Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-01-25
More AttententiOn Should Be GIVEN
To II.
CsE OF TAZEWELL'S NEEDS
We Have the Soil and Climate for PrOduc'
ing the Finest of Apples and
Other traits.

tried. in brief article, to arouse more
interest among our readers upon the SUD-
iect of raising poultry. We now wish TO
call the attention of the farmers OF the
county to another matter that, to our
mind has been too long neglected by the
people of the county, and that is the plant
ING of large orchards of carefully and
properly selected varieties Of FRUIT and
the proper care and cultivation OF the
trees. And we confidently assert, at the
outset. that the farmers of the county can
do nothing that will ultimately prove more
profitable than the planting Of such orch
ards.
For many years past our farmers nave
devoted their time almost exclusively 10
cattle raising, with sheep and horses as IN
cidentals. The cattle and sheep industries
have been profitable it is true, but the
volume of money put into circulation
y Sthereby would not have kept the nnanc'al
ycondition of the county as healthy as 1t has
been had not that volume been greatly
added to by other things, principally the
sale of timber. When railroad was nrst
built through Tazewel there was an abund'
ance of the finest timber, virgin forest,
still untouched. This has nearly all been
cut and sent away, either in logs or sawed
timber. 1t has been source OF immense
revenue; but that source is now about ex'
hausted, and our people will have to hunt
for something to take its place.
The only mining interests in Iazewell
are on the northern line of the county, and
are profitable only to our farmers by iur'
nishing markets for their products. Ihey
can only be, therefore, a source OF revenue
tn the extent that the farmers are able 10
supply them with what they eat
With expenditures constantly increasing
n M will the people of the county be able
q increase their earnings in like proper
4 ton ? They cannot do it by raising more
cattle and sheep, because the capacity OF
the pasturage is now nearly fully taxed
In our Judgment, the only solution OF the
problem will be for the farmers to increase
the variety Of their products, and nothing
will be found more profitable than large
orchards of carefully selected fruit. In
Roanoke. Botetours, Rockbridge and some
of the counties of the Valley and Pied
mont section numbers of persons years
400 had the foresight to plant large orch
ards, and now they are reaplng immense
nrofits from them. In the county of Bote'
tourt last year the tomato industry brought
in more money than the export cattle
brought TO Tazewell county.
The orchards in Tszewell are not large,
intended chiefly tor family purposes ana
the apple crop in 1899 was not a good one;
but even from these small orchards ano
with an inferior quality of fruit, there was
q good deal of money realized from the
apples sold by our farmers last year. Inns
should serve as a pointer to them.
Prof. n. f. Van Deman, of Parksly
Va, who is one of the best authorities Oh
fruit and fruit culture in the United States
and who is a regular contributor 10 tnt
"Rural New Yorker" has said that oul
, section of Virginia will produce as hne ex
D. port apples as can be raised any where IL
y the world. The apples from Albemarle
Nielsen, Botetourt and Roanoke counties
are largely exported to European markets
Why can't Tazewell raise export apples al
fine in quality as her export cattle L
can he done, aud it is about time our peo
nle were awakening to the Importance o
such an industry.
We are glad to note that some OF gu
citizens are beginning to take steps alon
this line. Among those who are giving
great deal 6fattention and study to trul
culture is MIR. S. G. Peery, who lives on
mile east of North Tazewell For tw
wears past he has been planting apple
peal, plum. peach and cherry trees In cor
|. siderable numbers, and a number OF crap
vines. He has selected them with muc
care. 80 far as variety is concerned, choo'
ing those that were especially suited to ot
climate. A short time ago we MADE
examination of Mr.. Peery's trees an
vines. and were forced to conclude tn'
we had never seen as thrifty and beautli'
lot of young trees. He planted them rigi
and has been giving them the proper cal
since they we're Get out. The result b'
been most wonderful growth. Some
bis cherry trees fiuited the second yea
and he is confident that his Japan PUN
will bear this year, unless all the fruit
killed by late frosts. Mr.. Peery was all
careful in buying his trees from nursel
that ia located in country as nearly III
OURS as possible, SO far as soil and climat
conditions are concerned. After consult
ton with Prof Van Deman and others
decided to gel bis trees from The Geo. !
Sweet Nursery Company, of Dansvllle, Nc
York. This nursery is situated in the he'
of the celebrated Genesee Valley, apo
f,ftv miles from Lake Ontario. 1t has
tablshed reputation for the peculi
bealthiness and hardness of its trees al
plants that is equalled by few and surpai
ed by none of the nurseries in the Ian
We have seen number of testimonls
given this nursery stating that the tire
were the best and cheapest ever bought
those who gave the testimonials. tt
has been MIR. Peery's experience. Oft'
hundred or more trees get by him all ha
lived and thrived with the exception, pr
baps, of one per cent. An examination
his trees will, we are sure, prove the c(
rectpess of what has been said about
Sweat Nursery Company. We have me