The Washington herald., 1909-11-07

hngs. Five years later the budded and
grated trees sold amounted to So per cent
Of the stock produced and the sales had
increased at an average Of nearly 100 per
cent each year.
Orchards Increase Rapidly.
Commercial orchard planting was be
gun during these years and is increasing
rapidly In 1905 some statistics were as
sembled which showed that orchards had
been planted in West Florida and South
west Georgia TO the extent Of 5000 acres.
year later the same territory showed
over 1000 acres with a prospect for still
larger paintings next season. All this
area Is within sixty miles Of Townsville,
Ga, and every acre is planted with
choice varieties Of budded and grated
trees. Then some OF the largest orchards
are In Mississippi and Louisiana
With such results IN so short a time,
the question naturally arises as to the
agency that could produce such invest
ments. as every acre. II properly planted
and cared for. Will represent an outlay OF
$l00 by the end Of the fifth year. when
crops Will be due
The National Nut Growers Association,
which held its eighth annual convention
at Albany Ca, on October 1914. with its
official organ. the Nut Grower is the
motive power which has shllfully en-
couraged the work along safe, sound.
and practical lines. II took up the work
quietly. assembled and distributed reli-
able information. exposed the fraudulent
dealers in trees. sought ont and COM
mended the nuts which were regarded as
worthy Of planting for commercial pur-
poses, published proceedings Of conven-
tons held in different parts Of the coun-
try. and has proved 10 be a well-managed
CLEARINGHOUSE for all matters pertain
ing TO the business which has many at
fractions for many people.
Future OF Society Assured.
With such a start the future for the
association and the industry is fun Of
promise. but for the lay reader TO appre-
ciate its Importance as a commercial
factor in the prosperity Of the South it is
necessary TO present few facts, followed
by some figures which win appeal 10 the
most casual reader.
Most people regard nuts as n luxury.
They are more than a luxury: they are n
food product OF great Importance when
properly used, being rich in those essen
tails now so largely supplied by flesh
foods. Their use as a food Is sure TO in
crease rapidly as soon as the production
increases sufficiently 10 lower the present
price they command. Their use in the
manufacture OF confectionery is increas-
ing enormously. which. coupled with
growing general demand, has led to
largely increased importations OF various
nuts from foreign countries These and
other considerations give assurance that
it viii be many years before any over
production or peCans can occur. From
the growers viewpoint the business is
safe, profitable, and permanent, as an or
chard. once established. is supposed to
last for several hundred years.
Valuable I'm Five Years.
Mention was made above OF the APP
proxlmate cost OF an acre Of orchard up
20 bearing age. Conservative estimates
OF the property value OF the orchard at
the age OF five years. based on ordinary
well-known accomplished results. range
from three to FIVE hundred dollars an
acre, while at ten years double that
amount Is within reason, because the
value OF crops Will annually pay divi-
dends OF 6 and 10 per cent net profits on
such valuations Trees sometimes yield
100 pounds OF nuts in a single crop by the
time they are twelve years Old Not long
ago the writer was shown a tree which
bore n crop OF over 800 pounds when il
was twenty-five years old. These facts
are mentioned 20 show what the industry
offers
This is not a get-rich-quick business.
and that fact alone will keep the business
from being overdone. II takes courage
as we'll as money 20 wait five years for
dividends 20 commence, but when the
work has been properly performed the
reward is sure. The orchard goes on in
creasing In value for years, furnishing
larger and larger dividend as time passes,
does not work out as soon as a coal mine
or q gold mine does, nor wear out IN ten
years, as does the machinery Of a fac
tory. Besides, II does not need 10 be in
sUred, and it cannot no stolen, and beats
life Insurance by paying the policy every
year without the necessity OF your dying
10 enable some one else 10 realize on your
investment These things are simply
mentioned to show what opportunities
the South offers. not only TO her own
people, but 20 all the world, with the
condition attached that the investment
must be made in Southern soil in order
20 realize the profits.