TEMPLETONIA 



sheath open on the under side; anthers alternately long 

 and erect and short and versatile: pod sessile or stipi- 

 tate, flattened, ovate-oblong or linear, completely de- 

 hiscent. Flora Australiensis 2:168 (1864). 



retusa, R. Br. (T. glauca, Sims). Coral Bush. 

 Tall, glabrous or glaucous shrub: lvs. broadly obovate 

 to narrow-cuneate-oblong, sometimes all under % in., 

 sometimes all over 1 in. long, emarginate or nmeronate, 

 coriaceous: fls. red (or rarely white) ; calyx with 4 very 

 short, broad teeth, the lowest longest: pod 1K-2 in. 

 long. B.M. 2334; 2088. B.R. 5:383; 10:859. L.B.C. 



TENNESSEE 



1781 



(J: 520; 



:G44. 



W. M. 



MISSISSIPPI 



TENNESSEE, HORTICULTURE IN. Fig. 2479. The 

 horticultural products of Tennessee are greatly diversi- 

 fied on account of the varied soil and climatic condi- 

 tions. A knowledge of the natural divisions of the 

 state is essential to a thorough 

 understanding of its adaptabil- 

 ity to the various branches of 

 horticulture. 



The Unaka region, on the 

 eastern border, contains about 

 2,000 square miles. Some of 

 the peaks are over 6,000 feet 

 above sea-level, and the aver- 

 age elevation is 5,000 feet. The 

 soil is gravelly and thin, but 

 contains areas that are fairly 

 productive. Apples are grown 

 to a limited extent. 



The valley of East Tennessee 

 is the next division. It con- 

 tains 9,200 square miles and an 

 average elevation of 1,000 feet. 

 The soils are generally well 

 adapted to fruits. Records 

 taken at Knoxville during a 

 period of twenty-six years show 

 an average annual rainfall of 

 50.92 inches. 



A thousand feet above the 

 valley of East Tennessee lies 



the Cumberland Tableland, containing 5,100 square 

 miles. This section for the most part is sterile, the 

 soils being sandy and thin. There are, however, areas 

 of land which produce fruits and vegetables of the 

 highest quality. The climate is particularly healthful. 



West of the Cumberland Tableland are the Rim- 

 lands, or Highlands, which have an area of 9,300 

 square miles and an average elevation of nearly 1,000 

 feet. This territory possesses a great variety of soils, 

 some of which are highly fertile and well suited to or- 

 charding. Numerous streams cut the land into val- 

 leys, which are generally deep and narrow. 



The Central Basin, in which Nashville is situated, 

 contains 5,450 square miles, with numerous elevations 

 of 200-300 feet above the general level. The soil is 

 fertile and well adapted to small fruits and vegetables. 

 The average annual rainfall at Nashville is 49.53 inches. 



The next natural division is the valley of the Ten- 

 nessee river. It has an elevation of about 300 feet and 

 an area of 1,200 square miles. 



The Plateau, or Slope, of West Tennessee is the most 

 important horticultural region commercially in the 

 state. It contains 8,850 square miles and has an aver- 

 age elevation of 500 feet. The soils are generally light, 

 fertile and easily cultivated, but demand careful treat- 

 ment to prevent serious damage by washing. 



The last natural division, the Mississippi bottoms, has 

 an area of 950 sqiiare miles and an average elevation of 

 295 feet. It is little used for horticultural purposes. 



The possibilities of Tennessee for the cultivation of 

 fruits and nuts are evidenced by the profusion of these 

 products in a wild state. Wild strawberries are found 

 thoroughly distributed. Blackberries thrive every- 

 where. In favorable localities they attain a very large 

 size, surpassing in this respect some of the cultivated 

 varieties. Wild blackberries are marketed in large 

 quantities in many sections. Red and black raspberries 

 grow in most parts of the state ; and in some sec- 

 tions the best of the wild blackcaps when trans- 

 planted to the garden, give better results than any of 



the cultivated varieties. Wild grapes abound through- 

 out the state. Plums are also found in profusion; and 

 the Wild Goose variety is said to have originated in 

 Tennessee. Other wild fruits are dewberries, cher- 

 ries, crab apples, Juneberries, pawpaws, persimmons, 

 and huckleberries. Of the nuts, chestnuts are most 

 plentiful, especially in the hilly and mountainous sec- 

 tions. The chinkapin flourishes in East Tennessee. 

 Black walnuts are exceedingly numerous. Pecans thrive 

 in the low sections. Hazelnuts, and butternuts or 

 white walnuts, are also plentiful. 



Some of the native seedling fruits are highly valued. 

 This is especially true of apples, peaches and straw- 

 berries. Many well-known varieties introduced from 

 other states are not satisfactory. As a rule, the intro- 

 duced kinds are not so well adapted to the climate and 

 soils as those of local origin. This fact is becoming 



horticultural features. 



Fruit trees succeed throughout the state, but eastern Tennessee (between the mountain 

 uiges) is best adapted to large fruits and grapes. The shaded areas indicate localities 

 l which small fruits and vegetables are grown as field crops for market. 



well established among practical horticulturists. It is 

 only a few years since orchardists were planting 

 varieties of winter apples originated in the North. 

 After repeated failures to get first-class fruit of good 

 keeping qualities, they have begun to use native seed- 

 ling varieties. Some of them will doubtless be largely 

 cultivated in the future. A few native varieties of 

 winter apples have gained considerable popularity 

 among commercial orchardists. The fruits of these 

 sorts have commanded remunerative prices in competi- 

 tion with apples shipped from the North. Owing to the 

 great diversity of soils and exposures in this state, it 

 is very important to select varieties that are adapted to 

 the conditions where the trees are to be planted. The 

 fact that a desirable apple has been originated in East 

 Tennessee is no proof that it will succeed well in all 

 parts of this political division. On the contrary, it is 

 likely to give good results only in certain soils and on 

 certain exposures that are requisite for its proper 

 growth and fruitfulness. 



All of the classes of fruits commonly grown in the 

 northern half of the United States are produced in Ten- 

 nessee for home and commercial purposes. Straw- 

 berries are shipped more largely to distant markets 

 than any other fruit. The area in peaches is increasing 

 rapidly. Summer apples are shipped from several 

 sections. Of the vegetables, tomatoes and Irish pota- 

 toes are the most important commercially. The fol- 

 lowing counties have been active in producing and 

 shipping fruits and vegetables: Gibson, Carroll, 

 Crockett, Madison, Haywood, Hardeman, Shelby, Hamil- 

 ton and Rhea. Peanuts are grown largely in Perry, 

 Humphreys, Benton, Decatur, Hickman and "Wayne. 



Many locations in East Tennessee are peculiarly well 

 adapted to the culture of grapes. This is shown by the 

 large exhibits of fine grapes made at the fall horticul- 

 tural meetings. The local markets are well supplied 

 with home-grown grapes during their season. 



The following special crops are produced to some 

 extent, and are promising for more extensive cultiva- 



