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SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
Inrtitultural lepartment. 
'PHE PROSPECTS OF FRUIT CUETURE. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — At no time has the 
prospects to the fruit culturist at the South been so promis- 
ing as at the present; not only has it been demonstrated 
that every variety can be cultivated with greater success, 
in regard to size, quality, quantity and durability of the 
trees, than at the North; but that they can, and are, as 
we“asserted some 5 or 6 years since, finding a ready and 
profitable market in the Northern cities. Not only is the 
present market a profitable one, but will increase in profit- 
ableness from year to year, from the fact that both the 
apple and peach trees there have become so enfeebled and 
diseased that a great number of hitherto cultivators are 
abandoning the business of cultivating fruit for market ; 
not on account of low price, (for good fruit has never sold 
»o high as it has the present season) but on account of the 
failure of the trees. 
We saw a paragraph in the New York Journal of Com- 
taerce^ stating that their market had, at no one time, been 
so well, cheaply and abundantly supplied, as when the 
supply came from the Southern States ; and so it must 
henceforth continue, if those living along the lines of our 
Railroads leading to the cities of Charleston and Savannah 
will engage in its culture. It is no w but some 6 to 8 years 
since our Southern friends began to pay attention to this de- 
partment of husbandry, and with such facts and prospects 
before them, with such a revolution as has already taken 
place, all should be encouraged to go on ond perfect it, 
until the mint of wealth the North has received from the 
South for the space of fity years or more for fruit and trees, 
shall roll back with interest. 
That they must and are annually becoming more and 
more dependent upon as for a supply, is being acknow- 
kdged by those residing there, who are capable of judg- 
ing, and whose opinions are entitled to full confidence. 
With the diminution of quantity raised in the North, to- 
gether with the rapid increase of population, it is but 
reasonable to suppose the augmentation in prices from 
year to year ; as it is, no business affords a fairer profit, 
and were we located along on the line of either of the 
aforesaid Railoads, our whole efforts would be to culti- 
vate fruit for Northern markets. 
Thus far we have viewed the subject in a pecuniary 
point; there is another, of superior attraction with us; 
which is an abundant supply for domestic use; no one 
article ofdiet is more conducive to health and pleasure 
than an abundance of good fruit; there is no substitute to 
be found for it, and as we become accustomed to the use of 
k ad libitum, then only can we realize and appreciate 
the loss when deprived of it. 
As the planting of orchards is but a small item of expense 
or labor, many defer it from year to year. To such we 
would say, you are little aware of the comfort and plea- 
sure you are depriving yourselves and families of, by pro- 
crastinating this small amount of labor and expense until, 
perhaps, the accidental enjoyment shall be thrust upon 
you by a visit to some friend who has had sufficient liber- 
ality and sagacity, to forestall you in the matter 
J. Van Buren. 
Clarksville, Nov., 1858. 
Mice Eating Trees. — A good protection may be had 
by using two pieces of two-inch tile. Placing them to- 
gether so as to encircle the tree, an efficient safeguard is 
obtained. At the bottom they may be held together by 
a pyramid of earth, or fastened top and bottom with a 
small-sized annealed wire, as mice eat off an ordinary 
string. Tile of this size, or larger when the trees require 
k, are uot very expensive, if preserved for future use. 
HOW YOUNG HORTICUETURE CLEANED 
and Manured his Orchard, 20 
Acres in 20 Minutes ! 
Editors Southern Cultivator— A recent article from 
Mr. Hardin, of Atlanta, touching the value of Charcoal 
as an application to the roots of Fruit Trees, and particu- 
larly as an antidote to ‘‘ Aphis,” tempts me to expose a 
plan of culture of which the above is a fitting caption. 
I believe you are aware that young H. started in (pomo- 
logical) life with a determination to have the best orchard 
obtainable by love (of the subject) or money; that ho 
therefore selected a nice plateau on a lofty ridge, still in 
its native oaks and hickories ; that these were cut down, 
and cut up, and burned in the immense holes, which are 
a prominent feature in that young gentleman’s operations. 
Here, then, was a fair start in the way of “ ground work.” 
The trees you know something about ; but I will here in- 
troduce a hint for those who never heard the “ echo sto- 
ry,” viz: that of all men, the Nursery-man is the most 
responsive to liberal treatment ! 
Now for the 2:40 horti-cultivation above indicated. It 
was eflfected by harnessing the world’s ancient (and fu- 
ture) enemy, Fire ! 
Remark the word, harness. 
Then, no wheel, no hoof, no crop were allowed in that 
enclosure. It was sacred to Pomona, and I never heard 
that “Ceres” looked solemn or “Flora” pouted at their re- 
striction to more suitable quarters. 
Each tree was presented with a fee simple title to so 
much land as it could shadow over; with two feet ad- 
ditional diameter to allow for the spread of the outside 
grass roots. Within this circle, no sign of vegetation was 
allowed to show itself Outside, the grass was encouraged 
to grow by an occasional setting down of the most ob- 
trusive weeds. 
As this grass was seeding, it was carelessly cut over, 
and carelessly raked, so as to leave a layer of litter over 
the ground. Quite a quantity of hay was thus housed, 
vice “ shucks,” resigned. 
Of course, the first shower brought on a new crop, 
feebler than the first, but sufficient for the fate that awaited 
it. 
For, when the first light frost had slightly browned it, 
the torch of the incendiary was applied to the underlying 
dry grass of the previous cutting. 
Then— fancy “4th of July” and “Christmas” come to- 
gether ! fancy “Civil War” among the Pigmies, and all 
Liliput in an uproar ! fancy China exploding seriatim, 
the world’s supply of “poppers,” and you’ll fancy the 
“feu de joie” which attended the inauguration of a new 
era. 
Observe that the standing grass was too green to bum 
fiercely ; it was merely levelled in “long swept waves” be- 
fore the under^ress combustion, and was only in part 
consumed; though I fancy a variety of insects, eggs, 
chrysalids, mice, etc., did not get off in an under-done 
condition. 
The appearance of the ground now is this : A fine 
layer of charcoal all over the surface, overlaid by a thin, 
brown mat of scorched grass ; into which the golden 
roots of the Dukes and Beurres, Pearmains and Pippins, 
Crawfords and Columbias, are penetrating on all sides. 
This “ mat” is also to be held in reserve against the 
encroachment of Jack Frost in the spring; though no 
danger could result from an accidental conflagration at 
any time. 
In conclusion, I hope that nobody will gather from the 
above that Young H. merely “ lets the grass grow in his 
orchard and burns it over in the fall” — for he doesn't do 
any such thing ! 
And is, very respectfully, yours, Y, H. 
Near Columbus, Christmas, 1858. 
