22 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
dition to this, the larger and more im¬ 
portant fact that these importations of 
foreign varieties have had and are hav¬ 
ing a value far beyond this direct and 
immediate use, must not be overlooked. 
They have served and are serving as the 
basis for further improvements, and 
when blended with other strains by cross¬ 
ing, the resulting fruits have, in many 
cases, far surpassed in value the varieties 
imported. These new fruits are adapted 
to conditions of soil, climate and use into 
which the foreign varieties would not fit. 
Hence, we have at this time, varieties of 
direct foreign introduction, varieties of 
straight domestic origin and varieties 
combining the parental characteristics of 
the two. Sectional differences, peculiar¬ 
ities and adaptabilities have been worked 
out until we can say with reasonable cer¬ 
tainty what strains of fruits will succeed 
in given areas. The peach orchards of 
New York and other northern states are 
planted with trees of the Persian and 
northern Chinese races, while the Flor¬ 
ida peach grower now plants his ground 
with Peen-to and Honey types. The 
vineyardist of the Chautauqua grape belt 
will be found growing northern Ameri¬ 
can grapes, such as Concord, or Niagara, 
or Delaware. The grape grower of the 
eastern Carolinas plants Muscadines and 
the California grower gives his attention 
to the wine and raisin grapes of Europe. 
The nut grower of the Pacific slope plants 
English or Persian walnuts and al¬ 
monds, if in the cotton belt he plants pe¬ 
cans, and in the northern states, chest¬ 
nuts and shell-barks. The California fig 
growers have at length succeeded with 
the Smyrna fig; while the grower of the 
Gulf coast will probably have to content 
himself, as he does now, with figs of an 
entirely different class. The date palm 
has been introduced and has found a con¬ 
genial home in Arizona and southern Cal¬ 
ifornia, Pineapples have thus far suc¬ 
ceeded only in Florida. Japan plums have 
succeeded over a considerable area but 
probably reach their greatest perfection 
on the Pacific coast. There too, in Oregon 
and California, is the land of the prune. 
In the central northwestern states, the 
native American plum has supplied the 
standard sorts for planting, and the Rus¬ 
sian apple seedlings have opened up a 
new apple field. Orange culture has 
reached its greatest development in our 
own State, in California and is now com¬ 
ing into prominence around the Gulf 
coast country. Of the newer fruits, the 
mango and avocado have great possibil¬ 
ities and open up interesting fields for 
further development. And we might go 
on calling attention to the different kinds 
of fruit which now engage the attention 
of our horticulturists. Truly our pomol¬ 
ogy is diversified. 
But turning from this side of the 
question to another, let us note that no 
other land produces fruit in such abun¬ 
dance, and I dare say, that in no other 
country outside the tropics does it enter 
into the everyday sustenance of the people 
to such an extent. Our vineyards and 
orchards are planted over immense areas. 
Fruit trees are set out by hundreds and 
by thousands. Vast areas of plain and 
valley and mountain slope are given over 
to the culture of single fruits, and as our 
population increases, greater efforts must 
necessarily be put forth to supply the 
increasing demand, for our people are a 
fruit-consuming people. Our products 
