The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-27
FINE FRUIT
in FAUQUIER
Nearly Every Farmer Has a
Plentiful Variety.
INCOMES DERIVED FROM 1T
What Some Have Acc omplished is en-
couraging Others to Yet Greater
Things, and Much Money IS
Likely to Be Made in Fruit.
INCOMES DERIVED FROM 1T
Especial to The Times Dlspatch)

\GpCCiul W Nv, IlHlSS-lIiSf'''S'''
MORR1Sv1LLlI, VA. Sept. 20'-7lhe
fruit interests OF this section have peer
steadily growing in importance LOT Sow
cral years past, until it is now rccoshizeo
as special line OF farming with clearly
marked subdivisions. This season VII
nesses the largest yield of fruits of all
kinds that this part of the state ever
produced, and the future of the ifult
grower is a very rosy one indeed.
Twenty years ago scarcely one farmer
In five had anything more in the irull
line than a few apple trees, Off OF "hlch
he would gather limited number of in
ferior apples for culinary purposes or
cider. To-day scarcely farm Is TO DC
found that does not have an abundance
OF the choicest of varieties of grapes ap"
Piles, peaches, plums, pears, strawperrles
and raspberrlcs. One man near KEN.
lngton sold $1,000 worth of grapes last
year, another has ifey keiffer pear trees
bearing that bring him in a snug niue
| sum each year; one man near Whlte
Ridge sold $500 worth of Strawberries
grown on land apparently too poor 70
produce grant or grass; another Is s4oo
| better off for the same reason; several
| farmers near Elk Kun are 1attenillS lhei
purses out OF peach orchards.
| A CRIPPLED VETERANS ORCHARD.
| Eighteen years ago S. e. kieser, an eX-
Confederate soldier, very lame from IN
juries received In battle and with an In
| valid wife to care for, purchased near
| Morrisville $50 acres of land SO poor tEat
1t is said the man who last lived on the
place hauled all he raised in one season
off at one two-horse load.
There was no improved fruit of any
kind on the place when he purchased it.
Two years ago Mr.. Kieser sold 400 bushels
of winter apples and 1900 gallons of cider
off Of ten acres of apple trees. He sold
500 worth of plums and pears out of his
yard, and as much or more he received
for his grapes.
In the days Of stage lines White Ridge
was very important station on the line
from Washington to Richmond. and on
the four posters still to be found in the
part Of the old taver nthat yet remains,
many Of those who helped to guide the
their weary bones. Even the immortal
George Washington is said to have fire.
quently favored it by his presence. But
with the building of railroads all business
activity disappeared and White Ridge be-
came almost as lonesome and lfeless as
the east coast of Greenland
PROGRESS AMID POVERTY.
About twelve years ago the Rev. VIII
plants in a small way in the sandy, gray
ely land, so common around White Ridge.
much to the amusement Of those who
knew what scanty crops of grain and
grass this land had always produced. Each
year he increased his acreage of straw
berries, and then he planted apple and
pear trees, working the vines and the
trees together His vines bore prodiglouS;lly
of choice berries. for which b" easily
found ready market. His home fruits are
returning steadily increasing prof s and on
the land once looked upon by many as not
worth paying taxes on he is rapidly be-
coming a wealthy man. One look at his
well-kept buildings and extensive or.
chards is enough to convince any one OF
his prosperity, and the apple and the
strawberry were the keys Of his success.
But he Is not alone to-day: others all
around him are following the trail he
| blazed A new church. a steam mill and
large general merchandise store have
come to White Ridge with the increase OF
N''o MONEY IN APPLES.
Apple growing is the most prominent OF
| the fruit interests. One reason Is that the
| fruit is easier gotten into market, and the
| nuctuaton in prices in different years Is
not so great as with fruits like peaches
or awberres. Then. again, the soil
here seems to be especially adapted for
apples; they are thrifty, bear Young, are
a more certain crop than most fruits; cold
seldom Injuries the blossoms. and the trees
and fruit are remarkably free from in1uri-
| GUS diseases or insects. lDlu LIE HuIhe
trees in this section receive the pruning
spraying cultivation, fertilization and the
same general attention that they receive
| in the State Of New York and some other
| sections Of the Union. the quality and
quantity Of the apples grown here would
be eauallcd by few, Some trees live to a
great age Ut apparently dencnding on the
VARIETY. One tree Mt Haldeman's, about
n mile east Of Morrsville. IS known to be
over one hundred years old, and is thrifty
| and vigorous TO-DAY with over thirty bush
ole - rhoico oNn'-r t,o->--;rr tic tw'~a.
! Four avenues Of profit are open to the
apple growers: Raising early APPLES, such
as the yellow Transparent, Early Ripe
and Early Harvest to be shipped to the
| V '"N +fHa '~v io--c'' e-7-'oH F>r
the fancy fruit trade. such as the ITallo-
water Sweet. Boueh, NTcTntosh and Lon
don Sweet: the making of cider for Vine
gar from the imperfect fruit or the SELL
i'~ 80 'he oonlre - tho s''Nhoueos a--d
last and. most mn2rtant of all, the sale
OF standard varities of winter apples,
|