104 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



IMPRESSIOXS OF SOUTHERX HORTICULTURE. 

 BY E. HOLLISTER, TAMPA, FLORIDA. 



There is a charm in this section of the extreme South, which has 

 and will always possess the horticulturist, let his habitat be what it 

 may. The ever-green pine forests, the orange, the lemon and all the 

 Citrus family tend to make this the perpetual summer land of 

 America. 



With all the new surroundings of the new world, what can pre- 

 vent the staid and industrious horticulturist of the North becoming 

 an enthusiast here ? Surely he were less than human. There is a 

 fellow-feeling in this question of horticulture which makes the world 

 akin, a free-masonry patent to all, yet more to my knowledge a& 

 exacting a fee for the right. 



My experience in Southern Horticulture is too brief to be thor- 

 ough, yet at your request 1 give my impressions derived from such 

 and observation. Why should not the peaches we many of us so 

 well know, flourish and bear fruit here ? Many and persistent efforts 

 to bring them into bearing has uniformly resulted in failure, yet 

 there are peaches here and I have plucked them from the tree in per- 

 fection. I know of no more beautiful sight than a Peento peach 

 tree, laden with its peculiar shaped and highly colored fruit, which, 

 when allowed to ripen on the tree is of delicious flavor; another 

 peach, the Honey is also adapted to this climate, and as indicated 

 by its name, is of unsurpassed excellence; 



These two varieties seem almost indigenous, so well do they suit 

 the soil and climate. Many seedlings and hybrids of these are being 

 brought to notice and trial. What is known as the Chinese type of 

 peaches, bring the best result, and with these a special treatment is 

 necessary to bring fruit. The peach and plum has a tendency at the 

 ending of the rainy season, say September, to cease its growth and 

 shed its leaves by -the first of November, then putting on a new 

 growth and coming into blossom in that month and December, 

 This habft should be broken, first by summer pruning of at least 

 half the new growth, and also fertilizing the soil in time to prevent 

 the tree going to rest so soon, and which would then bring the period 

 of rest to nearly, or quite, December first. This is being tried, and in 

 some instances my observation has confirmed it. The Persian 

 strain of peaches have done nothing in this part of the state. 



The Kelsey plum and some of the Japan persimmons have been 

 tested here to a limited extent, with partial success. The fig grows 

 with but little care and is being more thoroughly tested and planted; 

 it promises well and no doubt will become a leading feature in South- 

 ern horticulture. The grape is more extensively planted and culti- 

 vated in the central and northern portions of the state. Among the 



