The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-09-25
in HORTICULTURAL TEXAS.
Professor r. VI. Nsliv Tells Of Some
Receat Developments.
RESULTS IN THE COAST COUNTRY
Farmers Are Taking More Interest
In Fruits and Vegetables and Are
Growing Them Probably.

Post he said:
II have just returned from few weeks
outing among the fruit and vegetable
growers on the line OF the Southern Pacif-
&c from Houston west, and must say that
feel greatly encouraged al the outlook
for Horticultural developments along the
coast Temporarily matters appear little
depressing to those who are experiencing
treat losses Just now from the failure OF
the cotton crop, due to weevil and other
insect ravages.
Il stated that went away for an outing,
but had hardly gotten started before my
friends at the different points insisiei on
a sort OF fruit growers institute meeting
during my stay and l finally wound up
by holding an institute meeting every az
teruoon and night.
Now, as to observations and results:
First. | must confess that have be,n
convinced that the area for successful fruit
and vegetable growing aioag the Texas
coast IS not nearly so limited as I have
a. times been inclined TO believe. Al
Louise. canaso. Edna AID Victoria fou.I
splendidIy drained llnGs. Your own selec-
ton, well located ard according 10 m,
T. -
'%Setafe growing. At Edna | remember
particularly having seen pear trees and
several pear orchards from 1--WE 20 twelve
years old looking as vigorous and healthy
as any that ! have seen N Texas and al
the tine Of my visit tn trees were actual.
~ breaking down with their lozds OF fruit.
Mehsrs J. NJ Haley AM George Gayle OF
tt..t = &C are making gracd success OF
large pear orchards.
While there an enthusiastic farmers
nfettg was held and many expressed their
uetern ndi.o1 10 raise more fruits AMI
Vegetables and az least raise enough OF a
variety to I've on and have a ht,le o.
hcrT ming else left over 20 s.lI as n money
coz.
one poin; have always laid special
eirtss upon is the OLD teaching which my
1000 father uset 10 impress upon me ln
!ouAtt' Gays, viz thst !, Is false economy
20 raise one crop with which 10 buy a.
ctr Thcir one rrop o. cotton experience
together with their utter hcipl5zsnass
when lnal op iaiia them. rendered Qlem
quite NAting 10 listen 20 Mtaab aud
!nr' mods o. pro1uo n anc handling oiher
,LoW peeo rot euift discussion here
o. theee methods snI varieties u-tess
called Tor again. as have discussed mem
4s % lae 70 % ma lhal
inc principal obstacle Ia the way Of taking
~ p.1-f ca ps Is the ltie faith which
meFcisuts aud the farmers have IN their
so.li-! o @h'eeas. lly grow any 0 her
crop Of cor meroiu Importance
On this poin- ! desire to subscribe the
InlfHssions gott6n from a careful study
OF -Aa soils AMI local conditions. / wiil
or cturse, faNe 10 coufiue my Observations
70 fruits and vegetables. b.cansc, as
large commercial orchardist nursoryman
ana gaT-ener. my expsrience Is limited
more or less along these lines. Nv *
IeFtehee WITH vegetables and fruits at
hnsen would lead me 10 believe mat at Ell
campo, Louise, Gaaado and Edna. prac-
Ncaiiy 20 aT.ous problems In the way OF
successful fruit and truck farming are IN
vowed over those encountered In our own
houston Galveston district Drainage
must, Of course. be provided in all in
stances, and that secured the localities
named can upquzs tiraably make a success
oil any fruit or vegetable crop which is
Success here. In fact. come limited areas
are high and Of the !riab.e sandy texture
~hieh warns up early Ia spring and
hhouId not be much surprised 20 Hni thai
rome Of the better gardeners on iayorahly
located spots could beat Us into the Hous-
ton market
Az Victoria. and from thero on 10 Bee
vile the question Of Irrigation is involved
as the rainfall Is not suih,.en, 70 make a
lnl! crop. At Beevillc, Particularly the
country IS full Of wiuamills. In fact. Bee
Vilie Is the Windmill City of Texas" and
tnelr hundreds Of mills are pumping con-
SANITY from an entirely sufficient subter-
ransan water supply. With the irrigation
pants which the gardeners are putting in
Beeyllle will certainly be heard from in tbs
vegetable markets, and that at no distant
cay The fruit growers and gardeners pos
sess oue advantage at Besville. in having
IN their midst weli-conducted expert
ment station. being branch OF our State
experiment station at College station
II WIS constantly repeated experience
hat f4,,Kt "a
raised, and yet here at the station found
an experimental peach orchard as fine aud
vigorous as any that ever came under my
Observation for the same age? What was
the secret OF this success? Proper cultiva-
lion. Superintendent S. A. McHenry de-
serves special mention for the admirable
condition and state OF high cultivation
which he maintains under the trying con-
oltons which he has 10 meet We need
more such experimental stations in the
coast ard We. as fruit and vegetable grow
eis' should not r.st until the State lends
US proper assistance along these lines By
giving our agricultural college and its de-
par'menis greater and more liberal sup
port. AS n result of my observation, there
iore. feel like assuring the growers OF the
sections visited that they have practically
the same advantages that we have, and
tnesr chances for success are fully as gooi
as ours
IL also affords me pleasure to report
that after tho meetings heli at the points
named, tho people got together and ef-
iected loSal organizations All OF tlese
clubs have full quota of good officers and
! feel cure that the ease with which they
took 10 the idea CT co-operdtion Will guar
antse good results in the end.
wish 10 suggest u word OF caution TO
those who have been accustomed to on.s
crop farming. In order to make a success
OF diversified farming 1t requires more
trougnt ana brain development and greater
skill than 10 grow q crop which will prac-
tieaily rsise IL ar. believe that diver
sihed farming Will swing Texas far 10 the
ironf cmong the Industrial and wealth pro-
dueing states OF the Union. and men
ton the extra effcrt. brain power and skin
~ way OF warning. because should re-
gret 10 see syst IN which means so much
70 Texai development brought into dis
favor for lack OF urging proper forethought
ana preparation for the new conditions 10
be net and conquered. Diversfleation
means greater wealth and prosperity, but
u also meatis greater responsibility.
That reminds me OF the Texas Frui, |
Flower and Vegetable Festival to be held
here In Houston In December. No move |
ment can be MADE greater educator OF the |
doctrines OF diversnication than this show |
ana u merits the cooperation OF every |
community. fruit nrower ana ma rL.t 80 |