History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 116

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 756

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"There has been so much mystery thrown about flower culture that few in this section have ever attempted to originate anything new. And yet new varieties of flowers are as easily produced as anything else. Plant the seed of the rose apple for new varieties of Roses. Everything which produces a seed will sport into different varieties from the original stock. New Gardenias may be pro- duced from seed. All the flowering bulbs produce seed on the top, which, if planted and cultivated into blooming, might produce something 'rich and rare.'

"There are flowering trees indispensable to the Summer garden, among which the Mi- mosa, Legustrema, Blue Spirea, and Althea are conspicuous, all of them easily propagated by seeds or cuttings. Flower culture in the open grounds is simple in its details and beau- tiful in its results. The earth around the little annuals should be frequently stirred and watered, and all the shrubs and vines should be cultivated assiduously during their bud and blooming."

Old Time Flower Gardens .- The old or ante-bellum flower gardens were of two types. One of these was the garden of the wealthy and cultured slave owner modeled on the home gardens and show places of European estates. The other was that of the more modest set- tler. The former are numerously found about the plantation homes of the Tennessee val- ley, the Black Belt, and other rich planting sections of the State. With the passing of the older homes this type of garden has dis- appeared also. These gardens were usually planned about the house as a center. There were winding walks, often taking the form of a maze-like labyrinth leading to a fountain, statue or a marble urn. The grounds were laid off into small flower beds which were devoted to a single plant growth and bordered with primly cut dwarf box, underneath which was always a fringe of white hyacinth. In- side of the box hedge were rows of jonquils, daffodils and giant narcissus. These plots were designed for flowers in season. In the summertime there was a blaze of color from roses, dahlias, verbenas and phlox. The odor from these and other flowers and shrubs was almost overpowering.

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Along the boundaries of the garden were hedge rows and evergreens. Scattered about the grounds and along the walkways were the magnolia, bay, laurel, mock orange and cedar, and here and there a crepe myrtle. The pink, white and rose-hearted althea, and the pink, white and yellow oleander were scattered about the grounds, and occasion- ally there was honeysuckle, confederate jes- samine and wisteria. Along the hedge rows were cape jessamine.

The more modest type of garden was smaller and was largely confined to a few plots or flower beds in the yard in front of the house, with flower beds bordering the walks and along the fence rows. Flowers were planted with little order. On the porches and trellises were clematis, cross vine, yellow jessamine, cypress, seven sisters and Maré- chal Neil roses. About the yard were rose- bushes, bush honeysuckle and sweet shrub. In season there were jonquils, daffodils, vio- lets, the stately lilac, verbenas, spice pinks, hollyhocks and snowballs.

Improved Conditions .- From crude begin- nings the floriculture industry has grown to large proportions. The business has called for greatly improved material conditions, and now it employs large numbers of people both in growing and marketing. The skilled serv- ices of a number of specially trained men are engaged in improving stocks, flower crops, etc.

Old glass houses have given way to large structures, carefully planned by experts, with modern and up-to-date heating apparatus. Great advances, too, have been made in fer- tilization. The improvement in flower crops has engaged the best efforts of plant breed- ers. New varieties of chrysanthemums, car- nations and roses among others have been developed for the market. The growth of the industry has stimulated specialization, so that the business has rapidly organized itself into those who grow for market only, retail flower stores, wholesale commission mer- chants and wholesale flower markets. The Rosemont Gardens at Montgomery is an il- lustration of the combination of three branches of the business. The result of this specialization has already aided the plant breeder, and in some establishments one per- son is largely devoted to the improvement of the quality of flowers.

The growers devote themselves to potted plants, to cut flowers, garden and field growth. Potted plants go into home gardens and into private conservatories and public parks. The cut flowers are largely demanded in weddings, funerals and other public functions.

In Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery flower exhibitions have been held on a lim- ited scale, but details are not preserved. Greenhouses, 1919 .- The following are successfully managed establishments at the points indicated:

Rosemont Gardens, Montgomery.

Gem Floral Garden, Mobile. The Oakgrove Greenhouse, Tuskegee. Selma Greenhouses.

Agricultural Experiment Station Green- houses.

Birmingham Greenhouses. Huntsville Greenhouses. Anniston Greenhouses.

Minge Floral Company, Mobile.

C. Ravier and Sons, Mobile. Goodbrad Floral Company, Mobile.

Dothan Floral Company, Dothan. Mrs. S. A. Smith. Selma.

Opelika Floral Company, Opelika.

The Flower Shop, Anniston. T. J. Uhibricht, Anniston.

Parker's Flower Store, Birmingham.

Hugh Seals. Birmingham. Theo Smith, Birmingham.

Koenig the Florist, Birmingham.

Luther, Florist, Ensley. John Scott, Huntsville The Florence Co., Florence.

City Park Greenhouses, Albany.

' Miss Mary Ryan, Tuscaloosa. Howard Brothers. Thorsby.

REFERENCES. - Bailey, Cyclopedia of Horti- culture (1915), vol. 3, p. 1241; and manuscript data in the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

FLUSH TIMES. A phrase descriptive of a period of the State history, covering approxi- mately the five years ending with 1837. "The Flush Times of Alabama and Mississippi" is the subject of a series of fascinating and graphic sketches by Joseph G. Baldwin, an early settler of the State, distinguished as a lawyer both in Alabama and in California. Of that era he says: "And what history of that halcyon period, ranging from the year of Grace, 1835 to 1837; that golden era when shin-plasters were the sole currency; when bank bills were as thick 'as Autumn leaves in Vallombrosa'; and credit was a franchise" -and the vivid pictures of men and scenes in his pages admirably illustrate the condi- tions depicted in the extract given.

Many causes contributed to bring about inflated conditions, the result of which could only end in disaster. At that period there was a general atmosphere of unrest throughout the entire country. The population of every section was in a state of flux. The ambition to better conditions not only obtained with young men but also animated men of fami- lies, who were prompted by the feeling that a change merited a better outlook for their children. Many men, too, had been failures in their old homes, and change was necessary for them if they were ever to accomplish anything in life. The removal of the In- dians and the consequent enlargement of the public domain stimulated migration to Ala- bama, so that new communities were made overnight. The land was virgin and produc- tive. Bountiful harvests rewarded even lim- ited labors. Good prices were paid for all products.

A State bank had been established in 1823, and from 1833 to 1836 branches were lo- cated in Montgomery, Mobile and Huntsville. These institutions were intended to furnish

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money to the people, and its apparent profits were employed to meet the expenses of the State, but the bank management, dependent upon legislative favor, became involved in the politics of the day. The profits of the banks were such as to prompt the abolition of taxes. The government of the State was carried on by these supposed profits. When the storm broke, the banks went under. Farmers could not meet their obligations to the retailers. The wholesale merchants were helpless. Both farmers and merchants were without means to repay their loans to the banks. Paper money was uniformly refused, and in conse- quence commodities sold at greatly reduced prices because of the limited specie in cir- culation. Property of all sorts depreciated.

The inevitable end of this orgy of disor- dered finance, speculation, formative condi- tions and social unrest is thus described in Owen's edition of Pickett's History of Ala- bama, p. 690: "The financial panic of 1837, which convulsed the whole country, was felt with unusual severity in Alabama. For some years a spirit of speculation had been grow- ing and spreading, stimulated by increased bank circulation and unlimited credit facili- ties. Extravagant investments in lands and slaves were made. Property of all kinds reached fictitious values. When the crash came the banks suspended specie payments, and all classes of business stagnated. Thou- sands of good men were ruined. Numbers emigrated to the newer States or Territories. In July, 1837, the General Assembly met in called session and passed relief acts, and again at the regular session further measures were enacted. But unfortunately legislation could not bring substantial relief, and years passed before the people fully rallied from the effects of this trying experience."

REFERENCES -- Pickett, Alabama (Owen ed., 1900); Brewer, Alabama. (1872); Baldwin, Flush Times of Alabama and Mississippi (1853); Miller, History of Alabama (1901), p. 116; Garrett, Public Men in Alabama (1872), p. 39; Smith, Reminiscences of a Long Life (1889).

FOLK-LORE. The songs, tales and say- ings of the common people of a country, as- sembled and transmitted by tradition with- out the aid of books. The word connotes a wide range of subject-matter, including the songs, ballads, signs, omens, peculiar customs, crop superstitions, popular cures, riddles, proverbs, nursery rhymes, animal stories, and ghost and outlaw tales. The value of folk- lore is now generally recognized. It is of service in interpreting the literary beginnings of a people, as well as in throwing light on their early history.

No collection of Alabama folk-lore is avail- able. Songs, stories and legends are to be found in early writings, and in recent years, students of the Indian occupation of the State have assembled much interesting material. These are to be found in the publications of the Bureau of American Ethnology and in other antiquarian publications. In much of the literature of the southern negro will be

found suggestive folk-lore material.

In order to cover this neglected field, the Alabama Association of Teachers of English has provided a committee on folk-lore. Its duty is to collect folk-lore as rapidly as pos- sible, and to stimulate interest in this class of literature by local appeal throughout the State. The committee has issued "The Folk- lore Primer," in which plans are outlined, and many suggestions offered for prosecuting the work. The society has collected between 500 and 1,000 pages of manuscript through the efforts of its members, most of which is de- posited with the department of English of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Some col- lections have been made by the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (negro).

REFERENCES .- Manuscript data in the Ala- bama Department of Archives and History.

FORAGE. See Grasses and Forage.

FOREIGN CORPORATIONS. See Corpora- tons.

FORESTRY, STATE COMMISSION OF. A State executive commission established No- vember 30, 1907. It is made up of seven members, namely, the governor, a member of the state tax commission, the state game and fish commissioner, the commissioner of agri- culture and industries, a member of the United States forest service, the professor of forestry in the Alabama Polytechnic Insti- tute, and one practical lumberman. The governor is ex officio chairman, and a secre- tary is elected from the membership. All members serve without compensation or ex- pense to the State. The commission is required to hold at least two meetings each year. The county game and fish wardens are designated as forest wardens.

It is the duty of the commission "to inquire into, and publish annually a report upon the forest conditions in Alabama, with reference to the preservation of forests, the effects of the destruction of forests upon the welfare of the State, and all other matters pertaining to the subject of forestry, and to promote, so far as they may be able, a proper appre- ciation in this State of the benefits to be derived from forest preservation. It shall further be their duty to report to each ses- sion of the legislature the results of their investigations and to recommend desirable legislation with reference to forestry, and to perform such other duties as may be imposed upon them by this or other acts relating to forest preservation." It may recommend to the governor the acceptance of gifts of land to the State for use as forest reserves, and to be so used as to demonstrate the practical utility of timber culture. A plan is incor- porated in the law for encouraging the re- foresting of waste land by exempting such replanted land from taxation for 10 years. Numerous regulations and penalties for their violation are provided to enable the commis- sion to carry out its objects. Cooperation with the forestry service of the United States Government is contemplated.

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The foregoing legislation was prompted by a recommendation of Gov. B. B. Comer, in a message to the legislature, in which he said: "There is a general fear that under present conditions the timber lands of Alabama will soon be consumed. It has been suggested that remedial forestry legislation should be enacted to prevent this result. Such legisla- tion will undoubtedly be of great advantage to the future of the State, as well as to the owners of our vast timber interests." How- ever, after organizing and issuing a bulletin, explanatory of its work, the commission found the law inadequate and defective, and declined to undertake any activities under its provisions.

PUBLICATIONS .- Bulletin No. 1 (1908), 1 vol. See Forests and Forestry; Timher Belt; Timber and Timber Products.

REFERENCES .- General Acts, special sess., 1907, pp. 192-198; Gov. Comer, "Message," in General Acts, etc., pp. 3-4.

FORESTS AND FORESTRY. As here used, this title is intended to include a non-tech- nical discussion of the tree life of the State, and not merely of trees suitable for lumber- ing. Alabama has 51,995 square miles of land surface. It is located between 30° and 25° north latitude and 85° and 89° of longi- tude. More than three-fifths of its total area is covered with forest trees, of which there are about 125 known species. It is divided into ten or more natural divisions. The prin- cipal ones are the Tennessee Valley, the coal region, the Coosa Valley, the Piedmont re- gion, the central pine belt, the black helt, Chunnennuggee Ridge, southern red hills, the wiregrass region, and the southwestern pine hills region. These regions are so named and classified, primarily on account of soil and topography, and as these factors largely influence vegetation, the study of tree life is most satisfactorily made in connection with these natural divisions.

The State is so situated geographically that the soft woods, the pines and cypresses grow in practically every section, though not evenly distributed. The coast pine belt, ahout 100 miles wide, is low, generally sandy and lies for the most part in the southern and southeast- ern section. The hard wood region is generally north of the center of the state, and particu- larly in the Tennessee Valley region, and while much of the timber has heen cut and the section is largely a cereal helt, the best hardwoods of the State are yet to be found there.

The Tennessee Valley covers 4,900 square miles. It is the cedar and hardwood region of the State. The pines are comparatively scarce, the longleaf species being entirely ab- sent. The common trees are red cedar (Juni- perus virginiana), red oak (Quercus falcata), sometimes called Spanish oak; sweet gum (Liquidambar stryraciflua), short leaf or lob- lolly pine (Pinus taeda), sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis), willow (Salix nigra), scaly- bark hicory (Hicoria ovata).

The coal region is the southwestern ex- tension of the Cumberland plateau, compris-

ing 6,400 square miles, mostly of hilly coun- try with comparatively poor soils. The com- mon trees are the two shortleaf pines (Pinus taeda and Pinus echinata), spruce pine (Pinus virginiana), post oak (Quercus minor), red maple (Acer rubrum), beech (Fagus ameri- cana), white oak (Quercus alha), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), red oak (Quercus rubra), sweet gum, yellow poplar (Lirioden- dron tulipifera), and dogwood (Cornus flor- ida).

The Coosa Valley region covers 4,000 square miles, is similar to the Tennessee Val- ley in many ways and the forests cover 55 per cent of the area. The trees are mostly the two shortleaf pines, some longleaf pine, sweet gum, post oak, red oak and blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica).

The Piedmont Region in the east-central section of the State covers 5,450 square miles and the forest lands comprise 57 per cent of the area. The common trees are the longleaf pine, the two shortleaf pines, sweet gum, pop- lar, blackjack oak, post oak, red oak, red maple, dogwood and bay (Magnolia glauca).

The central pine helt covers 7,450 square miles, ahout 75 per cent of which is still in forest. The pines of the section make up from 30 to 40. per cent of this growth and the 17 species of oaks comprise 20 per cent. The list of trees is the longest for any section of the State.

The black belt or canehrake region has an area of 4,300 square miles. The forests cover only ahout one-fourth of the region, and these are confined to swampy bottoms and poor ridges. Only about 20 per cent of the trees are evergreen. The common trees are the sweet gum, shortleaf or loblolly pines, post oak, hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), red oak, and willow oak (Quercus phellos).

The Chunnennuggee Ridge and hlue marl belt comprise 2,300 square miles, and are similar to the black belt, but more sandy. Forests cover about half the area, much being second growth. The common trees are the two shortleaf pines, longleaf pine, sweet gum, willow, bay, spruce pine (Pinus glahra), wa- ter oak (Quercus nigra), red oak and cotton- wood (Populus deltoides). Evergreens for decorative purposes are plentiful.

The southern red hills region, together with the post oak flatwoods and the lime hills, comprises 9,635 square miles, of which 62 per cent is forest. The common trees are loblolly pine, longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, sweet gum, magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), bay, spruce, pine, dogwood, red oak (Quercus falcata), water oak and poplar. Besides these holly (Ilex opaca) and various evergreen vines grow in abundance.

The wiregrass region embraces 1,350 square miles in the southeastern corner. It was originally covered mostly with open park- like longleaf pine growth, but this has been reduced by farmers and lumbermen until only about 35 per cent of the area is covered with this species of pine. Other trees common to the locality are shortleaf pine, slash pine (Pinus Elliottii), pond cypress (Taxodium imbri carium), turkey oak (Quercus Cates-

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baei), black gum (Nyssa biflora), bay, and upland willow oak (Quercus cinerea).

The southwestern pine hills, including two practically uninhabited regions adjacent (the Mobile delta and the coast strip), has an area of about 5,550 square miles. Forests still cover four-fifths of the area, and the long- leaf pine, which originally made up 70 per cent of this growth, constitutes 50 per cent of the present timber. Slash pine, pond cy- press, foblolly pine, black gum, turkey oak, blackjack oak and bay are other common trees. Eighty per cent of the trees are ever-

green. This is the most important timber region in the State; and although enormous amounts of pine have been cut in the last 50 years, and the early exhaustion of the forests was predicted a generation ago, the end is still far off, owing to the wonderful recuperative powers of the longleaf pine, our most abundant and useful tree.

Forest Conservation .- But little has been done in a systematic way in the State look- ing to the conservation of forest growth. In 1907, by act of November 30, the legislature created a State commission of forestry, with ample officers and other machinery to provide for the protection of the forests of the State. The act had a laudable purpose, not only to conserve existing growth, but to encourage forest culture and the reforestration of the cut-over areas. In order to encourage land owners to plant or grow upon their land suitable and useful timber trees, it was pro- vided that these lands should be exempt from taxation for a period of ten years. Provision was made for the fine or imprisonment, or both, of any person who willfully, maliciously, or with intent, should set on fire, or cause to be set on fire any wood, brush, grass, grain or stubble on land not his own. A forest reserve fund was created. The commission organized and issued a bulletin explanatory of its purposes in putting the act into execu- tion. However, for some unexplained reason, all activities ceased, and no further meetings have been held since or efforts made to exe- cute the law.

Prior to the organization of the commis- sion, however, the United States Government had undertaken an examination of Alabama forest conditions, and in 1905 issued "A Working Plan for Forest Lands in Central Alabama," by Franklin W. Reed, forest assist- ant in the Forest Service Bureau. This dealt with two large tracts of longleaf pine, one in Coosa County and one in Bibb, Hale and Perry. About 1907 and 1908, the Forest Service undertook a comprehensive study of forest conditions, in cooperation with the State Forestry Commission. A report con- taining the results of these investigations was made by J. H. Foster under the title of "A Preliminary Examination of the For- est Conditions of Alabama," but it has never been published. Besides describing the for- est resources of the State, the manuscript report contains recommendations concerning forest management and a State forest policy, similar to that laid down for other States by the same organization.

Dr. Charles Mohr of Mobile was employed by the Government at various times in the latter part of the 19th Century to examine the forests of Alabama and other southern States, and his official and unofficial publi- cations, some of which are cited below, con- tain a vast amount of original information, based on long experience.

In prehistoric times fires started by light- ning must have periodically swept over large areas of the more combustible types of forest, such as the longleaf pine. Later the Indians burned the undergrowth to facilitate hunt- ing, and the white men to facilitate graz- ing. Burning the woods was long common throughout the State, but has much dimin- ished in recent years. The practice was based upon the belief that it would make better spring and summer grazing, would encourage vegetable growth, and destroy insects, vermin and obnoxious animals. However, any good that may have resulted in the directions in- dicated is partly counteracted by the destruc- tion of young trees.

Longleaf pine is less susceptible to fire than almost any other tree, and indeed fire every few years seems to be almost essential to keep this light-loving tree from being crowded out by those that make more shade. Although some other types of forest have doubtless been burned too often, the frequency of fire tends to diminish as the forest areas become smaller and more isolated through the ex- tension of cultivated land.

Criminal statutes provide for the punish- ment of persons who willfully set fire to the woods, or forests on unenclosed lands not be- longing to himself except during the months of February and March, or to willfully set fire to any pine forests used for the purpose of procuring turpentine.

Stock and cattle are permitted to run at large in many sections during the whole year, and in some sections during a part of the year. This practice is somewhat destructive of young forest growth. Stock and fence laws are factors contributing to better forest con- ditions wherever the area in forest does not greatly exceed the cultivated area.

In elearing lands for agricultural purposes, the entire forest growth is necessarily de- stroyed. The tendency in lands cleared and abandoned is to rapidly grow up with the shortleaf pine and smaller growth of decidu- ous trees.

Forests are subject to wholesale destruc- tion or the destruction of many species, through the agency of worms and insects. Organized agencies have combined for their extermination, but such efforts are largely confined to nursery growers and to owners of fruit and ornamental trees. The original forest trees are neglected and without any effort to protect them. The pines are the greatest sufferers from insects. The aban- donment of turpentine orchards is sometimes followed by the coming of the borer, and in a short time whole forests may present a brown or blazed appearance as if swept by a forest fire.

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 116

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869- Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 756

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 756