The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-02-16
lrult, Culture in North Georgia.
By J. c. MILLER, OF ROME.

b4 ). Z. MILLER, OF ROME
from the proceedings of the Horticultu
al society, published by the Society
ana the Department of Agriculture.
Georgia has come to be recognized as
0he OF the leading states, if not the
fieaalng state of the south, so far as the
culture tof fruit is concerned. This
prominence Is Justly accorded, we fully
uelleVe, still her capabilities in this
respect are but partially known or ap-
preciated. Aside from her soil and
cnlnate influences, Georgia's geographic
cal position gives her decided advan-
tage over the adjoining southern states.
der products go by the most direct
routes to fhe great distributing markets
OF the north. Her fruH-growing inter
est is yet in its infancy, but what a
wonderful stir the infant is making in
the great fruit markets. Already Georgia
peaches, pears and grapes are quoted at
tie very top.
They are now taken as the criterion
OF excellence by the very best trade,
TINS being the reception given our in
rant, What may we expect when it is
grown. When I think Of this l trem-
Die for the future of many other fruit
sections.
We are beginning to realize shat we
nave great state, especially in the field
of horticulture.
Commercial fruit growers from Della
ware, western New York, Michigan and
Missouri (he old established centers of
fruit growing of the United States),
who were in attendance at the nursery
mems convention in Atlanta in June,
after one weeks sojourn within our
borders acknowledged that Georgia has
the brightest outlook Of any section in
our republic They, after few days
travel and observation, grasped the sit
uatlon with greater zeal and brighter
productions as to our future than many
Georgia horticulturist.
The peach interest of Georgia is now
becoming big industry. Can she hold
the place already gained and is there
sanger OF 1t being OverdOne?
Let us note for a moment her place in
comparison with other noted peach sec
tons California lands suited for the
peach are extremely high, irrigation is
absolutely necessary. the alkali , in the
soil is no advantage: then the eastern
insect foes are making their appearance
III spite Of her quarantine against US.
The distance they must ship her prod
ucts to find market is great hardship
on the California grower which they
can't overcome. The great peach region
Of South Jersey, Delaware and Eastern
Maryland IS practically cut of the race,
rs the yellOW5 have brought desolatiOn
and waste to that beautiful and once
profitable fruit region. In the Michigan
fruit belt it is true they have to some
extent checked the Tavages Of the yell
lows, bu5not until the industry was
crippled and the confidence of pros
pectiye planters shaken. Even grant
them the recovery Of all lost ground in
the Michigan field or any other peach
region north they would not yisibly
affect US, from The fact that Georgia
will lead the market with better peaches
than they could offer. When they mar
Eet Ale1anders and others Of that type.
Georgia will give the market Elbertas,
CraWtords, etc, so you see Georgia is in
the field with hardly enough COMPETE
ton to incite her growers to cultivate
and handle as they should for their own
best interest.
Where else in the peach world will
you hear commercial growers say, as
some of our largest Georgia growers
have, that it does not pay to fool with
the borer or trouble about thinning the
fruit. They reason from actual expert
enCe that the trees can be brought into
bearing so ch9aply and the fruit, with
out any trouble of thinning, brings such
very satisfactory prices that we willnOt
bother with any of its usual fancy
touches. What is true of the peach is
relatively true of many other fruits, we
take the peach as an example simply
because there has been more attention
given to that fruit as yet than others.
We have now come to speak more
directly as regarding North Georgia IN
terests. North Georgia needs not fur
Their advertising of her capabilities
abroad as much as she needs advertising
among her own people We do not lin
many sections at least appear to have
awakened to the proper realization of
what can be done in the line of fruit
growing. Our own people must acquaint
themselves in the line of horticulture
with the elements of prosperity
about them, and undeveloped resources
in their midst which await intelligent
action rather than attractiXg strangers
with stories of what can be Uol,7.
1t has been often stated, and it is a
truthful statement, that if the various
sections of our country were set apart
from each other, and so placed
that each must depend upon her own
udLlNe IeSOuICeS lOl support anu ueNel-
opment North Georgia would lead
them all,
We belieye in North Georgia as a
fruit-growing section, but there will be
many failures. and disappointments.
There are many obstacles yet to over
come. This is not the Garden Of Eden.
But we accept the spirit Of Winters
hymn:
why search the wide world everywhere
For Eden's unknown ground2
/ That garden of the primal pair
May never now be found"
If all fruit growers would either &C
cept this, or conclude they had found
I the garden, how much better it would
| be for them. How often you hear them
say, if we could only grow fruit like
California or Western New York we
would be perfectly satisfied, or if
peaches would hit like they did thirty
years ago it would be profitable The
front rank fellows, we acknowledge, dc
not talk in this strain.
North Georgia is fast leading into a
nicely adjusted diversity OF products
n Of ,,111ctriac viii cl