Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-11-01
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
The Culture of Fruit.
na ~ NO. YIN. rnl .


deavoring to find section where they
could cultivate the different fruits with
success. They asked us numerous ques-
tons touching the matter, and seemed
very DESTROYS of settling in our midst, pro-
vided they could be assured that East Ten
nessee was the place for their business
The interview in question has led to the
production of this article.
We want before entering into the merits
of this subject, to state a few unvarnished
facts, which will go to show how vastly
our section has been injured by the care
lessness and the want of enterprise on
the part of our own people in their
attention to the fruit business. In this, as
in everything else, they have undertaken
IN developing our resources and of thus
adding to our wealth and prosperity, they
have been exceedingly remiss. They have
given the matter comparatively no atten-
ton. We all know this to be true. There
is not an extensive fruit raiser in East
Tennessee. Not one. We make the as
sertion deliberately. There is not one who
follows 1t as a business even upon q mod
crate scale. Most every farmer, it is true,
has few fruit trees, but they are usually
OF an ordinary selection and grown with
no view of profit. The highest ideas we
have upon the subject is, to make few
gallons of cider, to have a dozen pecks of
dried fruit, and, in some instances, to con-
vert the fruit into brandy. The trees are
planted in a slovenly manner, and are left
TO take care of themselves. We regret the
necessity of recording these melancholy
and humiliating facts, but the time has ar
rived when we must speak out for the good
OF our section. Weare not satisfied to look
on quietly and contemplate this wholesale
butchery. If, heretofore, East Tennessee
has not come up to her proper standard in
fruit growing, it is because her own sons
have not done their duty. They have ac-
complished the fearful work, and at their
doors lies the sin.
We have q fine fruit country. What is
it that makes a fruit country? The true
answer of this interogatory will solve the
problem.
All well informed pomologists agree in
the following authenticated facts LIST. A
pure climate; I'd. An elevated belt of
country (high hills and mountains) /; and
Sd, rich soil. On these points there is, and
can be no difference of opinion. Now, the
only remaining question to settle is, do
do all these prerequisites combine in East
Iennnesse? We say emphatically they do |
There is no purer climate, we undertake |
to say, on.this continent. 1t is mild and |
genial. Were it severe, it would play ha- |
voc with fruit. The frigid climate of the |
North often kills the trees. They have to |
be nursed and cared for in the gentlest |
In many places they have to be
protected from the whitening winds and
storms by throwing heaps of straw around
their roots. On the prairies they are fire.
quently laid low and torn up by the roots.
For over five months in the year they are
bound tight and fast by the rigorous bends
Of frost and ice. Who does not perceive
that this fearful action of the dement's will
ultimately prove disastrous, not On.V 10
the fruit, but to the trees themselves
We have nothing of the sort to contend
with here. Even in the winter season
proper there is no stage or condition of the
thermometer that will work any serious
upon fruit trees. From the
record, kept at the East
University at Knoxville for
January, 1865, we have the following
facts
Mean temperature for said month, at Z
4. NJ, 32'45/ at 2 p. NJ; 97056/ at p. NJ,
I5012. Mean temperature for month,
I5'05/. Coolest day, January 3Oth, Mean
temperature for 81 hours 20'16/. Warmest
lay, January 9TH, Mean temperature for
q hours, 1866. Extreme Temperature at
A. NJ, 14i0 and 50f0; at p. n, 23l0 and
$50 at p. NJ, 900 and So Mean bar
)meter height, reduced TO freezing point
1t \. NJ, 29,0S9 inches at p. NJ, 20063
inches at 6 p. NJ, 29.0S9 inches, Mean for
81 days, 29,0SO. The Extreme tempera-
lures curing Tie NGuI 1opo WtlS II anu - |
giving range of 49, The range in Ohio
is about 1867 in Missouri, over 1909, and
in Florida about 75o.
Thus il will be seen how extremely fla
vorable the climate of East Tennesseeis to
the growth and culture of the fruit crop.
We do not mean of apples alone, but of
grapes, apricots, strawberries and peaches.
Of the latter, millions of bushels could be
raised at a nominal cost. The trees are
prolific, and they live for a century.
One-draw back we have had in this sec
ton in the apple crop is, that our people
have been greatly imposed upon by spur
lous fruit trees and gratis from Ohio and
elsewhere. In many instances the great
est frauds have been practiced upon UNI
farmers. Then behind this
there is another difficulty. Trees shipped
from more northerly latitude, do not
suit this climate. A Writer apple from
the North would, in all probability, be a
fall apple in East Tennessee. At any rate
this is question that should be carefully
considered by pomologists.
All that is lacking to make the fruit
business q grand success is, the planting of
extensive home nurseries, selling the trees
at reasonable price and spreading abroad
the necessary information as to how fruit
trees should be planted, how they should
be treated and how to manage the fruit.
We have all the natural advantages we
could possibly deserve. Add to this that
we are contiguous to some of the finest
markets in the world.
We conclude with this significant re-
mark. that if soma q farnriSinO OOmOIOpiSt