Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-21
BEST APPLE STATE IN UNION.
Trees row Planted merely the Be-
ginning OF Vast industry-Or-
chards in This State VIII BE
Bearing 80 Years from Sov While
Trees In the west VIII Not Have
q Trace.

Virginia is destined to become one of the
greatest Of all the fruit growing States.
No other State IN America offers better
advantages. and the importance Of the
fruit industry IS now dawning upon the
people. According to 6. W. Koiner. the
Commissioners OF Agriculture. the soil,
the climate. and the location. all of these
existing together IN this one State. gives
to the fruit grower more advantages than
can be found elsewhere
At the present time there are now grow
ing in Virginia 3.1a0.000 apple trees. 1889. :
eco peach trees 2s9.GG0 cherry trees es1. 900
pear trees. 1873 plum trees. and $4,000
grape vines. Notwithstanding these vast
figures. Mr.. Kofner states in his annual
report that these trees should be only
beginning In tho fruit busin sss in Vir-
ginia.
QUALITY IS UNoUEsT1oNABLB
. The superior quality OF the Virginia
I fruit Is unquestionab bic. Every year there
fl an increase in exports from this State
+ to Europe. And this, Notwithstanding the
Sfadt that most Of the fruit has not been
pushed on the foreign market. but is left
to sell itself. which II has been able to DO
In competition with Northern and West
ern fruits that have been abtndantly add
vertised. This speaks well for the davors
Of the Virginia apples. but the awaken
ing has come, and the beautiful Albemarle
pippin, the winesap and the Johnson
winter apples will not be left to find their
own ways to English consumers. but will
be backed by the intelligence Of the Vir-
ginla fruit growers. It is said they now
contemplate sending representa- tive to
London, Liverpool. and other foreign mar
ikets, to proclaim to the world the par
excellence OF soil products Of the Old Do
minion.
+ An investment In an apple orchard that
Is planted with the best varieties. and
properly cared for, Is almost a perpetual
Investment in this state. There are ap.
pie trees in Nelson, Roanoke, Patrick. and
other counties. 100 years old. and still
bearing fruit some OF them producing
over 100 bushels per tree In one crop. Or
chards have produced a revenue from $500
to $500 per acre. An orchard in Kappa
hammock county yielded an income Of SEQ
per acre from one crop. An orchard in
Shenandoah county yielded, from 500 Ben
Davis trees. four years old, 80 barrsis OF
marketable apples. and in the eighth
year yielded 1900 bushels. There are many
farmers. who ten years ago. were hard
pressed to make buckle and tongue meet
at the end of the year, are now out OF
debt, and buying more land, and living
in ease and comfort. The money was
made from their well cared for orchards.
These orchards will be valuable hert-
tage for their children. Fifty years from
now these orchards will continue to bear,
if properly managed. while not tree
standing now In the West, viii, at that
age. even leave a stump to mark Its
former place. The trees live longer here.
and produce a better quality of fruit than
grown elsewhere. There IS no better in
vestment than in a well selected and pro-
perly treated orchard.
There are now several large orchards in
this State. The Diamond Orchard Com |
pany, in Roanoke county, and the Scott
orchards In Floyd county, are the largest.
These two orchards consist Of more than
lO0, 900 fruit trees, they are well cared for, |
and will produce an immense revenue in !
q few years
BEST APPLE STATE
While Virginia now ranks eighth In the |
number OF apple trees growing. accord I
ing to the commissioner Of agriculture,