Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-08
FRIDAY. JUNE =. 1866.
FRUIT vs.. COTTON-IMPORTA
SUGGESTIONS.
Correspondence Of the Union Americana

Correspondence Of the Union Amercan.l
The people Of Tennessee are toiIing to make
something for market. In Middle tennessee, a
large portion Of the farmers have gone 10 raising
cotton, and day by day for whole year DO they
toll at this business. because cotton will bring
money; while in all probability they will allow to
be wasted under their eyes. what is worth twice as
much a. the cotton. and what could be saved by
one-third the labor and One-thind the cost.
The fruit Of Tennessee and especially Cf Middle
Tennessee, for know more Of this portion Of the
State. if taken care Of, would bring twice much
money as all the cotton growing.
Cannot the people be induced to take care Of
and save their fruit by drying or canning it. In
Middle Tennessee, while peach trees do not grow
spontaneously yet with little or no care they grow
and bear fine fruit and on almost every farm
and around almcst every house innumerable
peach trees now stand laden with fruit. This fruit
is generally wasted except what little is eaten
as plucked from the trees. With the imperative
necessity upon US for something to sell-for some
thing to bring money into the country, shall this
be the case this year? Is it wise 90 toll all the
year to make money out Of cotton. and at the same
time throw away the wealth which nature has
hing upon the trees in reach Of our doors2 We
certainly every man who has taken any. the least
pains 70 ascertain facts must lo'e that there is
immense amount Of money in II.
In the Northern States the entire fruit crop.
with rare exceptions Of small localities was killed
in mid winter This is most serious loss. The
fruit TO the people Of many Of the Northern
States is what meat is to us-they scarcely know
how to live without it-and they will have it if
it can be bad Now suppose throughout Ten
uesscc. the people would bend every energy in
taking care Of their fruit. IT so happens that
lt gots ripe when labor is least needed for other
thiuraJ Suppose the people in Tennessee, who
have nothing to do and who actually want en-
lloymcnt, would labor constantly -closely-ior
three months saving the fruit, il would bring mo
ncy enough into the country to entirely relieve
the people Of debt.
IL costs nothing but labor 10 dry fruit-it re
qurcs no skill and every body knows how. Then
why not york at it? The market Cor it, for any
amount, will be found at every mans door.
But with preparation and little foretho ught.
peaches enough can be put up in cans to bring
more money than can be derived from any other
one source IN the State
There il scarcely family but what has bought
more or less canned fruit for the last ten years.
Isn for these cans holding two or three pounds Of
pcachcs The demand this year for fruit thus put
up will be very heavy. All the fruit put up can
be sold. The cans can be made for about ten or
twelve cents cach-all the balance is labor, and
any one ear learn without trouble the process
IL require. no particular skill.
An asspciation has already been formed ia
Franklin county, with active business man at
the head. who t. going North to learn what i'm
provcments have been made and what is the best
plan for putting up fruit. Every encouragement
will be given 10 the poorer classes. who will GO 10
work at it, by way of furnishing them cans and
giving them information and the men who have
embarked In it intend 20 make every preparation
and give the enterprise q fair trial Material has
been procured and mechanics employed Tor ma
king the cans, and every preparation will bc made
for doing the work boy the time the fruit begins TO
upCn.
Let the people of the whole State think Of
this Now is the time TO make the preparation.
ST CLAIR.