 very extensive, because, though a few trees are grown 

 in almost every neighborhood, it is seldom found in 

 any quantity, to supply such demand. It would be 

 well to plant it more extensively, to fill up the waste 

 corners of our farms with it. Once planted, it pro- 

 pagates itself by sprouts and suckers, and retains 

 possession of the soil, unless special pains are taken 

 lor its eradication. M. L. J. — Dec, 1856. 



PEACHES. 



The December number of the Genesee Farmer h 

 at hand. In the proceeding of the Pomological 

 Corvention, on the discussion on Peaches, the merits 

 of the Tillotson was discussed. There seem to be 

 different opinions as to its qualities. With me it has 

 always done well, and is considered the best early 

 peach we have, ripening some days before the Early 

 York in the same situation. I received it fiom the 

 nursery of Thomas & Smith, Macedon, Wayne co.. 

 N. Y., several years ago, with a number of othei 

 kinds. The original tree is still living and healthy 

 and bears good crops when the winter is not too se- 

 vere. Varieties differ much in their ability to resist 

 the efiects of cold, the soil and situation being the 

 same. I have one variety named Seabolt, which is 

 the greatest bearer I have, a good freestone peach, 

 ripening with the White Imperial. The Yellow 

 Alberge is also a great bearer, but not so valuable 

 on account of being yellow fleshed. I have some 

 seedlings that promise to be of great value on ac- 

 count of their season of ripening ; one being very 

 early, another very late. The late one is a white 

 fleshed peach, ripe Oct. 1st, and very juicy. We 

 had a fair crop of peaches in this place the past 

 season, notwithstanding the severe winter. Isaac 

 1 Clement. — Halfkioon, Sa7-atoga Co., JV. F. 



