The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-28
eEOReIA'S BIG PEACH FARMS.
OVER A THOUSAND CARS EXPECTED
FROM THE FORT VALLEY
SECTION.

fed at the OutIOOk-What Receiver
Conner and Mr.. Papy Say of the Sit
uatf0n-NearIy Million Trees
Within n Ten Mile Radius of Fort
valley Vow Laden with Fruit-The
Indications Are That the ExtraOr-
/ binary Crop VIII Reach Full Ma
/ turfty.
The immense peach crop Of the western
I and southwestern section OF the state
is attracting a widespread interest
| throughout the country. The weather
| conditions so far have been favorable,
/ and IL is considered that there is now
/ no doubt that this extraordinary large
/ crop viii reach maturity.
The railroads are all taking note Of the
situation, and are reaching out early for
their share of the business. Railroad
men, as well as eastern commission mer-
chants. have made visits to the peach
territory around Fort Valley and Mar
shallville and have already spoken for
as much Of the traffic as they can handle
Receiver II. NJ. Conner of the Central
railroad is taking considerable interest
in the extraordinarily good condition Of
the crop, and has made a recent trip
through the peach section. and though il
was not for the especial purpose of looking
at the crop. he took the opportunity to
note it condition.
1.-THE orchards around Fort Valley" Mr.
Conner said. are as fine as / have ever
seen. I have only had opportunity to
give them passing glance in going
through the country but the fruit was
looking fine and the orchards gave prom
Use of an unusually large crop. ofeourse
we will furnish every facility for trans
porting the fruit quickly and in good
condition"
The Savannah Florida and Western and
other lines OF the Plant system are. Of
course. on the lookout for a good portion
of the fruit business, and they will no
doubt get it. Mr.. f. B. Papy division
freight agent of the system here has taken
some interest in the situation, and he says
the prospects in the southwestern sec
ton of the state as well as higher up
are extraordinarily good.
1t must be a good peach section" he
said. when such a planter as Maj c.
NJ. Ryals will go there to put out 400 or
500 acres o. trees. We will, of course, ham
die good share of the peach business.
and handle it promptly, but we will do
more in our section this season, with the
watermelon crop, which is extraordinary
heavy this season. The growth of grapes
700, IS heavier than usual, and the fruit,
industry in this section of the state is
looking up. We hauled twelve car loads
from very small acreage around Pei
nam last year and from eighteen month
old vines. l have no doubt, however from
what little Information / have received
win regard to the peach crop that 1t
VIII surpass anything we have seen in
years"
1t is impossible for one who has never
been to the peach section around Fort
na inn,
tons that the peach growing industry
mas reached. The acreage of peaches
rlght In that section and along the line
nf the Southwestern railroad ali the
way, nearly to Albany, is perhaps the
largest that could be found in any one
ssseuon anywhere on the globe, and still
the acreage is increasing from year TO
year, and the orchard men are vieing with
each other TO see which can make the
pest truit, and get to market quickest.
In many OF the orchards one would i'm,
agine himself looking over a vast sea OF
fruit with nothing to right, left, in front
or TO the rear but peaches. peaches,
There are, in round numbers 1900 acres
or land devoted to the culture of peaches
Within radius OF ten miles Of Fort Val
ley Upon this area 1t is estimated with
much exactness that there are about l.
22l,O0 peach trees, 1900 pear trees 40 90
grape vines, 5000 plum trees and 800 apple
1t win of course take quite an army of
men to handle this immense crop of fruit
section
are bearing this year, aud perhaps half
as many at least in the rest of the fruit
growing, in the western and south western
part of the state. But at a low estimate
these $4,000 trees right around Fort Valley
Will make case to two trees. afford a
yield of 10000 cases. Each car carries an
average of about AGO cases which gives
promise of about LOO cars of the fruit
leaving Fort Valley before the end of the
season This fruit must all be gatherd
and made ready for shipment within six
! that. he
seen, quite an army of hands will be kept
busy in that section for this period. Al
ready the crate factories are busy turn
ing out crates for the enormous yield At
81 per crate the crop right around Fort
Valley will bring something like $3.50, 900
TO that section of the state. From these
figures 1t will be seen what a great deal
the fruit industry brings to Georgia, and
the advantages the state affords for such
a crop. There is much more money in 1t
| than there is in cotton, and IL is this
crop and industry that Is looked to to at
tract immigration from the west, to which
| Georgia Is now looking for industrious
settlers for her farm and agricultural
| lands.
! There are eleven fruit companies formed
| in Ohio, which own S,26S acres of fruit
| lands in Houston county on which there
arc $4,000 peach trees, 10000 pear trees,
| 5000 plum trees, 5000 grape vines, and
! 500 apple trees. The capital stock of these
companies amounts to about $500 COO most
of which is held in Ohio.
! These eleven companies are: The Al
| baugh Georgia Orchard Company which
/ has LIZ acres growing, $4,000 trees. All
! peaches; the Ohio Fruit Land Company
| which has 1,22O acres, on which there are
! 10000 peach trees, 10000 pear trees and
/ 1900 plum trees. This company has the
/ largest pear orchard in the United States
I containing 10000 trees The Tivoli Fruit
/ and Land Company has $50 acres on
/ which there are $4,000 peach trees and IL
/ 900 grape vines. Immense quantities Of
| grapes will be shipped frcm this large
/ vineyard The Oak Ridge Fruit Company
/ has 500 acres, containing A., 600 peach trees
/ and 10000 grape vines. The liberia Or
chard Company owns 700 acres. with AZ, 900
/ peach trees. The Moss Lake Fruit Com
/ papy owns 500 acres, growing 10000 peach
/ trees. 5000 grape vines. 1000 tuRa trees
and 500 apple trees. The Standard Fruit
/ Company has 727 acres, with 40 900 peaches
/ and 10000 grapes. The Diamond Fruit
/ Company owns 600 acres growing q O0o
| trees, all peaches The Fort Valley Land
! and Orchard Company has 10000 trees. ali
peaches, on 200 acres The Dayton Fruit
\ Company has $4,000 trees, all peaches. on
/ 254 acres. The Troy Fruit Company owns
I 100 acres, growing 1900 trees all peaches
A fifteen mile telephone system is being
put in over these orchards and other
facilities for their Improvement are be-
/ ing constantly added,
The Hale Georgia Orchard Co. has one
I of the prettiest orchards in the SOUTH
western section of the state 1t has SS7
acres upon which are flourishing 100 600
{ trees Mr. Hale. who lives in fNoppsct,