Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-10
LETTERS FROM
OUR SUBSCRIBERS
Fruit Growing.

Editor Semi-Weekly Journal:
noticed an article about fruit growing
in Georgia. but 1t made no reference TO
what varieties Of peaches or apples were
best adapted 10 our climate. For the ben
eft Of your many readers. If you will
publish il, l WIN give a part of my expe-
rience Of many years I'm fruit growing. /
settled four miles north of Stone Noun
tain in September, ISIS. There were no
fruit trees here at that time. In 1919 the
lands were surveyed and drawn for, and
settlers moved In and planted small or
chards. For several years there was no
such thing as a failure in our peach crop.
Then our whole country was a vast for
est to break of the cold northwest winds.
In 3 or 80 years, when our lands were
cleared and two-thirds of the timber de-
stroyed. then our fruit began 10 fail. In
proof OF this Mrs. Anna Gober, near Bra
den. in Gwinnett county. has an orchard
surrounded for one-fourth OF a mile on
the northwest side by old field pines, on
the southeast by a dense natural forest,
and when others near by have no fruit she
has an abundance.
So much for wind brakes. Now, the next
best thing 10 do Is 10 smoke your orchards
during cold snaps. Some say It Is too much
trouble. but what Is few hours work to
be compared TO putting a large crop of
fine fruit on the market right at home,
when others are too careless to protect
their fruit? Then you get the highest
prices. and II don't take much time to
save the fruit from cold snaps, and l will
give my plan.
The ground in the early spring is always
soft. Take a lOng-handled shovel ana
make some holes a foot deep, then cut
dry wood two feet long. put Ii in the holes
with plenty of kindling TO start the wood
burning; next dirt up like a coal kiln.
leaving little vent for the smoke to es-
cape through. Have these small kilns
about % feet apart. In common peach
orchard soil IS feet each way is wide
enough for the trees. which will give
about rs trees to the acre. Keep the trees
well cut back. so that the fruit can be
easily gathered. This viii give space for
circulation of air between the rows. so
that the fruit win not rot.
A few years ago We had a cold spell
and Mr.. Jordan Pritchard decided he
would try smoking his orchard, and he
commenced hauling in wood Of large size
mat would keep up a smoke all night
The result was that he was the only one
In the nefghborhoOd who had any fruic
worth mentioning that year.
About 1861 ! decided to plant what
was said TO be the largest apple orchard
in Dekalb. county at that time. We had
no tree agents then. but there were sew
-NA&A Sinai nurseries IN jackson county.
| went 10 them al different times until 1
had planted over a thousand trees / Sc
cured some from Legg at Dry Pond, some
from Shockley. the originator OF the
Shockley apples some from McMastis. the
widow Justis, John Venable and DR.. ]. NJ
Goss. was very particular in making my
selections. but I found that we were too
far south 10 have many good winter va
rietiee OF apples. ! tried many kinds.
among which Stephenson's winter, was
the most reliable and more nearly reached
perfection than any other. II has proven
good annual bearer for 30 years, and is
a prolific bearer. OF large to medium size,
with superior cooking and eating qualities.
IL keeps well and remains sound and Arm
from one crop to another. have kept
them perfectly sound until the 4th day
Of July.
Other good varieties are the Yates. Dur
ham and Perkins Shockley. The Ro-
mantle keeps fairly well. as also the Ar
kansas black. For early varieties the
Early Harvest and Red Astrachan stand
at the head, then the handsome Yellow