2234 NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



quoted in the general markets and extensively gathered 

 for local consumption, have been prevented from com- 

 ing into wide popularity because of their heavy shell 

 and rather strong flavor. A fresh interest in this nut 

 tree has been awakened through recent occasional 

 reports of successful attempts to grow certain varieties 

 of the English or Persian walnut by grafting them upon 

 the common species. The shellbark and other hickory- 

 nuts are produced freely in all parts of the state. The 

 chestnut is also widely distributed, but is more abundant 

 in the less fertile parts of the state. 



Among other wild fruits of interest from the horti- 

 cultural standpoint may be mentioned the persimmon 

 and papaw, both of which grow commonly over most 

 parts of the state, and are offered for sale to a limited 

 extent in the late autumn months. As trees of both 

 these species are sometimes found possessing fruits with 

 fewer seeds, improved flavor, or other favorable varia- 

 tions, there is reason for expecting that much improve- 

 ment may ultimately be secured. 



Nurseries are scattered over most parts of the state, 

 there being about forty in all, varying from extensive 

 business enterprises with many employees to the little 

 plot of an acre or less that is usually conducted by an 

 orchardist for the propagation of a few trees for his 

 own use. 



Except in the larger cities and towns, commercial 

 greenhouses are few, although in the hands of a number 

 of enterprising individuals the results of growing both 

 vegetables and flowers under glass have been very suc- 

 cessful, and shipments of such greenhouse products 

 are often made to other states. With a superabundant 

 supply of valuable coal, there must inevitably come 

 a better appreciation of the abounding opportunities 

 for the development of such undertakings. 



Public-service agencies for horticulture. 



In common with other states, Kentucky enjoys the 

 advantages of a College of Agriculture and Experiment 

 Station, both of which are established as departments 

 of the State University at Lexington. Horticultural 

 education is given due recognition in its agricultural 

 courses, and through cooperation with its Extension 

 Division, with the State Board of Agriculture, and with 

 the newly organized agency of County Advisers, is 

 being effectively carried to the people. 



The two state normal schools, located at Richmond 

 in the east and Bowling Green in the west, are both 

 actively engaged in promoting horticultural education. 



The State Horticultural Society has had a long and 

 varied history of over sixty years, being established in 

 1850. Never a large organization, and without financial 

 aid from the state or other external sources, it has 

 exerted an influence, with its little band of enthusiastic 

 supporters, far out of proportion to its membership. 



All the nurseries of the state are subject to annual 

 supervision by the inspector of the State Experiment 

 Station as a safeguard against the dissemination of 

 dangerous insects and fungous pests. 



Statistics (Thirteenth Census). 



The approximate land area of Kentucky in 1909 was 

 25,715,840 acres. The land in farms was 22,189,127 

 acres or 86.3 per cent of the land area. The improved 

 acreage in farms numbered 14,354,471; the acreage in 

 woodland 6,951,626; and other unimproved land 

 883,030. In 1910 there were 259,185 farms in the state, 

 the average acreage being 85.6. [The total area is 

 40,598 square miles.] 



The leading agricultural crops of Kentucky are 

 cereals, tobacco and hay and forage. In 1909 the pro- 

 duction of cereals, from an acreage of 4,323,702, 

 was valued at $60,738,651, which was 43.7 per cent of 

 the total value of crops. The tobacco produced from 

 469,795 acres for the same year was valued at $39,868,- 

 753; and the hay and forage produced from 966,377 



acres was valued at $10,306,344. While the value of the 

 cotton produced in 1909 was only $246,614, the acre- 

 age increased from 2,396 acres in 1899 to 7,811 in 1909, 

 an increase of 226 per cent. In 1909 there were also 

 produced sugar crops to the amount of $1,420,504. 

 The value of the forest products of farms was $7,843,142 

 in 1909, as compared with $4,179,480, in 1899. 



The horticultural crops grown are fruits and nuts, 

 small-fruits in limited amounts, vegetables including 

 potatoes, and flowers and plants and nursery products. 

 The value of the fruits and nuts in 1909 was $4,661,634, 

 as compared with $2,064,360 in 1899. The acreage of 

 small-fruits decreased from 6,126 in 1899 to 4,387 in 

 1909, when the production was 4,972,702 quarts, 

 valued at $357,597. In 1909 the total acreage of 

 potatoes and other vegetables was 182,639 and their 

 value $11,850,994, a decided increase over acreage 

 and value in 1899. The raising of flowers and plants 

 and nursery products was important, 791 acres being 

 devoted to them in 1909, and the output valued at 

 $508,372. 



The total quantity of orchard-fruits produced in 1909 

 was 9,447,858 bushels, valued at $4,506,950. Apples 

 contributed more than three-fourths of this quantity 

 and peaches and nectarines most of the remainder. 

 The production of apples in 1909 was 7,368,499 bushels, 

 valued at $3,066,766. The number of apple trees of 

 bearing age in 1910 was 5,538,267; those not of bearing 

 age numbered 2,106,297. The production of peaches 

 and nectarines in 1909 was 1,623,379 bushels, valued 

 at $1,062,138. The number of peach and nectarine 

 trees of bearing age in 1910 was 2,245,402; those not of 

 bearing age, 1,110,744. The more important of the 

 other orchard fruits produced in 1909 were: 251,536 

 bushels of pears, valued at $187,951; 139,346 bushels of 

 plums and prunes, valued at $102,446; 52,163 bushels of 

 cherries, valued at $74,340; and 11,537 bushels of 

 quinces, valued at $11,757. 



The number of grape-vines of bearing age in 1910 was 

 605,002; those not of bearing age, 77,626. The produc- 

 tion in 1909 was 3,680,182 pounds, valued at $137,326. 

 The production of grapes in 1899 was 5,134,215 pounds. 



Of the nuts grown in 1909, the black walnut is by far 

 the most important. The production of black walnuts 

 was 793,970 pounds, valued at $11,384; that of pecans, 

 28,577 pounds, valued at $2,887; that of Persian or 

 English walnuts, 35,825 pounds, valued at $1,499; 

 that of chestnuts 16,619 pounds, valued at $714; and 

 that of hickory-nuts, 71,347 pounds, valued at $735. 



Blackberries and dewberries are the most important 

 of the small-fruits raised in Kentucky, with strawberries 

 and raspberries ranking second and third, respectively. 

 The acreage of blackberries and dewberries increased 

 from 1,024 in 1899 to 2,141 in 1909, when the produc- 

 tion was 2,165,547 quarts, valued at $137,250. The 

 acreage of strawberries decreased from 4, 128 in 1899 to 

 1,553 in 1909, when the production was 2,114,929 

 quarts, valued at $159,765. In 1909 the production of 

 raspberries was 558,529 quarts, valued at $50,472; that 

 of gooseberries 118,338 quarts, valued at $8,661; and 

 that of currants 15,159 quarts, valued at $1,429. 



Of the vegetables grown in Kentucky the potato is 

 the most important. In 1909 the production from 55,- 

 750 acres was 5,120,141 bushels, valued at $2,724,043. 

 The acreage devoted to the sweet potato and yam pro- 

 duced, in 1909, 1,326,245 bushels, valued at $839,454. 

 The acreage of all the other vegetables in 1909 was 

 115,007, and their value $8,287,497, both acreage and 

 value being an increase over 1899. The more important 

 of the other vegetables grown in 1909 were: 1,959 acres 

 of onions, valued at $200,317; 3,574 acres of tomatoes, 

 valued at $128,017; 5,041 acres of green beans, valued 

 at $94,663; 1,690 acres of watermelons, valued at 

 $70,144; 738 acres of cabbage valued at $63,288; 

 1,103 acres of sweet corn, valued at $35,758; and 594 

 acres of cantaloupes and muskmelons, valued at 



