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THE GENESEE FAEMEE. 



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Unrttriiltnrnl l)r|inrtiiititt. 



CONDUCTED BY P. BAEKY. 



GOOD CULTURE. 



In our recent meetings with fruit-growers we have observed that high culture is more 

 thought of and spoken of than formerly, and that people begin to take as much pleasure 

 in exhibiting a few varieties of remarkable fine growth and handsome appearance as 

 they have done in showing a large collection, the chief merit of which was its variety. 

 We are glad to see this, and we are glad that societies, in offering premiums to promote 

 improvement in fruit-culture, are beginning to shape their prizes so as to encourage 

 this. When our amateur cultivators all over the country withdraw their attention from 

 the exciting pursuit of novelties, and concentrate it upon the culture and management 

 of small, well chosen collections, we may expect to see some real advancement made, 

 but not until then. We would much rather pay a visit to a fruit garden in which we 

 could find ten or a dozen varieties of the very best fruits under good management, the 

 trees skillfully and tastefully trained, in a vigorous and luxuriant state of growth, with 

 fruit in the highest state of perfection, than to find fifty varieties scattered about in all 

 corners without system or order, stunted in gi-owth and half covered with weeds. One 

 well-grown ti'ee, or one dish of superior specimens of any fine fruit, gives more satisfitc- 

 tion, elicits more admiration, and confers, in our opinion, more honor on the proprietor 

 than fifty neglected trees or shabby dishes of fruit. If we listen to the remarks of 

 visitors at an exhibition, when the mass judge of things just as they are, we will be 

 convinced of the truth of this. To collect new varieties is an easy matter, if one has 

 money enough, and ground enough ; but money, unless in the employment of skill, 

 will not cultivate trees. It requires the exercise of constant care and skillful treatment; 

 and skill is only obtained by experience, observation, and industrious research. This is 

 what we want now in this country — how to feed and train trees in order to bring them 

 to the highest possible development, both of beauty and fertility. We really know 

 very little yet of what can and may be done in the growth of fruits. Occasionally we 

 see a few specimens that give us an inkling on this subject ; but the instances in which 

 such specimens are brought to light are like angels vnsits, " few and far between." 



At the late Monroe County xVgi'icultural and Horticultural Exhibition there was a 

 capital show of fruits, taken aa a whole, for the season of the year, the first day of 

 October. They were generally fair and handsome, but among them we found a few 

 articles that set us thinking. A dish of Sheldon pears, of extraordinary size and fair- 

 ness, nearly twice as large as those, even who know that variety well, supposed it ever 

 grew ; they took us and every one else by surprise, and gave us to know what the 

 Sheldon may be. These specimens were exhibited by the Hon. L. A. Ward, with 

 whom this variety has been for years an especial fovorito. We know nothing about the 

 circumstances of their culture, but we intend to ascertain if we can. This was one of 

 the most interesting items we have found at the shows of 1853. We also saw, pre- 

 sented by H. P. NouTON, Esq., of Brockport, extraordinary specimens of Glotit Marcoau, 

 Henry IV., and some others. The Olout Morccau were nearly as large again as we 

 usually see them, smooth and perfect. Henry IV., which is generally a small pear, 

 were as large as fair specimens of Viraylicu. Mr. Norton is a good cultivator, and we 

 presume the trees on which these specimens grew had nothing more than his usual cnre 

 and treatment. 



Orchardists who are growing fruits for market must reform their practice in this 



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