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THE QfiNESflE FARMER. 



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respect. Full one-half of tlie orchard fruits produced in this country are unmarketable 

 on account of the defective culture and management of the trees. A few individuals 

 who do give their business thorough attention, realize profits that are incredible to care- 

 less growers. One man sells his fruits readily for three or four times what another can 

 obtain with difficulty. No other branch of rural aftairs whatever offers such profits, 

 and at the same time such pleasures, as the cultivation of fruits if done properly ; a 

 careless, half-way system will, as in all. other pursuits, be unsatisfactory. A multitude 

 of persons have embarked in fruit-culture with a view to profit, apparently under the 

 belief that trees can take care of themselves, or pretty much so, until they have attained 

 a productive state. They are planted and left there ; the ground cropped and cultivated 

 as though no-trees were there, and no one who knows what a tree is, or what it requires, 

 is appointed to look after them. At the end of a few years, about the time that an 

 income was expected, we hear a grumbling about the trees not doing well, &c., &c. 

 People must know that it is useless to plant large orchards without having competent 

 persons whose special business it will be to cultivate and take care of them. We must not 

 be told that it will not pay, for we know it will pay, and we know that it will not pay to 

 neglect them. Every fruit tree requires certain attention nearly every month in the 

 year. It may be trifling, to be sure, but good culture is made ud of a series of opera- 

 tions in themselves but apparent trifles. 



HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE FAIR AT SARATOGA 



The department of horticulture at Saratoga suffered many and serious inconveniences- 

 First, no timely arrangements were made, all being postponed till the day on which 

 the Fair was announced to open. Second, the tent which belongs to that department 

 failed to arrive ; and third and worst of all, it rained during all of the first day. This 

 was a gloomy, melancholy day among the exhibitors who had, many of them, traveled 

 a long journey, and were unable to unpack their fruits and flowers, although aware that 

 they were suffering seriously. The second day, however, shown out bright and warm. 

 Another tent was substituted for the missing one, and was soon raised. Then the eager 

 exhibitors went to work, and in less than an hour the entire ranges of shelves were 

 covered with fruits and flowers. Committees of arrangements, including ladies, had 

 some embellishments ready made, and they sprung up in the center of the tent as if by 

 magic. Still, there were large contributions of both fruits and flowers for which no 

 place could be found, and the general arrangement was hurried and defective. But 

 after all, the show was a good one — in many respects one of the best the Society has 

 yet made. 



The display of fruit was exceedingly interesting and instructive. Visitors, as they 

 passed around, seemed to be at once surprised and delighted. It afforded very gratify- 

 ing evidence of the progress we are making in fruit culture. Many of the collections 

 were rare and valuable, the specimens unusually fine, and, with a few exceptions, 

 accurately named and tastefully exhibited. Among amateurs, the collections of D. T. 

 Vail, Esq., of Troy, had no rival. It embraced some eighty varieties of pears, remark- 

 ably well grown, 'and including many of the finest new sorts — such as Duchesse 

 d' Orleans, Beurre d'Anjou, Beurre Siqjcrfin, &c. Probably no other amateur cultiva- 

 tor in this State could bring forward such a collection. 



The nurserymen made a very spirited and creditable display. Messrs. Hovet, & Co., 

 of Boston, sent a fine collection of 150 varieties of pears. This, we believe, was the 

 only foreign contribution. Messrs. A. Saul <fe Co., of Newburgh ; Wilson, Thorbtjrn, 

 & Teller, of Albany ; Thorp, Smith, Hanchett & Co., of Syracuse ; John Morse, of j r 



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