88 



THE GENESEE FARlVrER. 



Too large a proportion of tlie fruit now grown, is 

 such as quickly decays, and is, consequently, rushed 

 into the market, reducing the prices, and not giving 

 as satisfactory results tp the cultivator, as would 

 accrue from an orchard of suitably selected varieties. 

 Many of the best sorts of apples and pears now grown 

 may be kept until April and fully retain their flavor, 

 in fact, some varieties are not in perfection until that 

 time; the Pomme Grise and Russets we all know can 

 be kept until harvest apples are ripe, yet after the 

 first of January, in the greatest fruit growing 

 vicinities, the supply of apples begins to fail, and 

 by the first of April, they are nearly or quite out of the 

 market. Those making new plantations should look 

 to this point, and make such a selection of varieties as 

 would enable them to have a constant supply the year 

 round, and they will find it greatly to their advantage. 



The cultivation of the smaller fruits, raspberries, 

 strawberries, currants, gooseberries, &c., is very 

 generally neglected, and almost entirely, I must say, 

 through carelessness; where is the locality in the 

 United States, or the Canadas, where, with the 

 exception of goosberries, they may not be grown in 

 perfection, and that with little labor or time 

 bestowod upon them. Yet, how many of our farming 

 population have only enough of these fruits, to make 

 them long for more, without the possibility being 

 supplied, jnd how many more never taste them for 

 years. By some, to grow a strawberry is considered 

 an incomprehensible horticultural feat, while if they 

 would only try their hands at it, they would find it a 

 little easier than raising potatoes. 



It seems unnecessary, at this time, to refer to the 

 wholesomeness of ripe fruit, as an article of diet; we 

 all know how necessary it is to a healthy, and regular 

 condition ot the physical system,especially in the warm 

 season. Other cogent reasons may be urged for a 

 more general attention to fruit culture; as food for 

 stock, apples deserve more attention than they have 

 yet received, and when their value is more widely 

 known they will be largely used for this purpose. — 

 Let farmers and others then, plant more trees and 

 cultivate them well; they must be fed if you would 

 have them feed you; plant none but the best varieties 

 and such as you know are well adapted to your 

 particular locality, and you will have the satisfaction 

 of seeing your orchards bending with beautiful fruit, 

 and feeling your pockets heavier for your enterprise. 



Rochester, JV. Y. Pykus. 



WHY DO FARMERS SO GENERALLY NEGLECT THEIR 



GARDENS ? AND THE BEST MEANS OF 



RECTIFYING THE EVIL. 



Why do farmers so generally neglect their gardens? 

 No particular answer would, in all cases reply to this 

 question, and there are several reasons that are pro- 

 minent in my mind. With some, I think it is an in- 

 ordinate thirst for worldly gain; they are in haste to 

 become rich ; gold glistens in their eyes, and as the 

 garden brings but little of it to their coffers, (unless 

 they live near a market, where garden products find a 

 ready sale,) they deem its cultivation beneath their 

 notice. They consider the time thus spent wasted, 

 and can even sneer at their neighbor, who devotes 

 time and attention to his garden. They relish the 

 luxuries derived from this source, as well as other men. 

 And those who will scarcely raise a hill of beans, or 

 cucumbers, will devour with gusto the luxuries of the 



garden, when provided by others; and will suffer their 

 children even to make depredations upon their neigh- 

 bors' premises, with imj^unity. 



Another cause often is, want of system in their 

 business operations. They do not consider the work 

 of the garden as coming within the routine of their 

 daily labor ; no provision is made for this, in their 

 plan of operations, if indeed they have any plan, but 

 consider it a work to engage their leisure moments, 

 when no other business pres-ses. But leisure moments 

 with the thorough farmer are few, and when his busi- 

 ness is not planned and e.xecuted systematically, it is 

 generally thrown into cotil'usion. One thing crowds 

 upon another, and in the hurry and bustle, the gar- 

 den is neglected. It may be planted, perhaps in the 

 spring, but its cultivation is neglected, until the weeds 

 and grass oveirun the vegetables. A few spasmodic 

 efforts are made to subdue them, when he gives up, 

 and concludes, as Farmer Slapdash does respecting 

 fruit culture, that gardening is a humbug. 



Indolence is ofien a cause, why men neglect their 

 gardens. The process of weeding onions, or carrots, 

 or flowerbeds, is too toilsome. It is more congenial 

 to their feelings to sppnd their time in lounging in the 

 shade, in conning o^r^ the newspaper, or in idle gos- 

 sip, with their neip' ^^or. Again the labour is on too 

 small a scale to mi t their dignity ; if their wife or 

 children will do tKe labour, they will readily enjoy the 

 luxuries obtainfd by them, but cannot soil their own 

 hands with the dirty work. 



The want of a refined raral taste, is another reason 

 why horticulture is neglected. Some men have but 

 little appreciation of the beauties of nature or art ; 

 a lovely landscape has no charms for them, and a 

 garden neatly laid out, and properly cultivated, pos- 

 sesses but little more attraction than a patch of Cana- 

 da thistles, or dwarf elders ; they despise it, as well 

 as the neat gravel walk, bordered with shrubbery and 

 flowers ; they often look with pity and contempt up- 

 on the man who engages in such business ; they can 

 eat and drink, and sleep, they say, as well without them, 

 and so can the swine that would render such a scene, 

 all deformity and desolation, could they gain access 

 to it. Such I deem some of the principal reasons 

 why gardening is so much neglected. 



The cause of the evil being pointed out, the reme- 

 dy is readilv suggested. Whatever will tend to 

 counteract this thirst for vrealth, and lead men rightly 

 to appreciate the great object of existence, will lead 

 them to act in accordance with its design, and to ac- 

 quire and enjoy the blessings a wise Providence has 

 placed within their reach. In order also to prosper 

 in all our afiairs, business must be planned and exe- 

 cuted systematically. The garden must be included 

 in the plan of farm operations ; time must be set 

 apart for its cultivation, as well as for planting and 

 hoeing corn, or sowing wheat, and the cultivation 

 must be done as thoroughly. No part of the farm 

 pays better when properly cared for, than the garden; 

 it may not afford as many dollars perhaps as other 

 crops, but it affords much that renders a family com- 

 fortable, and this is of more importance than to horde 

 money for posterity to quarrel about. 



Amore general dissemination ot intelligence among 

 the farming population, particularly intelligence re- 

 specting agriculture and horticulture, would tend to 

 remedy this evil ; the man ol intelligence is more gen- 

 erally a man of refined taste, and seeks to have things 

 comfortable and pleasant around him; this knowledge 



