The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-23


Munson, Falls Church, Fairfax county; VIM
field Liggett, Harrisonburg, Rockingham coun-
county.
The names of the officers give a suffi--
Gent guarantee to any well informed Vir-
ginian of the faithful, intelligent and con-
scientious discharge OF their duties. They
have very wisely appointed a vice -presi-
dent for each congressional district in the
State. whose duty it shall be to appoint a
competent and intelligent man to solicit
membership in each county in his district.
and also to appoint committee of three
or more to assist him in preparing report
for the benefit of the members, giving a
| list of the fruits grown, to what de gree de-
sirable, and the particulars concerning
their culture. handling and marketing,
together with special reference to all seed
| lings and new fruits that are thought to
be valuable. This report will appear in the
Secretary's annual report, which will con-
| tain much valuable information and throw
| important light not only upon the varie
| ties most desirable for cultivation, but dis
cussing the diseases Of fruit trees and rem
edies that should be applied, together with
the insect enemies Of fruit and their prop
er determination. To attain this object,
Mr.. A. F. Mosby. of Waynesboro, Va, the
Vice-President for this congressional dis.
| trict, earnestly desires the faithful coop
GRAFTON of all orchardists in this district
| who will favorhim with letters containing
facts in regard to the varieties of fruit
| they are cultiyating. setting forth the quail
| ity of the fruit, it's time of ripening, peri
cd of keeping, its value for home con-
sumption, and also its market value, as
well as the health, yigor and longevity of
the trees. Mr.. Mosby is largely interest
ed in the culture of fruit, and desires all
the information possible attending this
important industry, both the success and
failures, together with their causes, in Or
der to impart the information to others.
This seems to us move in the right d.
rection. and we bespeak co operation upon
the part of every land owner in this dis
trict, being fully convinced that we have
the finest fruit belt in America, producing
to high degree of perfection apples,
peaches, pears, grapes, and small fruits
There is no doubt tied up in these crops
more wealth than in any cereal that grows,
and with less labor and less outlay. AS an
| Illustration, we feel safe in asserting, and
without fear of successful contradiction
that an orchard of 1000 apple trees of well
chosen varieties Of good keeping winter
fruit, may be planted On about acres of
moderately fertile soil, such as would pro-
duce fair crop of corn or wheat, this be-
ing a distance of about 80 feet each way
for the trees. Then by careful cultivation
of the land for the first years in some
paying hoe crop, such as com, tobacco, po-
tatoes, cabbage or beans. with reaso nable
amount of fertilizing-stabl or barn-yar
manure preferabIe-du which time the
orchardist will be literally rewarded for
his labor and outlay, thus making his or
chard really cost him comparatively moth
ing during the first five years, save the first
cost of the trees and the planting.
Now, at this point, the 9th year, the Or
chard will produce not less than one barrel
Of merchantable fruit per tree. Put these
at the low price Of ST per barrel for the
fruit in the orchard, and you have as the
cash result of the 9Th years crop from the
1000 trees, $1,000.
The same orchard, if properly cared for,
will for the tenth year, certainly double
that amount, making $4,000.
There is an orchard in this county, the
trees of which Uohnson's Fine Winters,
one of the best keeping and shipping vari.
eties) now 20 years old, gave an average
yield in 1885 of seven barrels per tree. An
orchard of one thousand trees of the same
variety. under similar circumstances,
would therefore yield 1000 barrels, worth,
at this low rate, $1,000. 1t is well known
that early ripening summer apples. peach
es, pears and strawberries have been tar
more remunerative than these figures show
in tidewater Virginia, where the facilities
for shipping to northern markets are am
pie and cheap; and from the best informa-
ton we can obtain, grape growing in AL
bemarle and adjacent counties has been
very lucrative and facts and figures can
be obtained from reliable gentlemen in
Piedmont Virginia showing profits arising
from apple orchards that would astonish
the men who are still moving in the Old
ruts.
We must arouse ourselves, and reapthe
full benefit Of the blessings which boun-
tiful Providence has SO graciousIy bestow
ed upon us. The fact is. that our State
should grow, and tits as capable Of produc-
ing, at highly remunerative prices, all the
winter fruit that is needed from Mason
and Dixon S line on the north, to the Gulf
Of Mexico on the south.
Let us go to work and make this, the
tenth congressional district, the banner
district of the State. Our Vice-P President
appeals to all lovers of good fruit, to all
men of energy, to all owners of the soil,
and to all men who desire fortunes, to en-
roll themselves at once as members of the
Virginia Pathological Society,"; to co
operate and correspond with him, giving
all the important information you can OBJ
tain, attend their fairs, exhibitions and