Des Arc citizen., 1860-06-02
From the Southern Cnltivator.l
 Fruits Their Local Adoption, &c.

Fruits Their Local Adoption, &c.
 A subscriber in Arkansas (W. c. D.) submits the following proposition; esl
 Fl think there will be quite demand here for good fruit in a short time. We have already one nursery in the npighbor- hood which does a good trade. Our nur. seryman holds outline thing we need here, and that trees oblalned from abroad, say Mississippi or Georgia. will not do. Do you believe this iszsse
 No, we do not believe lhis but we will tre to explain what we do believe. We believe, us a general rule, that fruits which have originated in certain locality sucs ceed best In that locality, and that trees or plants grow and thrive best in soil and climate identical with or al least simi- lar 10 that in which they naturally grow most freely. For instance, some trees and plants delight in low, mos, situations, and are almost always found in the great. est abundance and perfection in wet places and along the marglns of streams. Olh. CTS prefer high dry, open exposures, and are found on the tops of hills. Some thrive best in sandy soilj some in clay, some in peat, and others in gravel some grow best in the extreme North, others in the extreme South. and others, again, mid- way between these extremes. To try to change all this and upset the order of na- lure is unwise, and can only end in dis. appointment, though the skill of man has wonderfully modified lhs habits of plants and extended their range. Still, as there are plain and obvious limits to the adaptation Of plants end trees, we should study to select those the nature and origin of which hold ou, he highest prom ise of success. Therefore, if we were planting in Arkansas or Texas, we would not send to New York or Massachusetts for fruit trees if we could get them in Tennessee or Georgia; nor would we send 10 the latter States, if we could get as good fruit that had originated nearer home. Thus far, however, the necessi- ties and privalions of pioneer life have prevented the settlers Of the newer States from paying much attention to fruit cul4, ture, so that the number of native fruits of real merit in these States Cat least, so far as known and classified Is quite ih-v considerable. In Geogia and other of the older Southern States, however, where PonoIogy has received great attention for many years past. and where amateurs and professional Nursesymen have spent much tune and money in making and testing extensive collections of native and foreign fruits, the case IS very different; and il Is upon these collections and ex-, permen,s that the people of lbe new States will have to rely for their supplies of fine fruits for some years 10 come. In the meantime, let all who feel an interest in Fruit Culture, plant every season, the seeds of the best fruits they can obtain and bring them into bearing, Let them. also. gather up from remote hooks and corners" and bring into notice the many undoubtedly fine native varieties that yet ' blush unseen;' but, n, the same tune, le, them not forget that we have now, by far, two many '.varieties," and that no other than hrsl-raie and :. best fruits are worthy either of :. local habitaiIon pr name" In ihe mama for " variesies.' of late years, we have all taken into cul. tivaiion scores of new fruits that are not fit to cumber the ground Let US, as fast as possible, purge these from our collec- tions, and fall tack on the very best only.
 In planting fruit trees in the South, we should, first, always, if possible, select fruits of tue best naive Southern. varie- ties. the trees raised and grown in the South; and secondly, those foreign kinds which have long been tested here and are known to succeed. We will give our readers select list before planting time in the fall, and we arc rejoiced to see our people beginning to devote so much at- ten.ion to the delightful and profitable oc- cupation of Fruit Raising.