Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-02-03
tsaas'i|ss ia Augusta.
An INTER ESTING INTERVIEW
WITH REV d. g. MOOMAW
ON THE SUBJECT.

ON THE SUBJECT.
THEY CAN BE STARTED FOR ONLY
$500 IN THE ROUGH-THE ADvAN-
TAGE OF A CHANGE FROM THE
OLD STYLE OF FARMING-THE SORT OF
LAND FOR IT-NOBODY ABANDONs IT
AFTER TRYING 1.-THE ACTUAL COST
OF CANNING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SOME FIGURES GIVEN FROM ACTUAL
FXPERIENCE-THE COST OF PUTTING
AFACToRY-PRICEs PAID FOR VEG
ETABLES.
&C., &C., &C.
In December, while Rev. D. c. Moomaw
of Roanoke was in this city on his way
home from Frederick City, Md, a repre-
sentative of the VINDICAToR had brief
interview with him on the canning bust
ness. From the position Mr.. Moomaw
held towards that MISUNDERSTANDING been
the partner of his brother, the late John
Moomaw, in starting the first canning
factory that was started in Virginia-his
utterances made deep impression On the
farmers of Augusta who read them. This
impression has had its results, for canning
factory PEAR Crimora is to be opened by
Mr.. Plane with the Spring, and stock
company at Churchville is being formed to
start another. The desire has been so gen.
eral to hear yet more of what Mr.. Moomaw
had to say about the new industry, that
we prepared series of questions for
him to reply to in the form of an inter-
view and sent them to him. He very
courteouslY and kindly fully answered the
questions, and we give the questions and
answers below. We trust they will be read
carefully and that after reading them our
readers will pass them to their neighbors.
We believe this to be the opening of a
new, great, and prosperous industry for
Augusta aud we trust the interest in it
will become general and practical:
THE IMPORTANCE OF A CHANGE,
Does the necessity exist for Virginia
farmers to leave the old lines of farm pro.
ducts and embark in new and untried en-
terprises 2
Ans.-It is demonstrated in actual prac-
tice that we cannot produce wheat, corn
and meat, the staple crops of Virginia, in
competition with the fertile prairies of the
West, which the effective Railway system
have brought as near the Atlantic sea-
board cities as we are, and that to make
our profession remuneratiye and indepen-
dent there will need to be material chang
es in the lines of farm products.
OUR VALLEY LANDS.
hot nd
adapted to the climate and soil and geo.
graphical position of the Valley of Vir-
ginia?
Ans-Lands that will produce an aver
age of twenty bushels of wheat per acre
without commercial fertilizers, for three
consecutive years, and one and half tons
Of clover hay per acre for two consecutive
years should be worked in those lines
Lands that will produce one and half tons
Of merchantable timothy hay yearly with
in one-half days haul from the railroad.
should be assigned to that line. Hay can
not bear distant shipment, and, as our
towns and cities grow, so there will be
fine local market for it. The limestone
lands of the Shenandoah Valley are also
finely adapted to the raising of horses and
mules and under wise selection and breed
ing and feeding, 1t IS destined to become a
leading and important factor in the solu-
ton of the agricultural problem.
Can the raising and packing of fruits
and vegetables be prosecuted with reason
able guarantees of success?
Ans.-They can, as a thorough test Of
the adaptability of our soil and climate
and the Judgment and skill our people. :em-
bracing a period of sixteen years, and on
every variety of soil, has satisfactorily
proven.
THE FOUNDING AND SUCCESS OF THE
INDUSTRY.
When and by whom was the business
inaugurated in your section
Ans.-By the late J. G. Moomaw Of
Cloverdale. Botetourt county, Virginia, in
the year 1871, followed in succeeding years
by the Messrs. Niningers, It. g. Denton.
and others. AT this time there are about
forty establishments in actual and embry-
onic existence in this section.
Have any persons after trial abandoned
the business
Ans.-They have not; on the contrary,
the tendency is to enlarge each succeed
ing year.
What is the apparent financial condi-
ton of the section engaged in The packing
business?
Ans.-The evidence of prosperity is
decidedly marked and is the subject of
favorable comment by all observers. In
some cases the results have been. prodigi-
Gus. The average has been so satisfactory
as to meet all reasonable expectations.
What fruits and vegetables have been
most successfully grown and packed?
Ans.-Peaches, tomatoes, corn. peas
and beans, lead in the canned goods bust
ness. The line determined on by any far
mer must be decided according to the
quality of soil and contiguity to the loca-
ton of the establishment.
What soil is best adapted to the devel-
opment of the peach?
Ans.-Light sandy soil, elevated and
dfy. Avoid compact limestone and heavy
clay subsoils.
THE PRODUCT.
What is the average product of peach
orchard per tree
Ans.-An orchard in full bearing should
produce one bushel per tree and the aver
age of a tree, properly cared for, is about
eight years, and they ordinarily bear every
alternate year. There are about 200 trees
per acre.
What is the product of a bushel of
peaches in cans