The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-09
THE RICHMOND NURSERIES.

ent nurseries IN the United States, and then
search for the healthy and vigorous
orchards that should by this time be pro-
ducing fruit abundantly, were such search
practically possible, we should no doubt
be struck with surprise at the meager
results that have been reached by our peo-
pie in the science of growing fruit trees.
For the different methods of planting, bud
ding, pruning, fertilizlng, grating, deter
mining the character Of the soil, utilizing |
the same, selecting the proper varieties,
training the trees into bearing, and, finally, |
gathering the fruit and packing it for mar
ket; is as much a science to be learned by
the genealogical student, as is the study of
mathematics, chemistry, or botany to those
seeking to master the intricacies of these
respective branches of study.
There are probably not less than fifteen
hundred or two thousand nurseries in the
United States, from which millions upon mil
lions Of fruit trees are sold annually, con-
sisting principally Of apples, pears, peaches,
plums, cherries, apricots, and the smaller
fruits; and yet it is safe to say that not one
in ten of the trees thus sold ever becomes
healthy, vigorous, and productive tree, for
the want of the knowledge absolutely
essential to the successful culture of fruit.
Those who have thoroughly mastered the
science Of pomology have had no difficulty
in obtaining anticipated results, and have
met with unexampled success in their
efforts, while those who have not had this
knowledge, nor sought to attain it, have
utterly failed in making their fruit culture
profitable.
A few nurserymen in the country are
devoting themselves as well and faithfully
to imparting this knowledge to farmers and
others desiring to raise fruit as they are to
seeking successful market for their fruit
trees. They are men who thoroughly un-
derstand their business, know the varieties
of fruit best suited to the climate and soils
for which they are marketed, and desire
that purchasers should make the proper
selection of stock and pursue the most APP
among this class of nurserymen are
MEssRs. FRANKLIN DAVIS & Co., of
this city, who have larger nurseries andrun
| larger and better variety of stock than
any other company or single in
dividual now propagating fruit, or sup
plying the market with fruit trees, south
of Mason and Dixon's line in the United
States. This firm consists of Messrs.
Franklin Davis, Samuel G. Kent, and Jonah
Cooper, who are probably doing as much
to advance the reputation Of Virginia and
make her noted in the right direction as
any three men to be found in the
State. The senior partner of this firm COM
menced the nursery business twenty-five
years ago, first in Rockingham county, then
at Staunton, and finally in or near this city,
where he has opened, and with his partners
built up, the splendid " Richmond Nurse
ries," now containing from four to five
million trees, and between nine hundred
and thousand varieties, including apples,
pears, peaches, and cherries alone, to say
nothing Of the smaller fruits, which they
propagate in equal abundance. These gen.
tlemen have not less than two hundred and
fifty acres in fruit trees, mostly grown for
the market. They have three hundred and
sixty varieties of apples two hundred varie.
ties of peaches; three hundred Of pears,
dwarf and standard thirty varieties o.
cherries; about the same plumber of plums
fifty varieties of grapes; iorty-five of straw
berries; thirty Of gooseberries, with other
small fruits in equal variety and abundance
In addition to their extensive nurseries il
and about Richmond, they have one hun
dred and fifty acres in fruit orchards neal
jones' Wharf on the James River, and one
hundred acres at Goldsboro', in North Car.
DINA, where they have also fifty acres il
strawberries.
To show the extent and success of Their
fruit raising business, which is branch
entirely subordinate to that of growing fruit
trees for the market, they sold this last
season, from sixty-five acres Of strawber-
ries, over thirteen thousand dollars worth
| of fruit, which sum they received in return
for their shipments. Their fruit orchards
on the James River, have proved great
success. From one acre Of young Bartlett
pear trees, planted near the close of the
war, they have sold five hundred dollars
worth Of fruit for three years in succession.
OF course the fruit was picked and shipped
with great care, sent to tho New York
market, and, being of the best quality
commanded a superior price. Five hundred
dollars was the sum netted from this one
acre, and what is possible with one acre car
be made practicable upon any number o.
acres, with proper care and attention in the
culture Of fruit.
Their main nursery consists Of one hun
dred and twenty-four acres on the Brook,
Turnpike, about mile and quarter from
the city. The land had never before beer
used for growing frui trees, and was Sc
: lected with view to securing healthy
and hardy growth Of stock, and one free
: from the insects and diseases that not un