The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-07-02

everything recognizes horticulture as
king; where everybody has a duty to
perform and they respond with pleas
ure. This place is Crystal Springs.
The town and vicinity, plant of toma-
toes 700 acres, strawberries 400,
melons and cucumbers 500, potatoes
and apples each 200, and peaches
1000 acres.
The whole number of acres planted
to horticultural products is $3.50,
Season before last the returns for to,
matoes alone were over $780, 00. The
first established canning factory is
situated at Crystal Springs, and is
one that has so far proved that indus
try worthy the attention of the enter
prising industrialist.
My hearers, do not let a description
of fine fruits and fragrant flowers, to-
gether with enormous returns from
the cultivation of vegetables, mislead
you. For, while they are all
facts, and such as can be proved, still
there were failures of the completest
type by the side of many of the sue
cesses. Often have horticulturists re-
ceived the bill of their shipments with
the following endorsement: "Please
pay freight" Should the fact that
such failures occur, discourage any
one? Examine the results of the
first n and a half acres of tomatoes
planted at Crystal Springs, and you
will find a loss of $50. These failures
are of the greatest value to the horti,
cultural industry. 1t is these failures
that prevent the market from being
overrun. IT'S these failures that Gull
out the impulsive gardner, who, hav-
ing read of the results of one mans
success, and having seen the results Of
another, believes that he can reap rich
returns just as his neighbor without
having any experience whatever. Ills
these failures that protect us and make
it so that only the man who tolls
earnestly, both with his head and his
hands, can obtain fancy profits. IT'S
these failures that make our enterprise
enrolling, refining and enlightening.
Horticulture is the life and light of
agriculture. Agriculture, horticulture,
.pomology, Horticulture, stock-raislng
and dairying are all links of the great
chain that binds us to mother earth.
Horticulture vitalizes agriculture. 1t
has infused more vitality into the
farmers of Mississippi in the last five
years than they have drawn from any
other source during any twenty-five
years previous. The gardner and the
fruit grower and the florist are con-
searching for greater and bet-
ter knowledge Of soils, fertilizers,
seeds, plants, fruits, vegetables and
flowers. Who can find n a bale of
in a hogshead of sugar, in a
sack of rice, in a NOV of hay or in a
box of tobacco the inspiration and
enthusiasm called forth by beautiful
orchards and vineyards, delicious
vegetables and fragrant flowers ? Hor-
ticulture will, in any locality, elevate
and ennoble farming. 1t will impart
beauty as well as afford plenty to the
1t will stimulate the farmers
pride and ambition. Allow me to re.
mark that we have now to study the
underlying principles of horticulture in
order that we may be able to assign
scientific reasons to all practical re-
sults-note and follow intelligently
their bearings. Then we shall soon
emerge from the oppression of cotton
farming through the beautiful hills
and dales of horticultural progress
into a land Astounding with the richest
fruits and the rarest of flowers.
Let all lovers of nature
Speed that happy day to come, when Southern
homes heed beauty's voice,
And make the garden, orchard, vine like Gods first
Eden to rejoice"