INTRODUCTION, 



It will be readily perceived, on examining authors on fruit 

 culture, that the South has been neglected, not only by North- 

 ern agriculturists, horticulturists and pomologists, but also 

 by Southern writers, some of whom were, and are, eminently 

 qualified to handle this subject in a most comprehensive 

 and masterly manner. 



Perhaps no portion of the world can boast a more conge- 

 nial and favorable climate than that part of the American 

 continent which our title page designates, for fruit of almost 

 every kind, and especially for the most palatable, wholesome, 

 medicinal and valuable of all fruits — the apple and peach. 



Situated between the extremes of Northern and Southern 

 lines, deemed unfavorable to high flavor and delicious perfec- 

 tion, the field for successful culture is so ample, congenial and 

 universal, that it is passing strange that able pens have not 

 diffused among Southern farmers the art and science of horti- 

 culture and pomology in all their practical and interesting 

 details, and the value, growing and care of young orchards 

 understood and appreciated as it should be. 



It is admitted that, to some extent, we are aroused on the 

 subject, and are convinced of the natural advantages of our 

 soil and climate; and that many thrifty orchards are cultivated 

 with abundant success in the various portions of the South, 

 ern States, except in the maritime districts of the Carolinas 

 and Georgia, which are sandy and level and the air replete 

 with humidity, rendering that section not so well adapted to 

 the apple and peach, but well suited for the culture of other 

 delicious fruits. 



Although English and Northern writers are profuse in 

 general and particular directions and instructions in the cul- 

 ture and management of fruit trees, yet such works mostly 

 apply to the particular humid climate of the one and arctic 

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