118 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
THE BUSY SOUTH 
Remarkable Development of Fruit Growing Industry—Plea for 
the Ornamental Department—Importance of Trans . 
portation Matters—A Great Work. 
Following is the address of the president, J. C. Miller, 
Rome, Ga., at the annual convention of the Southern Nurs¬ 
erymen’s Association at Winchester, Tenn.: 
“Our convention meets to-day under circumstances of 
great encouragement. Since our last meeting in the city of 
Charleston, the nursery interests of the South have enjoyed 
their share of prosperity, and some of our members have re¬ 
ported to be on ‘Easy Street,’ if not on Wall Street. 
“The expansion and growth of commercial orchard planting 
during the past two years is certainly wonderful. Fruit 
growing is becoming a great and profitable industry, increas¬ 
ing the wealth and prosperity of our South land. Without 
detracting the least from other lines of development, we think 
it can be truthfully said that fruit growing is doing more toward 
creating prosperous and happy homes than any other industry. 
Nurserymen should be very proud of the fact that they are 
the prime movers in promoting an industry that makes happy 
homes and more of everything that improves the homes of 
our people. 
DANGER OF OVER-PRODUCTION. 
“Still we hardly think it possible to keep the pace that has 
been set for any definite length of time and we should exercise 
caution or the effects of this may be lost in over-production. 
Already there are some indications of this state of affairs and 
we feel that the conditions that confront us demand careful 
consideration. The nursery interests by pursuing a conserva¬ 
tive and prudent course will be able to’protect themselves and 
possibly be a benefit to the planter. 
“ The recent extensive plantings have been largely peaches, 
or we might say Elberta, with a few of the earlier ripenings to 
fill out, but the time is at hand when we should, if possible,ex¬ 
tend the season and disseminate some good varieties to follow 
the peerless Elberta. We simply mention the peach as an 
example; the want exists in many other lines. Possibly all of 
us are sending out every year varieties that are not suited to 
the locality simply because there is nothing better of the sea¬ 
son. Let it be our constant aim to study the introduction of 
new and favorable fruits which will diversify and increase con¬ 
sumption. Every nurseryman should be on the lookout for 
new and promising fruits of chance origin, to see that each has 
adequate trial and honest judgment. But if you come into 
the possession of something promising, do not be in a hurry 
to rush into print and cumber it with a long list of adjectives. 
This opens up a broad and inviting field for every nursery¬ 
man who feels disposed to devote the time and labor to the 
work. 
MORE ATTENTION TO ORNAMENTALS. 
“Let us resolve to co-operate with our state experiment 
stations. In some of the states they do not get the support 
they should from the fact that people become impatient and 
want to see immediate and tangible results. To counteract 
this growing sentiment, our members must come to their aid 
in matters horticultural at least. We must furnish materials 
for experiments and give freely of our experience and co-op¬ 
eration as to ways and means. 
“ The time has arrived when more attention should be de¬ 
voted by the majority of our nurserymen to the ornamenal 
department. A great demand for this class of stock will fol¬ 
low in the wake of commercial planting as certain as day fol¬ 
lows night. Possibly some of us could do something to create 
a demand by way of our example. If we should return to our 
place determined to give some good object lessons along this 
line, this meeting will have accomplished great and lasting 
results. 
TRANSPORTATION. 
“As to transportation, this association through their com¬ 
mittee, secured in the past a big reduction in freight rates. 
Your committee on transportation has not been able to ac¬ 
complish anything during the past year. Conditions have 
been such that they could not get a hearing with a reasonable 
prospect of favorable results, so they deemed it advisable to 
wait for a more favorable time. There is no question that the 
nursery interests in the South have not received as liberal 
treatment from the railroads as our friends in the North and 
East. As this association should use every honorable method 
that they can command to secure from the railroads as fair 
treatment as is accorded to other sections of our country. 
“The frank and unrestrained interchange of ideas on the 
floor of this convention and the free use of the question box is 
greatly to be desired. A well-directed fire from the question 
box will often bring out valuable information that cannot be 
furnished by the most carefully prepared essay. We are here 
for further improvement in our work and it becomes our duty 
to give consideration to all phases of the business. If abuses 
exist, try to remedy or eliminate them. 
MAGNITUDE OF THE WORK. 
“Few of us appreciate the magnitude of our work. We 
have problems before us that were unknown a few years ago. 
Conditions are changing, and we must adapt ourselves to these 
changed conditions if we would hope to be successful. 
“I cannot close without a word of tribute to one of our num¬ 
ber, who since our last session, had crossed over the river. We 
deplore the loss. His loyal and unselfish support, you could 
depend upon in all things looking to the advancement of our 
association.” 
DEPOT FOR SEED DISTRIBUTION. 
The United States Department of Agriculture has an¬ 
nounced that it will establish in California a depot for the dis¬ 
tribution of seeds and plants for the whole United States. A 
committee of two has been appointed by the department to 
select a site of 100 acres somewhere in California for this pur¬ 
pose, and plants and seeds will there be grown under the direc¬ 
tion of experts from the department for scientific purposes 
and distribution. This work is distinct from the annual free 
seed distribution of Congress. 
THERE ARE OTHERS. 
West Michigan Nurseries, Benton Harbor, Mich., June 1, 1903.— 
“We enclose herewith our check for $1.00, for which please renew our 
subscription for one year. We would not think of doing business with¬ 
out your paper.” 
