New Orleans Republican., 1873-07-19
FRUIT GROWING IN TEE SOUTH.

Until within few years fruit growing
received but very little attention in the
South. Like many other products that
could have been cultivated with but CON-
paratively little labor and great profit the
growing of fruits in the South before the
war was neglected because our planters
and farmers Of those days thought sugar
and cotton the only articles worthy Of
their attention. Some little attention was
given to the planting Of orange and fig
trees. but beyond this scarcely anything
was done. Our people were almost en-
tirely dependent on the North and
West for their apples. peaches.
pears. plums. grapes. etc. The ez-
hibition now going on at Exrosi-
ton Hall, in this city, under the auspices
the Fruit Growers Association Of Louisi-
ana, reminds them that healthy change
IN this respect is taking place. Large and
luscious looking pears. peaches. plums,
apples. grapes. figs. etc, are to be seen
there that have been grown within hun
dred miles Of New Orleans. Before the
late war it was generally supposed that
apples and pears could not be grown
South. bu. we are informed by gentle
man who is engaged in the cultivation Of
these fruits near Osyka. on the line
of the jackson railroad. that they
can be successfully grown. The
samples Of pears and apples raised by
this gentleman this year and now on ex-
hibition here are certainly the best proof
that could be produced to verify his
statement. We have always felt satisfied
that peaches and grapes could be success
fully and probably cultivated here, and
in visiting Exposition Hall at this time
our people will find ample evidence of this
fact. We truly applaud the pride our
Southern people are manifesting at this
time in the growth OF fruit and flowers.
1t is evidence Of better civilization than
has heretofore existed South, and, there
fore, it should be hailed with joy. Be-
sides being made profitable. there can be
no doubt but that plentiful growth of
fruit here vii! greatly add to the health
and comfort Of our people. And the cul-
tivation of fruit shonld not materially in.
terfere with the growth Of our staple pro-
ducts. After fruit trees are set out they
require bu: little time to keep them in Or
der. and their yield is given almost with
no labor further than gathering it.
We repeat that We regard as a good
omen the interest that is being taken here
in the growth Of fruit. The fact that we
can now boas. that We have 2 Fruit
Growers Association III our midst, and
that our people are proud to come forward
and exhibit the rapid progress they have
made within few years in this useful and
beautiful branch Of husbandry, convinces
us that the South land particularly the
States Of Louisiana, Mississippi and Ala
bama) is pcogres sing in the right direc-
ton. This progress may be slow, but it
must be regarded as sure, and will in
the end be the bes. means, through efforts
Of this kind, of restoring prosperity
to section OF our country that has
suffered TOO much from the neglect Of
business and the pursuit Of politics
Fruit growing, under the impetus it is
now receiving, will soon become an i'm
portant branch of business, and may be
the means Of yielding yearly millions Of
dollars to the commerce Of our own State.
The orange crop which before the war
was deemed Of too little Importance to be
gathered for sale, is now made quite
lucrative branch Of business, and We are
furnished with certain proof by Our fruit
growers that there are many other fruits
that can be successfully ard probably
grown here. The men who axe taking the