The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13
Apple Culture
In Virginia

B. w. Jones, of Spottsville. Va. writing
In the American and Nut Journal, says:
| We believe that the vast opportunities
for apple culture in Virginia have never
been hallway considered or appreciated,
even by the most sanguine fruit culturists
of the State. At no distant day the cul-
turs of the apple, for commercial pur-
poses, Will become most important and
lucrative industry in all parts of virginia;
but 1t will come without same radical
changes from the system of culture now
pursued.
The best localities for a market apple
In Virginia, are tho mountainous belts
and the Piedmont hills. The soil and the
climate alike of the mountain regions
seem to favor the production of a super
lative grade of apples for winter trade.
Hence the ambitious apple culturist, OPP
Grating on scale commensurate with
tho capital to be invested, will not he
likely to ignore the famous mountain
region.
sBut apples for the winter trade is not
the whole. or the half. OF profitable ap-
pie culture. Apples are wanted for many
other purposes. and at other seasons than
winter-for evaporating, for canning, for
cidcr-making. for the local trade, for
home uses. and for early fruit or the city
markets. For all these purposes the
eastern half of the State, Including the
whole OF Tidewater and the fine and
salubrious plains forming the next geo.
logical belt. Is Just as good as any region
of this or any other State Here. for
three centuries, the apple has flourlshed
In perfection OF beauty and aroma and
sweetness. Hundreds of vareties-early.
late. and intermediate-have thrlven, and
continue to thrive here, In full complete
ness OF every quality that goes to make
q desirable fruit
And 1t Is only in the eastern half Of
the State that early apples can be grown
for the market. In this line, Easter.
Virginia has no competitor. The favore;.
lands near the ocean. and around thu
bays and rivers, tempered by subtropica,
winds. where tho soil is light. warm
and genial, region rendered almost inn
mune from the touch of late spring
Irosts. is by nature specially adapted
to growing all the early fruits. The
whole OF this region, extending back
to the head Of Tidewater. seems to have
been designed for one vast fruit garden
Here the strawberry Is ripe by the first
OF May, and the early apple Is fit for
culinary use by the first or tenth OF
June,
Tho opportunities are enticing. and W.
expect to see the future fruit kings Of
Virginia wing with tho present pea
nut kings for the possession of the fav-
ored levels, and slopes, and sandy ridges.
and alfuvia1 bottoms. for the locus and
nursing-place of their chosen industry.
All conditions that can materially effec,
apple culture In this State, are found
to no OF the most favorable nature. Everv
variety of the apple. tho earliest AMI
the latest. may be grown in the limits
OF the State. and for any and all pur-
poses. Fermepted and unfermented cider,
cider beer. cider wine, vinegar, apple
butter. evaporated apples. apples canned,
early apples, and late apples for the
trade Nothing need be lost Even the
wlndfalls are valuable for the pigs.
There is money in apples; and for tho
best apples. the future buyer viii conc
to virginia.