FARMING ON A BUSINESS BASIS. 
A W K 8 T K K N N K W YORK FARM VISITED. 
Fruits, Potatoes, Steers and Lambs. 
Perhaps no portion of western New York possesses 
more natural advantages for the production of the 
varied farm products adapted to this latitude than the 
county of (lenesee. About midway between the N. Y. 
C. and the W. S. R. R.’s, passing through the town 
of Ryron, is located the farm occupied by \V. II. 
Green & Son. This farm of 390 acres, the higher and 
greater portion of which is composed of a friable, 
light, gravelly clay loam with natural drainage, slopes 
gently to the east, where a more clayey soil predomi¬ 
nates, with a heavy clay sub.soil. The Greens were 
in former years, and at the present time are, quite 
extensively engaged in growing the different grains 
to which their farm is so well adapted. Rut, owing 
to the depressed 
condition of this 
farm industry, and 
the consequent 
change that must 
eventually be 
made in their en¬ 
tire system of 
farming, are just 
now giving their 
attention more 
particularly to the 
cultivation of a 
limited variety of 
fruits. 
What Pears Do. 
Located con- 
veniently near 
their dwellings, is 
their Duchess pear 
orchard, which for 
many years has 
been noted for its 
remarkable p r o - 
ductiveness and 
profitable out¬ 
come. During the 
month of Novem¬ 
ber, I found VV. 11. 
Green, with saw 
and pruning 
shears busily en¬ 
gaged in the an¬ 
nual work of prun¬ 
ing the pear trees. 
Mr. Green was 
asked if he 
thought it advis¬ 
able to prune at 
so early a period, so long before the usual time—the 
early spring months. 
“We are aware that this method is not strictly in 
line with rules laid down by horticulturists generally, 
but it is one which we have practiced with most favor¬ 
able results for several years, and then we are relieved 
of just so much during the hurry and rush of other 
spring work.” 
A noticeable feature of this orchard was the low 
spreading tops of the trees ; the result of severe cut¬ 
ting back, and thinning out of all superfiuous 
branches, thus enabling one to pick the fruit while 
standing on the ground. Adjoining this pear orchard 
was an apparently well-cared-for apple orchard. In 
answer to the inquiry, which of the two was found the 
more profitable, Mr. Green replied, that in the year 
1874, he planted the apple orchard of 28(5 trees of choice 
varieties, Baldwins principally, occupying seven 
acres, and at the same time planted his pear orchard of 
750 trees on acres. The aggregate sales of fruit 
from both orchards, including the present year, were 
$5,787. The sales from the apple orchard were $400, 
and those from the pear orchard, $5,387, being over 
$100 per acre annually since the trees were planted. 
“ What cultivation has been given your pear orchard 
during this time ? ” 
“For the first eight years it was cultivated, and 
some hoed crop grown ; but since that time no cultiva¬ 
tion has been given, though a liberal mulch of straw 
and barnyard manure has been applied annually.” 
“ Do you claim that this is the wisest course to pur¬ 
sue, and would not better results have been obtained 
had applications of mineral manures been made from 
time to time ? ” 
‘ ‘ Possibly ; but meeting with such phenomenal 
success by following out this cour.se, although con¬ 
trary to scientific teaching, we can but speak well of 
the bridge that carries us safely over. Yes, our ex¬ 
perience is that after taking into consideration all 
that is required for fair succe.ss in growing these fruits, 
there is more money in pears at $1 per barrel than in 
apples at $2. On that basis, we planted last spring 
an orchard of 1,270 trees, and are contemplating in¬ 
creasing the number the coming spring to 3,000, all 
dwarf stock.” 
“In the work of planting these trees, has the com¬ 
paratively new theory been regarded requiring the 
planting of alternate rows of different varieties for a 
more perfect fertilization of the blossoms ? ” 
“ Our late planting consists of four varieties, 
planted in the following order : One row of Duchess, 
one of Keiffer, three of Clairgeau, and one of Anjou. 
Although an experiment, we hope for good results.” 
In a large inclosure adjoining the hennery, was a 
collection of fruit trees, evidently receiving excel¬ 
lent care, and making a strong, luxuriant growth. On 
inquiry 1 learned that they were the German prune. 
“ The succe-ssful results attending the planting of 
this fruit by one of our townsmen, induced us to plant 
200 trees. From the fact that fowls are a common 
insect destroyer, we deeided to plant them here. 
Fruit is anticipated the coming year: a liglit crop, 
however, it being the first.” 
The Story of a Potato Crop. 
Reference being made to the cultivation of potatoes, 
Mr. Green led the way to the cellar containing about 
2,000 bushels of the Monroe County Frize, Monroe 
Seedling, and the Rural New Yorker No. 2. 
“ What method do you employ in growing this crop ?” 
“ From the ground intended for potatoes, a crop of 
clover was usually cut the year previous. It is well 
covered with manure, drawn from the yards and 
stables during the winter and early spring. As soon 
as the soil is in 
condition to work 
light and friable, 
the plows are 
started, the plank 
di'ag and spring- 
tooth harrows 
soon follow — the 
g r o u n d b e i n g 
thoroughly fined 
and pulverized. 
The A s p i n w a 11 
planter is used, 
planting the .seed 
about 15 inches 
apart. Breed’s 
weeder is soon 
brought into u.se 
and kept moving 
until the idants 
appear. Level 
culture, as near as 
may be, is then 
given, using the 
Planet Jr. culti¬ 
vators, not for the 
purpose of weed 
destruction mere¬ 
ly, but to conserve 
the moisture 
needed for perfect 
development. The 
Hoover digger is 
very successfully 
used. Potato 
boxes, holding one 
bushel each, are 
used for handling, 
and we find by 
adopting these 
methods, that the labor required is reduced to the 
minimum, making potato culture a delightfully pleas¬ 
ant and rapid work as compared with the .slow and 
tedious back-aching work of former days. 
Where the Manure Supply is Found. 
After an inspection of the spacious grain barns and 
stables, the fattening animals already in their winter 
quarters, and a glimpse of the huge straw stack occu¬ 
pying a portion of the yard surrounded on all sides by 
substantial farm buildings, it was no longer an un¬ 
solved problem regarding the manure supply needed 
for maintaining the fertility of the farm. “ We are 
now feeding 230 lambs and 48 steers ; they will prob¬ 
ably be held for the spring markets. Besides, there 
are the cows needed for tiie family dairy, work horses 
required for the farm, colts, etc.” 
A notable feature connected with the long and 
uniform row of steers fastened to their mangers, was 
THE HEIFER! FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE DAIRY HERD. Fig. 220 . See Page 829. 
