Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-11-14
FARMER AND PLANTER
ABOUT HORTICULTURE.
Tho South Peculiarly tho Home of the


Tho South Peculiarly the Home of the
fEEUl4,l horticultural, slw re
The south is peculiarly the home of
the horticulturisr 1t is true that in
many respects we have been behind
some sections of the north, but this is
because we hayeneglectaalto saias our
advantages and make the best possible
use of them. For the past twenty
years, however, a metamorphosis has
been going on. in the. south and par
ticularly ialong the lines of railway
leading from the south to the eenters
of trade and commerce In antebellum
days and In the period just following
the war, the immense traffic which
has since then developed between the
two sections was undreamed Of.
The south consumed vast guam
titles of the bacon and flour of the
north and paid for II with cotton; but
now the south is in very large meas
ure raising her own bacon, is produce
Ing much of her flour, and her cotton
crop goes on increasing, in addition
20 which we are sending each year in
ever-increasing quantities fruits and
vegetables to supply the tables of the
north. This traffic begins in mid-win-
ter, while the north is still frozen to
the core, unaffected by the balmy
breezes which sweep the gulf and
warm up the southern soil. In Janu-
airy and February in Florida and
Louisiana and southern Georgia, Ala
bama, Mississippian and Texas all garden
products, including those Of semi-trop-
ical regions, are growing unprotected
from frost in the open fields, and
where the business has been devel-
oped are being shipped northward. AS
the season advances the center of
heaviest shipment moves northward
until it loses itself in the regions i'm
mediately surrodhding the great
northern cities with which, on ac-
count of distance and freight rates,
the southern shipper can not compete
growers. BY the time, however, the
southern grower has marketed his
crop, which to him has passed out of
season, anC he turns his attention to
other crops in turn which have not
come in the north, or supplies the
northern markets with such products
as can not be raised successfully there
at all. fr M A-s
Thousands of farmers in the south
have realized small fortunes from
products which twenty-five years ago
we're never raised except for home con-
sumption. The pioneer of these prod
ucts has been the strawberry, about
contemporary with which may be
mentioned onions, raddishes, lettuce,
all of which have been quickly fol-
lowed by scores of other small fruits
and vegetables. Nf
The growth of these in the south for
shipment has practically abolished the
period when fresh vegetables can not
/ be found upon the tables of even the
poorer classes. The field is prac
, tically unlimited AS the country
grows in population and wealth
the business of the fruit and vegetable
grower increases. The time has passed
when the smaller fruits and vege
tables were largely regarded in the
light of condiments to such staples al
bread and meat. The earth Twill pro
duce more in weight and life-sustain
!. ing power of the former than of tn,
= latter per acre. They are becoming al
!. much necessities as meat and bread
n and this is lesson all horticulturist
$ should endeavor to teach.
q The south is peculiarly suited to tn
business. The soil is largely of light
warm and sandy nature, thereby be
ing better suited for such product
than the northern soil. BY coming
into market weeks and even month
before the same products in the nortl
are matured, the southern growers ha
gathered his crop, has realized on !
and is out of the way. If he finds
d then Improbable to ship north he ha
left his own home market which is no
:. thing to be despised, and which
y constantly growing in Importance a
manufacturing plants move southwar
and cities grow in population. Alread
New Orleans, Mobile, Atlanta, Augusta
Savannah, Nashville, Knoxville, Chatts
4 nooga and Memphis not to mentio
scores of smaller cities, are sgivih
!, markets that are mines of wealth.
n those who properly utilize them.
y There Is no business where less cap
a tai is required and returns more rapi
/. and sure than careful and intelligen
y horticulture in the south. With fev
iiss acres of land which cost him a mer
q pittance, man can provide for hi
If own family wants and realize hant
some surplus to fortify against a rain
Ia day. -Horticultura Review.