YORK CHINESE GARDENING. 



607 



cattle, horses, sheep and general farm products. In 

 hay, especially, does it excel. Every year thousands 

 of tons of baled timothy are shipped to the less favorable 

 localities. 



The orchards and gardens of this section are young, 

 emphatically so, there being very few of any consider- 

 able area over six years old, and many, by far the 

 greater portion, have been planted but two, three and 

 four years. It was the productiveness of a few old 

 orchards of ten or fifteen years, some old berry patches 

 of a dozen or two bushes and vines, that pointed out to 

 some sharp-eyed easterners the natural adaptability of 

 the valley to fruit culture. Since then, only a te\N 

 years ago, it is marvelous what an acreage of trees, 

 bushes and vines has been planted, when we consider 

 the markets, transportation facilities and population 

 of that section. 



The plantings of apples include chiefly the follow- 

 ing : Ben Davis, Tompkins King, Swaar, Early Harvest, 

 Red June, Pearmain (?), Pippins, Hawley, R. I. Green- 

 ing ; of pears, Bartlett, Clapp's Favorite; of plums, 

 Italian (prune), Hungarian (prune), d'Agen (prune) ; 

 of peaches, the only one, practically, is the French. 

 This originated in the valley from a sprout set out by a 

 Mr. French in '69. He had purchased some peach 

 trees the year previous, and these having died, he 

 allowed some vigorous looking sprouts to take their 

 place, and from these, when they bore, he selected this 

 variety, which gives universal satisfaction in this section. 

 It is an early cling, ripening in July ; the blush is very 

 inviting and the flesh is of excellent flavor. Of cherries. 

 Napoleon* (locally known as Royal Ann), Luelling"-' (lo- 

 cally known as Black Republican), Bigarreau* (locally 

 known as Yellow Spanish) and Early Richmond ; of 

 raspberries, red and black — no names for varieties ; of 

 blackberries, Lawton, Snyder, Evergreen ; of straw- 

 berries, Jucunda, Wilson. Currants and gooseberries 



are grown without any special care, as they are not in 

 much demand in the market. 



At present there is an excellent local market for all 

 fruit grown. For example, during the past year the fol- 

 lowing fruits sold per pound at the given prices : 

 apples, 2C. ; pears, 5c.; plums, 2C.(w^c. ; peaches, 8c. @ 

 loc; cherries, IOC. , sold in gallon boxes; raspberries 

 and blackberries at same prices. AH fruit is sold 

 green, save a little for home use. Large fruit is sold 

 by weight, small fruit by the gallon. 



Although strawberry culture has received especial 

 attention during the past few years, it has had a much 

 longer run than the larger fruits. James Hendershott, 

 the State Horticultural Commissioner for the Fifth 

 District, has two acres from which he gathers, on an 

 average, 400 gallons per acre. These sell readily at 50 

 cents per gallon, marketed in returnable gallon boxes, 

 costing 2.V2 cents. The dimensions of the boxes are 

 6x4x12 inches. Women and children do most of the 

 picking and receive 5 and 6 cents per gallon. He culti- 

 vates in rows which are four feet apart and plants 20 

 inches in the row. The soil is not stirred from the time 

 of blossoming till after fruit is all gathered. The most 

 remarkable feature of the system of culture is that the 

 plants are renewed only once every six years. He is 

 convinced that by this method are the best results ob- 

 tained. 



When these younger orchards and gardens come into 

 bearing, there will be ample facilities for transportation 

 to outside markets. As a large section of the country 

 adjacent to this valley abounds in mineral wealth, there 

 will be near markets for all products for years to come. 

 Then, besides, it is no great distance to that "great 

 west where fruits, apparently, will not grow." 



E. R. L/^KE. 



*These three cherries are quite universally known throughout 

 the state by their local names. 



NEW YORK CHINESE GARDENING. 



HE IMMENSE range of 

 vegetable production 

 in China is represent- 

 ed in this country to 

 an increasing extent 

 in different localities. 

 The Chinese gardens 

 of San Francisco and 

 at the south already 

 form a feature of 

 marked interest in 

 American horticulture. Preliminary tests of Chi- 

 nese vegetables on Long Island also give results 

 of practical value. This branch of gardening was 

 first undertaken there about three years ago, and 

 the Chinese gardens located in that quarter are able 



to supply the Mongolian population of New York 

 with at least twenty varieties of their native 

 vegetables. 



The product, reaching Mott street semi-weekly during 

 the summer, is sought by Chinamen from every section 

 of the city, the table of the consul being largely pro- 

 vided from this source. There are three of these 

 gardens under cultivation at Astoria, another fa?- yucn 

 tilled at Woodhaven, and the industry shows a gradual 

 advancement each season. 



The Chinese methods in horticulture are naturally 

 somewhat modified in this vicinity. American imple- 

 ments of scientifically approved character are used, the 

 soil being, nevertheless, frequently enriched as in the 

 environs of Canton, instead of a western metropolis. 

 Their system of cultivation is very precise, being con- 

 ducted with the greatest care and diligence. The occu- 



