Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-06-26
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
No LNXvI.
Fruit Growing.

years i'll improving the quality as well us
increasing the quantity raised. 1t has
been found to pay, andin great many in
stances, those engaged have reaped i'm
mense fortunes from the products of their
orchards. Up to this time comparatively
little attention has been given the fruit
crops in the South. Orchards have been
planted without reference to the quality
of fruit, and the trees have been left to
take care of themselves. If the soil in
which trees were planted happened to
be of the proper character, and if a good
quality of fruit was by chance selected
we have seen good orchards but under
such circumstances, as a matter of course,
good orchards are " few and far betwcen.n
But there is an awakening on this subject
now. The ready market presented for
good fruit has aroused great many per-
sons to the Importance of the crop, and
they are turning their attention in that d-
rection. That fortunes are in reserve in
the near future for those who engage ac-
lively in fruit growing, there can he no
doubt
Southwestern Virginia, Western North
Carolina, Southern Kentucky, Eastern
Tennessee, and n portion of Northern
Georgia, present broad field for fruit
cHlture unsurpassed in the South or in the
country. The climate and the soil are
well adapted to the growth of nearly all
kinds of fruit. Apples, peaches, pears,
cherries, apricots, &C., grow in great
profusion when properly cultivated, while
the smaller fruits such as Strawberries,
blackberries, raspberries, &C., flourish
with little attention. 1t has also been
thoroughly demonstrated that the grape
vine thrives here almost equal to any other
locality on the continent.
Since the war the fruit crop of East Ten
neSsee has proven most valuable article
of commerce. and despite the little atten-
ton paid to its culture, thousands of dollars
have been received every year, as the pro-
ceeds of the crop. And this has been,
we might say, with few exceptions,
forced upon us. These vast profits have
come into the fruit grower, while little or
no attention has been paid to orchards,
: and almost as little attention to gathering
and preparing for market.
There is a great deal of mountain and
ridge land in and adjacent to East Tennes-
see, which can be purchased cheap. and
which is well adapted to fruit growing.
Some of the best orchards we have in the
country are on this ridge land. For
peaches, which are more likely to be in
jured by late frosts, it is preferable to the
valley land With proper energy, atten-
ton and skill, it could all be turned TO
good account, and thousands of acres that
have never produced dollar in the
world, could he made to produce large
and paying crops of fruit, for which a
ready market can nearly always be OBJ
tanned.
We have spoken of Southwestern Vir-
ginia, Southern Kentucky, &C., as being
fine fruit growing countries. The advan-
tago that East Tennessee has over these,
with the exception of that portion of Vir-
ginia adjacent 10 the Tennessee and Vir-
ginia railroad is in the matter of ready
market. With the East Tennessee Vir-
ginia and Georgia road passing through
this section of the State, penetrated at va
rious points by navigable rivers we have
facilities for marketing which render il
very desirable to fruit growers, in this i'm.
portant particular
We all remember how scarce fruit wa.
in the market here last winter and what
prices it commanded. For several week,
apples sold for from three to four dollar,
per bushel. We may always count on {
certain market in the States south of Us
and at home. Our facilities before alluded
to for getting the fruit into market ar,
good, our climate and soil is good, ant
our market is good. Then why
should not men make money by
raising fruit. Our people are beginning t
arrive at this conclusion, and are acting ac
-cordingly. For the past two or three year
thousands of dollars have been paid on
Annually to the Northern and Eastern
States forr young fruit trees. The people
have concluded that there is money in 1t
and they are planting large orchards cul
tfvating with greater care and are bestow
ing more caution in the selection of gooC
varieties.
Men have made money of late in the cul
tivation of smaller fruits. In fact, W
have heard Of no one who has gone into
with zeal and industry that has not mad
money. We have heard some thus engag
ed speak most encouragingly of the result