Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-27
uriA GAZETTEER & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER
OUR ORCHARD RESOURCES.

few DAYS ago | met an old friend living in
on adjoining county, and in the natural ex-
rbanre of news learned that he was engaged
in Fruit Culture Immediately started inqul-
ries 10 learn all profitable facts that would be
ot interest or value. l was astonished to learn
that he was selling his apples (pippins, by the
way( at five dollars per barrel delivered at bis
depot, and that he Was Contracting for the lm-
mediate delivery, this season, OF one thousand
barrels Apples Of other varieties be ships to
some near market-Lynchburg or Richmond
aud sells them, even In seasons OF plenty, at
s., 50 per barrel Now, what farmer having
an orchard eau afford to let this crop go to
waste? and what farmer without an orchard
can longer delay setting out at least few huo-
dred trees? :.
The trouble of preserving and handling the
cron. was Informed by my friend, IS not as
great as one might imagine. Experience OF
northern fruitmen has demonstrated one thing
quite clearly and that is that apples should not
90 into the house too early in the season. 1t
IS now time to gathe: all sorts ofapples. Han
die carefully, never shaking down, and never
dropping them 10 the basket until the hand is
within three or four inches of the apples alrea
dy there.
From the baskets pour them into pens made
10 the open air on the shady side of a tree.
To construct the pens, place sufficient rails for
bottom on hillside, and then make three
sided pen by cutting some rails half in two to
lay up and down bill, with others of full length
crossing at lower end. After filling the pens, Gov
er with brush to keep off the sup perfectly, but
allowing free access of air. The apples not
resting on the ground will not at all be injured by
rain Leave out until the sharp frosts are to
be feared Then barrel in perfectly new bar
reS, and put away 10 frult-cellar, II you wish to
keep longer, or ship to market
Remember the poiut of obtaining perfectly
new barrels. The old barrels are twenty five
cents cheaper than the new ones; but the ap-
pies, on reaching market, will sell over one dol
lar per barrel lower in old barrels, or cannot be
sold at all. Apples THIS year will be high,
hence farmers should at once take care of this
iwportant crop. It is more profitable than
corn, wheat, or tobacco, if properly managed,
aud gives only one tenth of the trouble. Plant
out your orchards; go on cultivating the fields
10 (which the trees stand. as tho plowing will
only benefit them 10 mellowng the soil, and
the roots of the trees will never miss what the
crops take away. :,
To those who live too far away from the rail
road to make the hauling of apples to the de-
pot profitable, advise cider and vinegar max
lDg.
10 make a fancy brand of cider. Gather on-
ly perfectly ripe apples, without speck oo
them. Crush, grind, and press 10 clean mill,
and put in barrel, having the juice perfectly
free of ali pomuce TO one barrel OF cider add
one pound of chemically pure Sulphite of Lime.
This cider will keep one year without change,
and. when the brand becomes known as re-
liable one, will bring at once, in Baltimore,
thirty cents gallon.-Am,herSt Enterprise.