THE GENESEE FAKMER. 



27 



PROSPECTS OF FRUIT CULTURE. 



"Wk are liappy to i-ecord, at the conrmencement 

 of this new year, the satisfactory condition, gener- 

 ally, of fruit plantations, and the animated hopes 

 of tliose engaged in fruit culture'. The spirit of 

 kflrticulture progresses steadily and with acceler- 

 ating rapidity, among all classes of society. Its 

 practical operations and results are so attractive as 

 to claim the spare moments of the artizan, the 

 merchant, and the professional man, and engross 

 the leisure hours of the man of wealth ; while to 

 all those engaged directly in the cultivation of the 

 soil, horticulture is fast insinuating its'elf to a first 

 rank in attention and importance. Its phases and 

 its phenomena are so varied, and afford so large 

 and free a scope for investigation, for speculative 

 theories and pleasant imaginations, as to make it 

 preeminent among all pursuits as a source of men- 

 tal gratification. The increased attention which is 

 now bestowed upon fruit culture, is a result pro- 

 dufled by the actual success which, from year to 

 year, has attended it. 



As a branch of business, in very many localities 

 throughout the country, fruit culture is attracting a 

 large amount of capital and skill. Particular sec- 

 tions are found to be peculiarly adapted to certain 

 classes and varieties of fruit, and the amount of 

 information which has already been gained on this 

 subject enables the planter to proceed with much 

 confidence of final success. 



Perhaps no fruit varies more with various soils 

 and climates than the Apple ; and in the range of 

 the United States, a vast number of varieties are 

 required to supply the particular wants of all sec- 

 tions. Many new sorts have been produced, and 

 are constantly appearing, which prove themselves 

 eminently superior as local fruits. Agricultural and 

 horticultural societies also are doing much to pro- 

 mote this end ; and whoever now engages in fruit 

 culture, in any part of the country, need not go to 

 work altogether in the dark. 



The orchard planting of Apple and Pear trees in 

 the Eastern, Middle and "Western States increases 



rapidly from year to ye^r — the present year espe- 

 cially, the agricultural community seem to have 

 determined to take hold of ffuit culture in earnest. 

 The Dwarf Pear controversy, which was carried 

 on during the early part of the season, no doubt 

 attracted the attention of many to this interesting 

 class of trees, who had never before investigated 

 their claims. The requirements of these dwarf 

 trees and the causes of their failure, are beginning 

 to be better understood; the result of which, to- 

 gether with the ample evidences these trees, them- 

 selves, aftbrd of their value, has been to induce the 

 planting of large orchards of them. 



It is surprising, in the present state of horticul- 

 tural knowledge, that the subject of which Ave are 

 now speaking should have caused such hot discus- 

 sions and expressions of irritated feelings among 

 those who should have been first to explain the 

 apparent contradictory results of Dwarf Pear cul- 

 ture. The failures that have resulted with Dwarf 

 Pear trees should have been anticipated ; and now, 

 as we look back, we are surprised that intelligent 

 men could have so entirely overlooked the casual- 

 ties to which all fruit trees are subject, such as im- 

 proper propagation, wrong selection of varieties, 

 unsuitable soil, ete., as to have thoiight of univer- 

 sal and complete success with Dwarf Pear trees, or 

 have been disappointed by reports of unsuccessful 

 results. As a people, like the French, we are too 

 sanguine, and Apt to run into extremes; and this 

 characteristic we have fully exemplified in the 

 subject under consideration. 



The medium course to be pursued in this branch 

 of horticulture, has happily been found, and that 

 with results gratifying and encoui-aging, and we 

 shall expect to see numerous thrifty and valuable 

 orchards of these trees amply remunerating the 

 labor of the skilful cultivator. The planting of 

 Pear trees worked on pear stock, or as commonly 

 called standard trees, is rapidly progressing. The 

 Pear tree is found to be well suited to a large range 

 of country, and many of the most valuable sorts 

 come early into bearing. The almost fabulous 

 prices which good pears comman<l, are a tempting 

 inducement to extensive culture ; and the demand 

 for these trees at the nurseries is very great. 



The Peach crop of Western Few York failed 

 again last season, being the second of two consec- 

 utive years. The trees, however, are now in per- 

 fect health, and if the present winter should be 

 one of comparatively low temperature, we shaU 

 undoubtedly have a good crop next autumn. The 

 cause of the death of the buds, is not the extreme 

 cold directly, but the sudden alternations from mild 



