176 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
EDITORIAL WANDERINGS 
South Georgia and North Florida; Desultory Observations 
Leaving frozen ground, being rapidly sheeted with 
falling sleet and snow, in central New York on April fifth, 
it was most agreeable to be greeted with a brilliant display 
of flowers and sunshine the following day in Charleston, 
South Carolina. Signs of the change were heralded from 
the woodside and field from Washington southward by 
blossoms of red maple, red bud, and May apples; but in 
Charleston the oaks and hardwoods were in full leaf, and 
the pecan trees pushing their catkins. 
As the traveller visits this region from time to time, he 
is strongly impressed by unmistakable signs of industrial 
activity, and in the region of Charleston of aggressive civic 
growth. The city of Charleston will soon have more than 
its historic associations to hark back to; for large develop¬ 
ment enterprises are under way, and these are based on 
sound footing, for Charleston Harbor is rapidly taking its 
place as one of the great Atlantic ports of this country. 
It is probably not generally known that it will admit 
vessels of deepest draft. In this harbor, protected by its 
islands, we have an interesting mingling of the picturesque 
and the rich agricultural lands. This region has been noted 
as a great truck section for many years, and its interests in 
these lines are constantly increasing. Cabbage, cauli¬ 
flower, and potatoes are the great crops, while asparagus 
and other early spring vegetables are also occupying large 
areas. We hear of one man sowing six thousand pounds 
of cabbage seed the present season. This does not mean 
that he will set all of the plants from this amount of seed 
himself, but it does presage the growing of an immense 
number of cabbage plants either for setting by himself or 
for sale. 
One of the features of Charleston is the famous mag¬ 
nolia gardens, gardens rich in roses and rhododendrons, 
laid out in the old fashioned plan, possessing all the charm 
of the well developed fonual garden. In the rhododendron 
season, it is a noted attraction to visiting tourists. 
In this section also is one of the oldest and largest 
bearing pecan orchards in the country. It is the work of a 
man who had faith in the nut and kept on setting trees 
year after year. Although his labors were almost derided 
by his neighbors, he has now the satisfaction of possessing 
an investment which is giving him a return of eighteen to 
, twenty thousand dollars per year. 
In the vicinity of Charleston, the south-going visitor 
receives an introduction to the palmetto, the live oak, and 
its frequent associate, the pendent moss. These are all 
striking features of the scenery from Charleston south¬ 
ward. No more picturesque feature on the landscape can 
be seen than one of these immense oaks, draped with its 
grey pendent coating of this interesting parasite. 
IN SOUTH GEORGIA 
In South Georgia and North Florida, the visitor is 
impressed by the rapid strides being made in clearing land, 
extending cotton areas, and perhaps more than all else, in 
road improvement. The opportunity for cheap road 
improvement is exceptional. The red clay of the country 
makes admirable surfacing material, and then the state 
has the good sense to use its convict labor on this excellent 
feature, public service. County and state roads are open¬ 
ing up in all directions and driving and motoring are 
increasing in popularity. 
Land values too are advancing steadily. The conditions 
of the whole country make this inevitable; for as one looks 
over the available farming areas of the United States, it 
resolves itself into a question of whether the settler of 
small means shall take up some of the cheap and more or 
less abandoned lands of New England and eastern New 
York, or go South. The lands of the Pacific Northwest are 
available principally to men of capital, and their area is 
limited by the availability of water. It is no idle prophecy 
to say that in the next ten years greater development will 
take place in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Alaba¬ 
ma, than has occurred in the last fifty. There are splendid 
opportunities in general farming; but the farmer in that 
section must separate himself from local traditions as to 
methods of handling the land. Scratching the surface, as 
in the past, will not bring satisfactory results. Neither 
will the all too prevalent habit of depending on commercial 
fertilizers. Such staples as corn and cotton, cow peas and 
velvet beans, are profitable crops when grown in conjunc¬ 
tion with a proper use of legumes and by the application of 
intelligent tillage methods. 
THE PECAN 
In certain sections, but to a greater or less extent 
throughout the Gulf States, the pecan as an orchard crop is 
attracting a good deal of attention. Groves are being 
planted by individuals, bub to a much larger extent by 
development companies. It is a fact, though probably a 
regrettable one, that in some cases these companies are 
directed to a larger extent by optimism and enthusiasm 
than by sound information, much less actual experience. 
Disappointments are likely to arise, and a considerable 
percentage of failures may be expected. 
Some pecan groves are now approaching the bearing age, 
and these are being watched with keen interest by pros¬ 
pective planters and by persons who are already involved. 
It is indeed a pity that industries should become exploiting 
fads, and that daring should take the place of knowledge 
and experience. 
The signs of the season are that nursery work in general 
is active in the South. A demand for plants has been 
steady and large. Most nurserymen report an excellent 
season for the sale of plants; and in speaking of season, it 
reminds us to say that although we are somewhat later 
than normal in New England and New York, the season in 
South Georgia and Florida is two or three weeks in ad- 
