The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-09-27
a BIG FRUIT r
II Embraces 2,3Gi Acres on a Battle
Ground.

IL Embraces ~,1pf H'''" "''''
Ground.
Just across the line which divides
Loudon County, Va, and Jefferson
County, W. Va, and located in the
latter, is a fine fruit farm. said to be
ne OF the largest in the United
states east Of the Rocky Mountains.
This estate comprises a little less
than 400 acres and is situated on
the far-famtd Loudon Heights, noted
fortbc many interesting events which
occurred there during the late war,
and rising about 1000 feet above
Ilarpcr's Ferry. which was famouS in
history before and during the war,
and where there is scenery OF which
President Thomas jefferson declared,
ut is worth a trip across the Allan.
tic Ocean to see" All along the
Blue Ridge Mountains, to which
range Loudon Heights belongs. are
foothills on which are fine flowing
springs.
The present owners Of the estate
de MeSsrs. Charles and Louis Beck
er. In the spring Of 1885,. while
lOOhi III " lhNASiIIINh II =
Becker purchased IA farm Of 800 acres
in this belt. and the first season set
out 4 peach orchard OF 5000 trees.
Since then eight other tracts have
been added, and now the Becker>'
fruit farm comprises o.'64 acres in
M continuous tract. and is n Of
the largest fruit farms in the world.
'I'l,n ,.,ln,l- ,,n,.i, + nnn nnnoh
trees. $500 ounce trees and about
$4,000 apricot. plum. damSOn and
pear trees. OF the reirh trees. b.
600 are in full bearing. %ripcning from
July to November.
The method adopted in these or
chards Of "~hcading il" the peach
tees close to thc gtUund is followed.
The strength that would 90 to main
tain ) OF feet Of branches trunk
10y other methods is thrown into the
very fruit-producing branches. This
results in producing ii pyramidal-
shaped tree, with strong. robust
branches that are capable of sustain
ing a large yic.d of fruit without
bending or breaking. rs would be the
result Of a like yield IN trees Of ordi-
nary growth. Another important
consideration is the fact that these
trees are ma h less affected by the
high winds, Il feature of much i'm
pOrt1ncc when tie fruit commences
to get ripe enough 10 pick.
1t is Il rare thing to find Il peach
tree on this large farm with Il trunk
- 1 . i,,.l,.- lAt.,v I nA,, 4 ln r -, , n1 = =. 4 hn
branches The Framing is done with
the main object Of ! tting in sunlight
to the center Of the trees and to
slightly check Il too free growth OF
some of the Alghc>t branches. The
plan has been u p!Ow and harrow
the orchards early in the spring.
Some orchards have crops Of corn and
potatoes growing therein. and Others
have received regular cultivation
without being plan-c ed with any other
crop.
Extensive as are these peach or
chards, they are not the only fruit
trees that are planted in large num-
bcr>. There are also orchards con
tanning l.s00 plum> in variety. l,60O
damaon>, 800 apricotS. aOJ Japan
p~cr>llnmOnS, 900 guinness, and cher
ricS, ncctariucS. English walnutS.
Italian chc>tnut> and paper-Shell
almonds.
The vineyards cover sixty acres,
which are to he extended To contain
100 acres. They contain 60. 600
vines. $4,000 of which are in full
bearing. The grapes grown on the
Blue Ridge Mountains mature from
ten to twenty day earlier than those
grown in the Eastern States.