The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-11-25
The Fruit Growers Prospect
BY 7. F. PECK.
Commissioner OF Agriculture

The following article has been con.
tributed for this column by N. d.
Peacock, Field Agent of the State
Horticultural Society.
When ! was boy we never had to
spray our orchards. The ground was
just covered with fine fruit every fall,
and we never did anything at all to the
trees" How often have you had that
expression when the subj of spraying,
pruning or cultivation was raised? The
number, size and perfection of the
apples in the orchards of our fathers
NAV be considerably magnified in our
memory, but it lie a fact that many of
our most serious orchard pests have
been recently introduced.
When the San Jose sca'e first spread
over the country many said the entire
fruit Industry was doomed to destruc-
ton. The prophecy would doubtless
have been fulfilled il every one
had agreed with them. but it
has been the indomtable will of those
who loved the work and believed In it
that has been the basis of the phenom.
email growth Of the fruit industry in
this country. Steadily, year latter
year. as the depredstlons Of insects
became more serious, these men who
bad perseverance, and vision devt loped
new methods of controlling the pests.
Spray machinery was improved, spray
materials were prepared. and time
for applying the sprays were studied,
until now the San Jose scale and other
insects which once threatened destruc-
ton are no longer feared by the scien.
tific orchardist.
This development was gaining ground
and interest In fruit growing was in
cressing when the war came and
economic conditions were suddenly up
set. The price Of fruit climbed and
labor became scarce and costly, All
materials scared and did not stop when
the price of fruit fell There followed
spirit Of unrest among the growers.
When the 1920 fruit crop was harvest
ed the break had not yet come, and the
short crop of this year helped to hold
prices. or rather made the descent in
prices less abrupt. But readjustment
must gradually come and the fruit
growers, as we'll as others must reor-
ganize to meet new conditions.
What may we expect In the future 7
When conditions are again normal and
the law of supply and demand is pro
perry functioning. there the posi-
bility ofover productions to be considered
Between 1910 and 1920 the number of
bearing apple trees In the United States
was reduced 1913 per cent. peach trees
reduced 30.5 per cent. and the acreage
of strawberries 1875. There has been a
decrease in trees under bearing age of
46.9 per cent, and at the same time the
population has increased 1874 per cent.
At present. therefore, the demand
will surely exceed the supply If
there 10 proper distribution. The long
list of orchard enemies. the large invest
nent and the long wait before returns
illtend to prevent excessive planting.
Fruit growing Is specialized industry,
and II takes far.sightedness, persistence
and diligence to succeed.
In Tennessee conditions are promising.
Geographically we have q wonderful
advantage. markets, both north and south
are open to Us with q comparatively
short shipping distance. We are locat.
ed near the center of the most import
ant markets of the country. With
st. Louis, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and
Birmingham at our very door, and with
Kansas City Chicago, New York and
New Orleans Yithin easy reach, we
end market as easily ss any section in
the United States. If we can MAKE as
much profit.on our apples as the grow
ers in Oregon pay for freight. We can
make money. Located ss conveniently
IS We are, to the large markets. We
are further blessed with exceptionally
good TRANSPORTATION facilities. We can
put our produce on the market in a
very short time and therefore In the
very best condition. One of the
greatest developments in recent times
has been that of refrigeration in transit.
Freight rates have been exorbitant, and
they are still too high, but in that
respect we are no wsrse off than other
sections competing with rs.
We can hardly fail to be optimistic in
spite of the depression Of the times Ii
seems to me the further hold 3 golden
opportunity which challenges every
fruit grower to do bis best. The great
big problem for Tennessee now is to
produce more fruit of better quality
than ever before. But this cannot be
done without proper care Of the orchard.
One Of the chief influences at work in
Tennessee for the benefit or the or
chsrdist is the Tennessee Horticultural
Society, which i dong splendid work.