Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-09-20
Becker Brothers Fruit Farm.

The Baltimore San of Thursday
contains an extended and interesting
sketch of the Becker fruit farms on
the east side of the Shenandoa river
in this county, of which we gave a
lengthy account few months ago.
In the spring of 1887 Messrs. Becker
Brothers, of Baltimore, leaf tobacco
merchants, purchased farm on the
belt of foothills of the Blue Ridge.
consisting of 2S9 acres, and the first
season set out peach orchard of
go, 600 trees. Since then eight other
tracts have been added. and now the
Beckers' fruit farm comprises 2,l00
acres in one continuous tract and is
one of the largest fruit farm this side
of California.
Extensive as are these peach or
chards, they are not the only fruit
trees that are planted in large num-
bers. There are also orchards con-
tanning 300 plums in variety, LOCO
damsons, 400 apricots, 500 japan
persimmons, 1000 ounces, and
cherries, nectarines, English walnuts,
italian chesnuts and papershell al
monds. The last two named have
this season borne nuts, though they
are not over four feet high. The
vineyard is an extensive one, con-
tanning over sixty acres.
Another season, in the plum, dam
son and apricot orchards, large focks
of poultry will be colonized for the
purpose of keeping down the ravages
of the curculio. which is so destruc-
tive 10 these fruits. In each OF the
three last named orchards will be
erected substantial poultry-honses.
Nothing but pure bred poultry will
be kept, for Mr.. Becker is fancier
of the most enthusiastic nature.
Recently Mr.. Becker has secured
seven acres at BIiIlville station for
the convenience of shipping. Switch
es will be put in, an ice-house erected
and an ice-pond made, so that next
season the bulk of the shipments will
be made in refrigerator cars. An
elevated cable tramway will soon be
built direct from the packing-house
on the farm to the station at MillYille.
Carriage coEYeyances will be loaded
with the packages of fruit and will
go direct to the station by the cable.
This method will afford q great saw
ing of time, prevent much jaring of
the fruit, and with the assured rapid
transit from tile trees to the cars will
afford two requisites of value for
getting fruit to market in prime con-
dition. This cable system will cross
the Shenandoah river, which divides
the farm Iro n the station. Telephone
communications will also be put up
with the cable to the station. A can
merry is to be built, so that in seasons
of peach glut or Improbable markets
the supply of fruit can be used to
a better advantage on the place. A
peach brandy disLilIery is nearly
completed. Wine presses are also
in use and considerable wine is being
made. The bulk of peach shipment
have been made, and at present there
are employed some sixty-odd hands,
and five teams are constantly drawing
TO the packing-house loads of peaches
and grapes. The rapid manner in
which the fruit is packed and ship
ped is a revelation to visitors. Each
| department is managed in an expert
manner, and Mr.. Becker. as the say
ing is, 'fhas everything down as keen
as brier." Mr.. Becker has been
solicited by the West Virginia State
authorities to make an exhibit of his
fruitproduction at the comingWorld's
Fair, and he has concluded to do so.
The completeness of this fruit farm
can better be understood when it is
stated that there is more than enough
fine woodland TO furnish all lumber
required fornecessaryi improvements.
A portion has. also fine limestone and
a huge lime kiln, and lime enough is
made so that 100 bushels is often
scattered on an acre. A sawmilI and
blacksmith shop are also among the
accessions. All in all considered,
the Blue Ridge fruit and wine farm
is something West Virginia can just
ly be proud of. The view from
Messrs. Bccker's residence on his
fruit farm is simply grand. From
Bolivar Heights, ut Harper's Ferry,
to the distant Blue Ridge mountains,
5 miles south of Charles Town, w.
Va, there is spread out like a PIANO.
rama the noted fertile Shenondoah
Valley. This broad eXpance of beau
tiful country may he traced on the
northwest clear to the Allegheny
range. The giittering church spires
and the large new hotel at Charles
Town in the early morning light add
to the charm and give animation to
view for picturesque beauty hard
to nnnnI in anv country.