The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-10
THE HERMITAGE NURSERIES,.

1t is chiefly our desire to furnish practi-
cal information on the subject of fruit rails
ing, as on all other subjects which we pre-
sent of agricultural and other interest to
our readers. Those who seek to raise
fruit in Virginia should proceed intelligently,
and while they should know the character
oftheir soils and the best modes of pre-
pairing them, reference being had to exist
ing conditions, they should be thoroughly
informed as to the proper varieties to be
selected for upon this depends the success
of all their efforts as looking to practical
and satisfactory results. The first thing
that the inexperienced fruitist should know,
absolutely and unqualifiedly as a fact, is
what fruits are best suited to the soil and
climate. which his locality presents. Having
settled this matter to his satisfaction, he
should seek the best location his lands
afford for his orchards, if he raises the
larger fruits, and should consult the best
authorities as to fertilizng, pruning, and
training his trees into bearing. The Cata-
Elogue of the Hermitage Nurseries gives this
information to an extent sufficient for
all ordinary intelligence, after
person has once familiarized him
self with the different kinds of soil, or
who can tell loan from mari, mari from
clay, or clay from sand. He should also
understand that when he is setting out a
fruit tree, something more is necessary
than to dig mere post hole, and that the
roots Of tree require just as much free
dom of expansion as its limbs and BRAN
ches. All this he will learn, if he seeks to
supply himself with fruit trees from the
Hermitage Nurseries, in Richmond; for
he will hardly get away with dozen trees
without carrying information enough with
| him from Captain John NJ. Allan to sue
cesslully cultivate dozen orchards.
THE HERMITAGE NURSERIES, are situ-
ated on the Hermitage road, about annie
north of the city, and near to the Fair
Grounds. The grounds selected by Captain
Allan for these nurseries are admirably
situated, as well as admirably adapted to
the growth of fruit trees. This much
might reasonably have been inferred, with
out a visit to the grounds, by any one
familiar with the lifelong training Of the
Captain in the culture Of fruit trees. Pre-
vious to 1861, Captain Allan was engaged
with his father, Mr.. Thomas Allan, in the
conduct of the Oldest nursery in the State,
at Winchester, in Frederick county, having
been brought up to a practical knowledge
of the business from his boyhood. I'm
mediately after the war he came to Rich
mond with view to establishing a
more extensive trade, and purchased
the grounds we have named. He
shortly afterwards associated other parties
with him, and in the course of two
years organized, under a regular charter,
the Virginia Nursery and Wine Company
all the stockholders of which are well
known virginians and North Carolina ag-
riculturalists., The OBJECT was to combine
q larger amount Of capital and influence in
the business, and to bring intelligent md
active supervision to all the branches of
their extended culture and trade. The en-
Iterpriso has proved eminentIy successful,
and already the company, finding their
original grounds inadequate To meet the
increasing demands made upon them for
stock, have. leased for term of years the
farm known as" Spring Grange" and
stocked it largely with fruit trees especially
adapted to the climate and soil of Virginia
and adjacent Southern States. Their stock,
thou Oh not yet as extensive as that of
Messrs. Franklin Davis & Co., embraces
every variety in the Southern market, while
they make it a special feature to grow such
trees as are known to thrive best in the State
and yield the largest pecuuary profit to the
producer. err.frasg4g .{,aa1raa
Captain Allan, who is the General Agent
and Secretary Of this company, has had SO
long and SO large an experience in the fruit
growing business, and has made the cul-
ture of fruit trees for the market so tho
rough a Especially in the past, that persons
residing at a distance may safely order their
supply of stock, and rely upon his informa-
ton and5udgment to get what they really
want. The company have a large variety
of new native apples, which they have
selected with great care and at much eX-
pense, with view to supplying the wants
of all parts of the State, and as they have
determined to foster the wne.producing
interest OF Virginia, their attention has been
especially directed to the propagation of
grape vines. and the finest, hardest and
most prolific varieties may be secured at
their nurseries. The Hermitage Nurseries
! are Situated only about half mile from
the. Richmond Nurseries, which we noticed
yesterday, and have the, same. advantages
of a new and well ballasted soil to produce
q sound, healthy and vigorous growth of
stock cGf.-.N T. II CT .t121 ,butiuA I
This company have also their own sam
pie orchards, and arc able to determine
definitely the precise varieties they may
! seek togrow. The trees they sell may be
relied upon as conforming in every particu-
lar to the descriptive catalogue of the COM
I n ia AZ fbair o,,o ,,,t $3.50