Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-08-22
IMPROVING FRUIT
New and Superior Varieties Are
Annually Introduced

HAUAO giving 10 VHC VI Dho
leading industries, and in adj
: dition to the new kinds annually
introduced by our leading horti-
culturists fruits heretofore un-
known have been brought to this
country to assist in increasing the
varieties. We import large guam
titles Of fruit, as consumers de-
sire some kind that we cannot get
within our own limits, but really
because we do not supply the de-
mand for our own native fruits.
In noyear within the past quarter
Of a century have we been supplied
with a suflicIency Of apples, Dur
ing certain periods of the year
they bring larger prices than do
oranges; the bulk of the peach
crop is annually sold when the
trees are in blossom and the de-
mand for pears has been very
much increased of late years, ow-
ing to the great improvement that
has been made with this fruit.
When the buyers can procure
choice fruit of any kind prices
seem TO be no objection, as fruit
of good quality always sells readi-
lily. The curculio has almost OBJ
liberated the plum, but of late the
pest has been fought successfully,
and with a steady improvement
being made with the plum it will
no doubt in few yeors resume and
hold its place by the side of ouI
most favorlte delicacies. Methods
of cultivation may have much to
do with with disease of pear trees,
but probably forcing the trees to a
very rapid growth is the cause
more than anything else of pear
blight which spreads from one
tree to another. Our orchards of
improved pears have not been
treated in a natural manner, for
the pear tree is somewhat slow in
growth and does not seem to like
too much forcing, but growers
have compelled the improved va
rieties to assume conditions net
suitable for health and vigor,
which render the trees subject to
the blight and other diseases Incl
dental to pears.
Great improvement has been |
made in the several varieties of |
fruits during the nineteenth cen
fury. Strawberries are now rival
ing plums in size, gooseberries are
as large as cherries, raspberries
are larger and of better quality |
and the blackberry, once a nuis- |
ance on some farms, is now Guilt
waited as a profitable fruit. The |
demand, instead of decreasing
from its cultivation, has increased,
and new markets arc opened every |
season. 1t is useless to further
specify the kinds, for the raspber
ry, curiant, grape, cherry ana
ounce have their enthusiastic adj
Even the huckleherry
whether BURBERRY or whortleber-
ry), as it is called, will soon be
among the cultivated fruits, a place
1t should have been long ago. In
some sections where the peach had
been cultivated but disappeared it
now thrives again, although for
time it was Improbable. Apples
are shipped to Europe, yet a ready
market exists near all farms for
This klrg of fruits. 1t is claimed
by those who have made COMPARE
sons that the fruits of the tenn
Derate zone are superior in every
respect to the best that are pro-
iuced Ill the tropics, but individual
preferences on the part of consum-
,rs naturally regulate the supply
md demand, which, of course, in
luence prices.
Larger areas are annually being :
devoted to fruit. As the demand
or fruit increases it is apparent
hat new fields are opening in those
ections not adapted for special
arming or stock raising. Stony +
lilIsides that are now unprofits BILE
ar be made to blossom with each
eturning spring. The grape will
ROW on soils that refuse nourish- }
nent to cereal crops, and the
ackberry is successfully grown =
n the lightest sands. With all
he boast of favored sections there
$ not State that averages the ,
ct profit per acre that is possible {
nth small fruits. Lands that will I
OF grow a blade of grass pay the I
ROVER in pears. blackberries and L
anu VIC oOltOt Hu"ii'
les of soil produce the best of u
If there is'a failure =
4 growing fruit it is sometimes y
ue to carelessness of the grower.
'rees end vines, like anything else, Il
lust receive the care and atten- r.
on of the grower, must be proper
, cultivated and pruned and the ,
-uit judiciously prepared for n
arket. The curculio must be b
ought, the bOrer killed and the pI
iller and caterpillar destroyed. p'
the work is well done, and the st
rover is patient, his reward will q
rely come. for there is an excel al
mt opportunity for enterprising al
uit growers to increase their at
'ofits by producing fruit of the VI
sst quality. Low prices occur at W
mes because the market is over
applied with inferior fruit, but in