258 



Fruit Trees. — Delaware and Maryland Peninsula. Vol. V. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Fruit Trees. 



" PROCRASTINATION IS THE THIEF OF TIME." 



An interesting and sensible woman, during 

 the past winter, said to her husband ; " Now 

 do, my dear, let us plant some good fruit 

 trees the coming spring, that we may have 

 some nice fruit like neighbour H. It won't 

 cost much money or time to do it, and then it 

 will be so pleasant to see them grow and 

 flourish every year, until the time comes 

 round for us to partake of the fruits of our 

 labours. 



" The trees of neighbour H. and G. have 

 been planted but a few years, and yet they 

 now bear handsomely : oh ! what a satisfac- 

 tion and comfort it is to have plenty of good 

 fruit ; and then I have been told they have 

 each sold during the past season a hundred 

 dollars worth, independently of having a sup- 

 ply for family use, and enough for their 

 friends. What nice apples and pears those 

 were they sent us ; how our children did en- 

 joy them while they lasted ! Now do let us 

 have some of our own of the same kinds; 

 we can get them at the same nursery, a few 

 dollars will buy them, and half a day's work 

 will plant them, and then there won't be 

 much more to do than to look at them, and 

 see them grow till they bear fruit. Get a 

 couple of grape-vines at the same time, one 

 an Isabella and the other a Catawba; and I 

 should like very much to have an Elsinbo- 

 rough, they are all very hardy and grow 

 without any trouble. We will fix them in 

 the yard, where they will soon cover an ar- 

 bour, and make a handsome shade in hot 

 weather. Now do, my dear ; don't let an- 

 other season pass without getting them in the 

 ground — two weeks lost in the spring is the 

 loss of a whole year in planting trees." 



" Well ; well ; my dear, you have made so 

 good a speecli about it, it shall be as you de- 

 sire. We will have them at all hazards; I 

 will go this very week and bespeak a good 

 assortment of trees ; early and late sorts ; 

 and the vines shall be forthcoming if they 

 can be had this side of the Susquehanna. 

 There must be most of the winter apples, a 

 few trees of the early sorts will be enough 

 for house use. The sickle and the butter- 

 pear there ought to be several of, and I should 

 like very much to have a dozen quince trees, 

 they occupy but little room, are hardy, and I 

 am extravagantly fond of them in pies, either 

 green or dried, mixed with other fruit. — 

 Now, jog my memory if I should forget, for 

 I am determined to postpone this business no 

 longer — had I gone to work in earnest, ten 

 years ago, when our two neighbours planted 

 theirs, we should have now been as well off 

 for fruit as they are. Plague on thia pro- 



crastination ! I believe it is one of the worst 

 things in this wicked world — what a block- 

 head I have been ! always intending to have 

 a good orchard of fruit trees, and yet I have 

 put off planting year after year, without any 

 good reason for it whatever — and here we 

 are, growing older every day and no fruit 

 yet — when our more vigilant neighbours are 

 so bountifully supplied. Yes, fruit we will 

 have, if Providence prospers us a few years 

 longer. Aint it a most time to go to bed .' 

 why, I believe it is amost 9 o'clock." 



F. G. 



Montgomery County, Feb. 6, 1841. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Delaware and 3Iaryland Peninsula. 



Mr. Editor, — There is a subject which 

 has long claimed my attention, and as it is 

 of much interest to agriculturists generally, 

 I ask a space in the Cabinet for its considera- 

 tion. 



Whilst the people of the eastern parts of 

 Pennsylvania are desirous of obtaining land 

 for themselves and their posterity, and are 

 looking to the west for accommodation, they 

 seem entirely to have overlooked sections of 

 country nearer home, where they could be 

 far better suited in every respect. Why not 

 locate in the Peninsula formed by the States 

 of Delaware and Maryland, where land is 

 selling at from .5 to 25 dollars per acrel 

 Land that has been impoverished, it is true, 

 but the means of improvement are close at 

 hand — marl, shell-lime and other lime, can 

 be conveyed to many parts thereof at a 

 cheaper rate than to many sections of Chester 

 county, and if the demand were increased, 

 the article would be yet cheaper — witness 

 gypsum, which is always lowest in price 

 where most in use — and lime from either 

 Bay — Delaware or Chesapeake — at about the 

 same cost, and landed on almost any part of 

 the canal, can be shalloped or boated up most 

 of the inlets ; and neighbours could join and 

 make landings on the large streams. Cer- 

 tainly that peninsula will one day become a 

 rich and productive portion of the United 

 States, for where is there, naturally, a more 

 fertile section of country than along the 

 Christiana and its tributaries, as high up as 

 the tide influence extends, or where a more 

 beautiful country in every respect 1 Wil- 

 mington and its environs are remarkably beau- 

 tiful, and call forth the admiration of the tra- 

 veller ; and yet land does not sell at extrava- 

 gant prices, even within a short distance of 

 that city. I am aware that the beauty of a 

 place does not go far towards helping to pay 

 for it, yet it contributes largely in the way 

 of selling it when improved. But where is 

 there a country that has greater facilities for 



