Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-10-22
TENNESSEE AS A FRUIT GROWING
STATE.

(By C. NJ. Bentley, State chronological
The fact that Tennessee il well suited
for fruit growing Is fast coming 20 be
recognized. With her suitable climatic
and soil conditions aud quantities of
cheap highlands, Tennessee is rapidly
proving that fruit growing has a bright
future. Her location from the great
distributing eeuters, together with the
splendid railroad facilities and the az.
feasibility of those parts OF the state
having IDEAL orchard sites are factors
having iar-rcaching Importance in the
selection OF fruit lands.
Tennessee has 35i nurseries growing
stock to be shipped to all parts OF he
United States and Canada, as well as
10 many foreign countries An apple
tree will grow in two years TO equal
3 or 4-ycar-old tree grown in the
North. This is attributable TO the cx.
tended growing season and the increased
amount of rainfall.
Comparing two OF the fruit states,
Ohio and New York, with Tennessee,
we find a difference OF nine to ten inches
Of rainfall in favor of Tennessee In
the length OF growing days, difference
Of forty to fifty days more in Tennessee
than in the states mentioned above
Thus it is plain to see why tie farmers
and fruit growers in Tennessee have
natural advantages possessed by few
states
From the state nurseries the orchard
list can procure his trees fresh and In =
vigorous condition, and may, if he 80
desires, 20 direct TO the nursery and Sc.
lect each tree for the orchard. This en-
ables him to get shapely, young trees
with well-fOrmed root systems, trees un.
injured by poor packing and careless
handling while in sransit from distant
states.
The sites for orchards in Middle and
! East Tennessee are many at present, hut
these are fast being taken up by orchard
lists from this and other states. 1t will
only be a matter Of few years before
her fruit interests will form one OF the
| great assets. of Tennessee
The fact that Tennessee is well sit
uated and the soil is exceptionally
adapted for the growing Of early APP
! pies, peaches and cherries, as well as
many of the smaller fruits, has only
within recent years been realized, and
the growing of these fruits is now being
rapidly increased by setting of new com
mercial orchards. These orchards are
being set and handled according to mod
ern methods of planting, eultivating
pruning and spraying.
The fruit growers realize that there is
no better way to keep up with the ever
advancing horticultural science than by
being a member of some live hOrtienl-
tural organization. To this end eight
years ago there was formed a State Hor-
ticultural Society. This society meets
annually at Nashville for three days
convention In conjunction to the State
Nurserymen and Beekeepers. This Or
ganizatiOn has grown in membership and
has accomplished much by way of Great
ing a better understanding between the
grower and the planter of fruit trees
and has been successful in bringing
about legislation protecting their inter
ests. The organization is active and its
annual meetings are well attended by
representative fruit growers not only
from Tennessee but by those from ad.
joining states. ~
In fruit growing Tennessee stands
well in the front and in the near future
will hold reputation surpassed by few
states in The production of highly col
ored and rightly favored fruit.