The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1910-11-16
Fruit Growing
In Kentucky Discussed By
Prof. Smith of the Normal
School.

II is true that fruit raising in Ken
lucky is very near the lowest round Of
the ladder just now. There are some
few places however such as the Big San
dy Valley. the Muldraugh Hills below
Louisville, Boone, Henderson Union and
Webster counties. a few isolated sections
OF the mountains and the billy country
along the Ohio river, especially near
Cincinnati where fruit is grown with
marked intelligence and profit 1t is
equally true that almost the entire re-
naming portion of the state with here
and there an exception is an absolute
failure so far as fruit growing for profit
is concerned. Forty years ago our peo-
pie could plant peach and apple trees
and without any care, they would yield
abundant harvests. Since that time the
forests over a large portion of the
state have been cleared away and the
frost kills our fruit. Hundreds of Orch
ards have been started and neglected.
hence the insect just have increased in
countless numbers. Our trees are either
destroyed in few years or the fruit
which they produce is wormy, knotty,
and in many cases worthless. Our poo
pie have been largely interested in lum-
bering and in the raising of hemp and
tobacco. Very few have engaged in the
growing of fruit for profit, hence they
have had no training in this line. Many
of them have put out small orchards
which might have produced handsome
returns, had they been intelligently
cared for. The average farmer in the
mountains can scarcely afford 30 invest
much in anything that will not bring
him money at the close of the season.
hence he has put out little fruit and
what trees he has set have been largely
seedlings.
In the Bluegrass our land is so valua-
bic for tobacco and hemp, and our fruit
so likely to be bitten by frost that many
of the orchards have been cut down to
give place 10 these crops. These are
some of the facts and conditions we find
today in Kentucky.
The apples consumed in Kentucky are
shipped in from Ohio, Virginia, and the
northwest. We pay from SI.50 to So. so
bushel for them. 1t has been estimat-
ed that we pay other states more than a
million dollers for our fruit which I'M
doubtedly could be produced here in the
state. Our carbonifierous sandstone of
the mountain section and our Devo2ian
shale along the western edge of same
are eSpially adapted TO the growing of
peaches and apples. Our Waverly lime
stone will grow pears, apples, plumS and
grapes in great abundance. Our Gin
cinnati limestone located in the outer
border Of the Bluegrass will grow all
kinds of fruit, and the center of the
Bluegrass, the mowhawk limestone
which is rich in phosphates, nitrogen,
and potassium will grow anything I'M
der the sun, if the climate could be con-
trolled. In fact no state in the union
except perhaps California has greater
possibilities along fruit growing lines
than Kentucky. Every hillside in east
ern Kentucky may be made to produce
thousands of bushels of choice, fruit.
No state in the union, can excel in
flavor or quality our mountain fruit
when it is properly cared for. This crop
may be secured annually without fail If
rightly managed. 1t can not be done by
setting out an orchard, then paying no
attention to it and letting the insects
have full sway. 1t must be worked in
diligently if the proper results are Sc
cured. The Bluegrass land may be
made to produce the largest crops Of
fruit found anywhere in the union, if
the proper intelligence is exercised in its
growth. How do we know Once in