Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-16
The Aurkrille Gmqnirer.
YORKVILLE. S. c.:
THURSDAY MORNING, AUG. Is, 1877.
ABOUT FRUIT.

THURSDAY MORNING, AUG. Is, 1877.
ABOUT FRUIT.
We would direct the attention of our agri-
cultural readers to the article on the first page
of this issue, detailing the success with which
Mr.. Secretary of State Sims cultivates fruit
especially peaches-on his farm near Rock
Hill, in this county. From this statement, it
would appear that, after deducting expenses
for transportation, &C., he realizes, in the
Northern markets, the handsome price of five
dollars per bushel for peaches, which in our
home market would not command exceeding
fifty cents, for the simple reason governing
all commercial regulation of prices-supply
greater than demand. We call attention to
this subject not merely to show what Col.
Sims has done, but to impress upon the far
mers and landowners of this section the fact
that it is within their power to accomplish
similar results.
There is no section Of the Union better
adapted to the growth of the peach than York
county. Nurserynen and professional orch
ardists further north cannot produce peaches
equaling in size and flavor the same varie
ties grown here, apparently without any at
tention to care and cultivation of the trees
We venture the assertion that peaches grown
this season within a mile of Yorkville, and
in fact some we have seen that we're raised in
the town, would astonish the nurserymen who
sold the trees. Yet, fruit far inferior to this
in every respect, is daily shipped from points
on the North Carolina Central Railroad and
sold in New York and Philadelphia at remu
nerative prices. Yorkville is only four or
FIVE hours further from the same markets, and
in this respect would have no disadvantage to
contend with; while, as we have shown, the
advantages of a superior quality of fruit
would be greatly in our favor. Of course, it
is too late in the season now for fruit.raisers
to attempt to ship their fruit, as arrangements
must be made in advance with commission
merchant to whom to consign them, besides
other matters pertaining to securing quick
transit, &C.. but it is not too late for the
heavy crop of fruit with which the orchards
Of York county are now groaning, to be ut'l-
lied and made yield more handsome return
than twice the time and labor expended in
the production of cotton. Dried fruit is al
ways in demand, and if so prepared as to
present neat, bright appearance, will COM
mand ready sale and fair prices. One impor.
tsnt fact to be borne in mind, is that fruit
dried for market must be bright and yellow.
This is easily attained by using the fruit be-
fore it becomes too ripe, keeping it free from
damp, and giving it plenty of air and sun
shine during the process of drying. Much,
too, depends upon the shape and cut of the
fruit Peaches should be simply quartered,
and cut uniformly. Apples may be cut some
what smaller. A simple machine for pairing
apples can be found in almost any store that
deals in hardware but in the absence Of
such machine, and which will greatly facii-
tate the work, any tinman can make simple
machine for coring and cutting the fruit. By
the aid of these helps much more work can
be accomplished in given time. Yet with
out either, we contend that there is good
profit in drying fruit for market, even when
the work of pairing and coring is done entire
ly by hand.
We have in our mind several towns which
do an immense business in dried fruit. We
say immense, because the product of crop
sold at one town usually amounts to one hum
dred thousand dollars, and that town draws
only portion of the crop of the county. But
as this is comparatively an untried branch Of
industry in this section, many may fear they
cannot sell their fruit after drying it. On
this score there need be no apprehension.
Merchants do business for profit, and there
will be found some in every town willing and
ready to handle dried fruit, if they can pro-
cure it in sufficient quantities to make it an
object. Nor need the good housewives of the
country be afraid of overstocking the market.
1t is only when the merchant is offered but an
apronful of dark, brown fruit that he is testy.
Bring him the fruit in quantities Of one, two
and three hundred pounds, and our word for
it he will be glad to purchase.
We fully comprehend that when farmers
and their wives and children have their minds
fixed on no smaller an article Of produce than
a bale of cotton, that they look lightly upon
fruit drying and similar occupations; but there
is no exaggeration in the statement that the
dried blackberries, sold in the town Of Salem,
N. c., last year, amounted to nearly as much
as the entire cotton crop of York county.
The former grew spontaneously and was pre-
pared for market by women and children.
AS to the cost of producing the latter, our
farmers need not be told. AS diversified
industry is nations prosperity, so must our
people, to become truly independent, learn to
utilize and employ all the means placed at
their hands by generous soil and genial
climate.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
Mr.. Thomas L. Rogers died in Charleston
last week from typhoid fever.
York has paid the largest amount of tax
es on the July installmeut, Of any county in
the State, except Charleston.
Col. r. M. Sims has been elected an hon
orary member of the Georgia horticultural
Society.
Mr.. Simon Langston, Of Darlington coun-
ty, has a child one year old, whose thighs
measure eighteen inches in circumference.
M, F. Thomas, colored, of Abbeville, has