The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-10-11
a BIG FRUlf FARM.
u Embrace. e.30a Acres on q na,,i,
Ground.

u Embraces e,30t Acres on q natti.
Ground.
Just across the line which divides
Loudon County, Va, and jefferson
County, W. Va, and located in the
latter, Is iine fruit farm, said TO DO
one 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-famod Loudon Heights, noted
Tor the many interesting events which
occurred there during the late war,
and rising about 1000 feet above
Harpcr's Ferry, which was famous in
history before and during the war,
and where there is scenery of which
President Thomas jefferson declared,
1T is worth a trip across the Allan
tic Ocean to see All along the
Blue Ridge Mountains, to which
range Loudun Heights belongs, are
foothills on which are fine flowing
springs.
The present owners OF the estate
are Mcssrs, Charles and Louis Beck.
er. Ia the spring Of 1887, while
looking for investments, the McSSrs
Becker purchased farm of 500 acres
IN this belt, and the first season set
out a peach orchard OF $4,000 trees.
since then eight other tracts have
been added, and now the Bcckcrs'
fruit farm comprises 2,36i acres IN
one continuous tract. and Is one OF
the largest fruit farms in the world.
The orchards contain 10000 peach
trees, $500 ounce trees and about
10000 apricot, plum, damson and
pear trees. OF the peach trees, 3d.
900 are In fun bearing, ripcuing from
July to November
The method adopted In these ar.
1lards OF "hcading In" the peach
tees close to the ground is followed.
The strength that would go To main
tain or feet OF branchlCsS trunk
| 10y other methods is thrown into the
very iruit-prOducing branches. This
| results in producing pyramidal-
shaped tree, with strong, robust
branches that are capable Of sustain
| ing large yield of fruit without
bending or breaking, as would be tho
result of like yield on trees Of ordi'
|
/ consideration is the fact that These
/ trees are much less affected by the
high winds, a feature OF much i'm
purtancc when the fruit commences
TO get ripe enough To pick.
1t is Il rare thing To find peach
tree on this large farm with "A trunk
six inches long from the ground 10 the
branches. The pruning is done with
the main object of letting in sunlight
TO the center of the trees and Ia
slightly check too free growth OF
some OF the highest branches. The
plan has been TO plow 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 planted with any other
crop.
Extensive as are these peach or
chards, they are not the only frui,
1trces that are planted IA .s laFGiScss Fcrics on a
n,,s 70 suit al ~lassas vs., h'sh y, p,'Sss $50
frhd Sc .plr stums in variety, ha60u
mt. nsons, r,dol, apricots, 500 Ji van
, persimmons, 900 ounces, and er-
ries, nectarines, English walnuts,
Italian chestnuts and paper-shcll
almonds.
The vineyards cover sixty acres,
which are TO be extended to contain
100 acres. They contain 80, 600
vines, 3S, 600 of which are in full
bearing. The grapes grown on thu
Blue Ridge Mountains mature from
ten to twenty days earlier than those
grown in the Eastern States.