Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-05
HORTICULTURE
From a Commercial standpoint.
Address Of Il. III. French, Esq,
Before the Tennessee HOrti-
cultural Society Yesterday.

Mr.. President and Gentlemen, Members 9
The Tennessee Horticultural Society Their
is something so pure and refining in tn,
object that has brought us together TO-DAY
associations 30 connected with those
beautiful evidences of the elegant taste tina
marks our people in the splendid display
before me, that any remarks | would make
upon the pecuniary and commercial ad
vantages our State is TO derive from tn,
formation of this society, may seem ont o
place, and somewhat TO detract from the
destinations the pursuit Of horticulture
always brings with it.
The influence Of an organization of this
kind upon the public mind, must necessa
rily obtain its greatest force from those
material interests which reach the general
welfare from points most attractive and
profitable, and in this view, would offer
the following suggestions and statistics, as
indicative of the future of a society which
has sprung into existence, clothed with
power for incalculable good for our peo-
pie, and whose plans, if carried ont upon
the basis of its inception, is destined TO
mark an era in the progress Of this State
as great as that which has resulted else
where.
Starting upon the well ascertained fact
that the State of Tennessee has been blessed
with soil and climate peculiarly adapted
TO the growth of fruits and plants, it will
be proper here to point out the extent of
these advantages, and the steps necessary
to secure them.
Despite the limited range taken in the
report made TO this society Of the best
fruits suitable for cultivation in this sec
ton, the experience Of our members will
20 to show that, in the three great divis-
ions Of our State, larger field is offered
for a diversity of varieties and kinds than
in any other State in this country. 1t
only remains to properly organize in each
and every county an auxiliary society,
acting in concert with this, to establish the
ability of this State to furnish every va
riety of fruit Of the best descriptions that
are grown in this latitude, or north Of it.
In order TO properly estimate these values,
let Us look elsewhere. Take the the State
of Illinois-the southern portion called
the Egypt" or dark part-should there
be any doubt of the necessity for such an
institution as this, we can here form some
correct idea of the subject. The experience
of ten years, since the Illinois Horticultu-
raj Society was established, gives the lesson
from which we should learn, and it is to
this subject yOur attention will be first
called.
Business called me not many years since
to the town ofChester, in Randolph county,
Illinois. Although in severe winter
weather, a few gentlemen had met together
and were trying to organize a Pathological
and horticultural Society. Becoming in
terested in the public spirit manifested,
! added my name TO the list for contribu-
tions, and as at that time fruit growing
was an experiment. and but few trees were
grown except for family use, gave but lit
tie consideration to the subject, and in a
short time the whole matter passed from
my mind until very recently, when the
statistics which | shall proceed to give,
were presented to me az the result of oper-
atoms iH the district of country adjacent to
and lying in that county.
From Golden, which is the central point
Of shipment on the Illinois Central rail-
road, there was shipped in 1865 ofpeaches,
1877, 62l lbs; in 1866, 1,195,726 lbs; black
berries, 1865 lbs; raspberries, 1852 lbs;
Strawberries in 1865, 1886 lbs; in 1866,
353, 9l3 lbs; in bushels about is, 400 f;
from Mukanda, Carbonate and Jones'
boro combined, as much more. Only think
Of eighteen tons of strawberries shipped
from Golden in one day, and this, too,
when six years before there was not an
acre grown Tor sale in this district.
The amount for 1867 it was expected
would exceed in peaches 500 per cent; and
in Strawberries 100 per cent. Two hundred
and thirty-seven acres of awberries were
bearing in 1865, in 1866, SlO and in 1867
estimated 500 acres which, at only 100
bushels per acre, would be $4,000 bushels.
The number of peach trees planted 5l6,-
400; pears $4,000; apples 20S, S75-in all
800, 200, which in 1867 were increased
thirty per cent, or over LOGO, 900 fruit
trees,
The cost of planting strawberries is from
$50 TO $50 per acre the cost of cultivation
is estimated at $50. The frat year, 100
bushels at s. per bushel, and the second
year nearly double the quantity, must surely
enrich the grower.
AT Makanda there were planted a few
years ago five acres in grapes; now, 1867,
about $50 acres. The price for grapes is
too high at present for making wine, and
for strawberries the prices are higher than
when the first 100 bushels were sent to
market. We have this illustrated in the
case of large grower near this city, who
sold from his place $4,000 of berries, yet
the prices were maintained as in former
years. Having given these facts as data for
what has been done, let uslook how ace stand.
Tennessee has not only an earlier season,
and more genial climate, but more varied
soil and face of country than in the in
stance given. While throughout the prairie
portion of the State of Illinois, costly eff
forts are yearly made by the planting of
evergreens and other trees to guard against
the bleak winds to which their fruit trees
are exposed, we here are losing the great
advantages nature has afforded us, and
permit others to reap them at far greater
cost.
There has grown among our people, Mr..
President, a conviction that the progress of
events has transferred to our own soil the
region of darkness, and while our anxious
thoughts are turning with some hope that
this Egyptian bondage may pass away, and
the weight of the yoke be removed, may
we not also look upon this growing and
ueSiul HOCitlH Ahto oAio'
ence a pillar of light to guide us while
passing through this great upheaving of
our social existence
From an article published in the Banner
i'm 1854, by one of our members, Joseph
Vaulx, Esq, whose interest in behalf OF
this subject justly entities him TO fore
most place as pioneer, We obtain his ex
perience in grape culture. After stating
that, from grapes grown by him on his
| place, wine was made that was pronounced
| superior to that of the same vintage made
| by the best growers in Cincinnati, he makes
the inquiry, what is to prevent the valley
| of the Cumberland from being equally as
| celebrated in that way, but the failure o.
| our people 10 develop the culture :" He
| concludes thus: "Permit me to exercise
the hope that ere long very many of oul
| hill-sides may TEEN with the luxurisnI
| vine aud the luscious grape. All We re
| quire Is a determination TO succeed
and our efforts will be crowned will
] success. Should | be go fortunate as Il
induce a single individual 10 turn his at
tention to the cultivation of the crap,
for wine, | shall be more than compen
stated for the time devoted to this article
The opening of the Tennessee and Pa
cific railroad will bring the finest fruit