The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-21
OLD APPLE ORCHARD.
A GRAND SIGHT FROM THIS CHAIN
OFTHE Blue RIDGE MOUNTAINS.
What May be Seen from that Elevated
PoInt-How tho Mountain Received
Its Name.

BEDFORD CITY, VA. Oct 2O-specal.
On the north side OF Bedford county in
the Blue Ridge chain, is the Apple Or,
Onion (better known locally as the
Ingun') mountains. separate IL from the
twin Peaks of Otter. and 1t is much higher
than either of those celebrities, being
The Apple Orchard is generally supposed
TO be the second mountain In the State
IN height. ranking as I Ices, next TO
Elliotts mob. in Augusta county, which
IS 1911 feet higher The maps Of the United
States Geological Survey OF 1891, however,
make II the fourth as Mt. Rogers and
White Top, in Grayson county. are over
a mile boVe the sea.
The distance from Bedford city to the
foot OF the Apple Orchard is thirteen
niles. En- route a person passes through
n beautiful section Of country, many Of
the farms being gentle, rolling, well Gull
tivated and fertile land, yet he Ia close
enough 10 rcvel in the grandeur of the
neighboring mountains. which, ut this
season, are clothed In all their aUtumnal
beauty. The magnificent and harmonious
blend of the multitude Of colOrs among
the changing leaves, Respondent under
the rays OF the October sun. is spread
out for miles before the passer-by, Ike
a grand panorama The scene carries one
not familiar with such into PCstacies, and
even to those who have lived amid II oil
their lives, the magnificent work Of the
master artist, Nature, every day presents
some new beauty.
the ascent to the mountain is made
from Wheats Valley, and from bottom
TO top tho distance is I'VE miles. Inc
Apple Orchard IS not as steep as the
Peaks, there being n series OF compare
lively level steps 81 20 speak. 4
horse can be ridden 10 the top, but GER
tain sections Of the road remind one Of
the politicians path to duty-up hill and
hard climbing.
SPLENDID WV.
The mountains shape can best be
imagined by placing two letter "ts'
curve TO curve, the top being In tho
centre. on the summit is an open field
about an acre In extent. The Times
correspondent IS not conccIted. but when
on this point he felt himself above his
neighbOrs and could not help looking
down upon them. From this vantage
ground nearly the whole Of Bedford is
in view, and the country beyond could be
seen but for the encircling mOuntatus.
These give the county the appearance
OF an immense basin dotted over with
small hills. neat looking farms and small
villages while almost exactly In the CEN
ire Les Bedford City Bedford, BOtetourt
and Rockbridge meet near the top OF the
mountain. and by aitectionatcly embTa'-
ing large tree you also embrace the
opportunity Of being in three counties at
the same time. From the west 10 the
north and east the mountains otstruct the
greater uart Of the view Of BOfctOurt
Rockbridge. and adjoining counties. but
nesting AZ the foot Of a neighborinS emf
nence may be seen portion OF the town
Of Glasgow. The huge powders on and
near the top are pied up IN tanfasLG
positions II is said that during the ate
war many deserters found them cocve-
nient hiding places
one would naturally infer from the
name that this mountain abounded IN
the fruit which caused so much trouble
TO Adam and Eve and their descendants
but such IS not the case. on the summit
Of o.
oak and a few chestnut trees which, on
account of the exposure never attained
a height above that Of an ordinary apple
tree and by some freak the bOughs are
bent in such a way as 10 make the whole
bear a striking resemblance 70 an apple
orchard Tradition says mat II was IRON
this that the mountain received us name.
All the timber near the top IS scrubby, but
its size increases as the descent is made.
THr CLOUD ~ THE VALLEYS.
one Of the grandest sights 10 be seen
Is tho clouds in the valleys beneath roll
ing about like the white crested foam or
the ocean or resembling immense banks
OF snow. But more picturesque stu Is
70 see distant cloud on leyel WIN
the tourist neither side looking black and
forbidding. but under the soft liGht Of the
setting sun the tops Of The misty NdrOr
takes the NEST fantStc FORMS now re-
semblng an immense field with The golden
grain gathered In sheayes or lying about
i'm loose piles, again taking the appear
ance of a distant city with its spires and
tall buildings Every one of the myriad
forms taken by the clouds i'm their rapid |
~ changing positions present some new
view 10 charm the eve OF the hchOifer.
"The Falls" Is an object Of interest
which the sIght-seer must not overlook. !
IL is about two miles below the top and
is caused by Falling Water creek taking |
a leap Of about 10 feet over a ledge OF |
rock. The creek IS a small body OF water, |
but In making this fall presents an at |
tractive scene 10 the lover Of nature. |
Near the falls is the Raven rock, a solid |
mass OF stone $50 feet long and about |
"a feet high. Underneath Il Is a cave. /
but 1t has never been explored.
tn MorNr.rNFFRs
The mouEtaineers raise small crops /
and large families and at this season the |
latter are very useful i'm picking up chest /
nuts and digging nsenz. The mountain |
Is literally covered with chestnuts tnIs !
year, many reaching a size two or three |
a great deal Of tan bark IS gotten in |
the mountain and valuable timber !
abounds. Several hundred acres Of trees /
were "belted' some years ago, and when |
they had died a spontaneous growth % !
grass, which will he valuable for graz ng |
sprang up. Nearly all the mountain f. a !
rich black soil, which, while not deep Is |
well adapted 10 certain kinds OF vege- !
tation. number OF springs rise near |
the summit. watering the land well. |
These streams are tairly well stocked |
with mountain trout. phc1s1nts. wild |
turkeys. and occasionally wild cats ami |
bears afford sport for the Nimrods
Taken all in ALL the Apple Orchard |
while out Of the beaten path, is an in |
teresting point 10 the visitor 70 the noun
tains. whether he views Il from a COM
mercial standpoint or that Of an admirer
nj 20 a