SOUTHERN HORTICULTURE— I. 



AN ACCOUNT OF AN EDITORIAL JOURNEY. 



HAS always seemed 

 strange to the writer 

 (southern born and 

 bred, now living north) 

 that so little credence 

 should be given to ac- 

 counts of opportunities 

 in horticulture in the 

 We are apt to forget that 

 our southern neighbors have oppor- 

 tunities that do not exist in colder 

 climates. We forget that before the 

 war, the majority of these southern 

 lands yielded crops unequaled by 

 any other section of our country. The south is not 

 a new or recently discovered country, but rather a 

 re-awakened, strengthened section, fast recovering 

 from the weakness and torpor brought on by the 

 most devastating war known to history. 



We are not seeking to " boom " the south, but we do 

 honestly desire that, for the good of horticulture, the 

 many senseless ideas concerning this part of our common 

 country be abolished. On the other hand, it must not 

 be forgotten that in horticultural work in the south there 

 is much to contend with of which people of the north 

 and west have no conception. 



The question of labor is a mighty one in the south, for 

 it involves not only the management of the generally in- 

 competent negro, but the gigantic task of keeping him 

 in his proper place, socially, morally and politically. 

 Then there are the difficulties arising from crude meth- 

 ods of labor, due largely to lack of knowledge, but more 

 to the supreme cause of slow development, that is, lack 

 of money. 



Western North Carolina is fast gaining a reputation 

 for its possibilities in horticulture, and yet, to the north- 

 ern mind, these opportunities are not taken advantage of 

 so rapidly and extensively as they perhaps ought to be. 

 While this is true to a great extent, it must be remem- 

 bered that fruit-growing in the south is a vastly different 

 occupation than in the north, and here again comes in 

 that lack of money. True it is also, that there exists 

 what we might term lack of progressiveness, but this is 

 rather due to an inherent dislike to venture from the 

 beaten paths, rather than to lack of ability or foresight. 

 Asheville, from its prominence as a resort, both winter 

 and summer, offers a market at which a vast deal of pro- 

 duce could be disposed at a fair price ; but, so far as I 

 could learn, very little was done in this direction. Small 

 fruits of every description, peaches, grapes and apples 

 can all be grown to perfection, as also can vegetables. 



The supply from home growers is entirely inadequate to 

 fill the demand even in this comparatively small market. 



Large quantities of fruits are grown through western 

 North Carolina, but almost exclusively for distant mar- 

 kets. This industry has increased largely during the 

 past few years, mainly because of the increased facilities 

 in transportation. The managers of the Richmond & 

 Danville system of railroads, which largely covers this 

 section, seem to sensibly realize the necessity for quick 

 time, and they are now sending fruits to the northern 

 markets in the most complete and perfect cars, and run- 

 nmg their trains on passenger time. 



Growers distant from the line of road have formed 

 combinations, by which all products are carried to a 

 central point at stated periods, and shipped to the best 

 advantage. Here is a point in combination that our 

 northern growers may emulate to their great advantage. 

 By the use of an entire car the rates for transportation 

 are materially lessened to each individual, while his pro- 

 ducts reach their destination in better time and in much 

 better condition than could be possible if each small 

 shipment was sent by itself to be mixed and handled 

 with other miscellaneous freight. 



Western North Carolina must take its place ere long 

 as a famous apple-growing region. Its high altitude, 

 with its semi-tropical climate, admirably fits it for grow- 

 ing apples. The writer was shown a Wilder medal, 

 awarded to a resident of that section for the best display 

 of apples. This is good evidence of what may be done 

 in the section, when it is considered that the displays 

 before the American Pomological Society are large. 



Beyond all question, this section of western North 

 Carolina is unusually adapted to the culture of the apple, 

 and it only remains for those who can realize the possi- 

 bilities in this direction to take hold of the industry and 

 reap the benefits. The native population are, as we have 

 said, averse to doing this, owing to a number of circum- 

 stances ; but they are gradually coming to see the ulti- 

 mate profit in the work, and with the assistance of 

 northern growers, who understand the best methods of 

 culture, they will, in the near future, take hold of the 

 work and carry it successfully forward. One fault which 

 ■will have to be overcome all through this section is the 

 utter indifference to the preparation of products for 

 market. Capt. Long, of Asheville, a stirring member of 

 the Alliance and a farmer and fruit-grower of promi- 

 nence, told the writer that, in his opinion, the only ob- 

 stacle to the great success in the region was the ignor- 

 ance of the people regarding methods. As he humorously 

 remarked, "Ask one of our growers regarding the va- 

 riety names and the reply is, ' This is a red apple, this a 

 yellow,' and into one package they go, red and yellow 

 alike, and large and small." 



