180 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
And now because the vine and peach cannot bear 
twenty-five degrees below zero, because some localiiies 
are infested with the borer, or the blight ; because one sort 
of fruit does not succeed all over the Union, in damp and 
dry, cold and warm soils alike, shall we abandon their cul- 
ture altogether 'I 
This year the pear, the apple and the peach are failures 
in a large portion of the Union, although I saw splendid 
crops all over the South. The cherry and the grape failed, 
and even the blackberry was scarce ; is that a sufficient 
reason to write against these crops when the field crops 
are in a still more precarious condition % All we have to 
do is to study our climate, our horizontal and vertical lati- 
tudes, our peculiar situations, our soils and its constituents, 
in order to find out the aptitude of our localities, to pro- 
duce certain sorts of fruit ; to look out for hardy, prolific, 
varieties among every species of fruits ; to study the wants 
and resources of the markets, and my word for it, gentle- 
men, fruit cultivation will prove to be as profitable as any 
other business, now that every business has proved so 
fallacious and so uncertain. 
The profits of the farm, orchard, or vineyard, although 
uncertain, and exposeed to many failures, are, just now, 
as good and as much to be depended upon as the profits 
of good commercial transactions. Let us not discard a 
fruit tree because it does not yield a certain profitable crop 
every year, or because it is subject to a few diseases, or 
inconveniencies. What are these compared to the dread- 
ful scourges of the field crops, the rot, the hessian fly, the 
rust, the cotton worm, the mould, the heavy rains or fresh- 
ets, the protracted drouths, which yearly destroy thou- 
sands of acres of wheat, potatoes, cotton, &c , while, in 
the same soil, the sturdy apple tree, the vine or peach 
tree, plunge their roots deep into the subsoil, and live, 
thrive and yield crops in the middle of the ruins of the 
withered or rotten products of the fields. 
I will repeat again : let us find out what kind of fruit 
is suited to our locality and what varieties are to be select- 
ed in that family ; let us only cultivate the most vigorous 
among the good varieties, and not vainly struggle against 
nature’s laws, in obstinately cultivating fruits unfitted for 
ihe location, or only good for the catalogue of an amateur. 
Let us consider that fruit cultivation requires as much 
book farming as corn or clover crops, although many 
think it sufficient to stick a poor tree, on which a poor 
variety has been budded, in a poorly prepared soil; and, 
because it is a tree^ is expected to grow in opposition to 
all the laws of nature, and under a treatment, which they 
should be ashamed to give to a corn ora potato hill. Let 
us not discourage others because a few of us have failed 
in some of our expectations. The field is large, and the 
resources in varieties of fruit immense. Let us, in respect 
to fruits, stick to the motto of our learned and experienced 
President, ^^eternal vigilance.''^ This ought to be, and is 
indeed the maxim of every enterprising mind. It is the 
price of fruk, as well as of liberty. Without persistence, 
obstinacy, renewed efforts in cases of failure, nothing can 
be achieved ; and the great wonder of our age, the Atlan- 
tic Cable, would be still ^^subjudice,^ a mere matter of 
polmics and learned discussions, were it not for that glori- 
ous obstinacy of one of the most distinguished sons of 
Massachusetts. 
We have a wide area, a better climate, generally speak- 
ing, for fruit crops than Europe; I can safely state that 
having seen more fruits of the choice kinds in a single ex- 
hibition in Boston or Rochester, than in twenty of the best 
exhibitions of Europe, where at least fifty fruit trees are 
cultivated upon a given space for one growing here; 
where (as in Germany) the Governments compel the 
farmer to plant the roadsides with fruit trees, for the 
benefit and relief ©f the poor or thirsty travellers. Why 
shall we turn in disgust from that source of health and 
uxury, because a few fail, and write their impressions 
in a bitter mood of disappointment'! The successful fruit 
grower enjoys the satisfaction, pockers the money, and 
says not much ; he knows that a fruit tree requires no 
more trouble or extra care than a few cotton plants or a 
cabbage; pays better, lasts longer, and, in a compared 
series of seasons, has paid five times more for the place 
occupied, than the very best of his market produce, with 
perhaps not half the expense. Let us keep up the fruit 
culture, or some of our neighbors will supply our mar- 
kets ; let us try every variety ; what has been done years 
ago can be done again ; better arid more hardy sorts of 
fruits can take the place of old varieties ; and chiefly let 
us consider that fruit is as necessary an article in the 
markets as any of the products of our fields or gardens. 
The exportation of our apples to Europe proves that fact 
conclusively. 
“PRUNING FRUIT TREES.’? 
Editor Southern Cultivator — In your May number 
is an article from the pen of Mr. J. Van Buren, on the sub- 
ject of Pruning Fruit Trees. I call attention to the article 
not for the purpose of controverting any opinions therein 
expressed, but to elicit from the writer something more 
definite on a subject of sq much importance. It is very 
generally agreed among Southern orchardists that young 
trees give most satisfaction to the planter. It is, also, 
agreed that these trees should be trained with low heads, 
and that, to do this effectually, they should be headed 
back, when set out, to a height of about three feet. 
Well, all right so far. “Young Horticulture,” we will 
suppose, has made a purchase of vigorous maiden trees, 
has set them out and topped them a la mode, ‘ and with 
evident self-satisfaction foncies himself” at the end of the 
most troublesome part of the job. Soon, however, a diffi- 
culty arises. His vigorous trees throw out branches from 
bottom to top. What shall he do”? 
He has heard that the leaves are the lungs of a plant, 
that by them the sap is elaborated and made fit for its use 
and that, in short, its very existence depends upon them. 
He wishes his plant to become well established. An 
abundance of leaves will accomplish his object. He wishes 
the body to become stocky that it may withstand severe 
winds. Branches distributed along it will secure the end 
desired. The first year is peculiarly trying to his tree. 
He does not wish to take a single step in a wrong direc- 
tion. He consults the horticultural savans. 
One says : “Rub off all shoots as they appear, except 
such as you wish to form the head.” 
Another : “Pinch out the terminal buds of such branches 
as will not be needed in giving the tree the required shape, 
cutting them off after the first year.” 
A third: “Give all the shoots an equal chance the first 
year, afterwards trimming to your notion.” 
And still a fourth : ‘ Cut off the top, and forever after 
let it alone.” 
These opinions are set forth in something like the above 
language the different horticultural schools. 
Now, “Young Horticulture” is sorely perplexed. Will 
Mr. Van Buren say what is the proper manner for prun- 
ing a tree after it has been topped back '? 
Mr. V, B., also, gives the approved plan for pruning 
peach trees, viz : That they should be shortened about 
half their growth annually. Is that all that is necessary '? 
Will they not become more like hedge-plants tnan fruit 
trees, unless something else is done'? Will not the very 
compact heads induced by this mode of trimming require 
considerable thinning out, that sufficient light may find its 
way to “the interior of the tree '?” 
In behalf of “Young Horticulture,” I respectfully ask 
the above questions. Standing merely as a querist, I ex- 
press no opinion of my own. R. B Keon. 
Collierville, Shelby County, Tenn., May, 1859. 
