The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-19

coarse in texture, but healthful when made into large loaves, and resem- bled graham bread. The bran was made into starch by simple method each family making their own sup ply. What remained was fed to Me milch cows. The red lands of the val leys produced the largest crops of small grains. Every farmer raised abundant supplies of oats, potatoes. peas and pumpkins. The range was full of fat cattle, sheep and hogs. but these had to be carefully guarded on account Of wolves, of which there were plenty. During autumn the grond was strewn with hickory nuts, wal nuts hazel nuts and oh hestnuts; the black haws wild plums andgrape wings bending under their loads of fruitage
 The first apple tree in Blount was volunteer seeding discovered In 1917 near the house of Mr Andrew Aldridge. and produced from some apples brought from Tennessee. He took great care of the little plant which was vigorous and lived to a great old age familiarly known as the Patriarch Apple Tree" In 1917 very worthy and progressive farmer, MT. John Fowler, from Tennessee settled on a choice tract of land about four miles south of BlountsvilIe. on the main road to Blount Springs, and gave to his home
 
 in a large grove of walnut trees, he and his neishbors built 8 church which Is yet a noted landmark in the county; short distance farther they located school house at Gum Springs Finding the soil i and climate adapted to fruit culture, he | planted a large nursery and soon had an ample supply of seedlings for sale. In l 1923 he procured the most valuable kinds l of apples then known in east Tennessee | Of his efforts and success in this line l prominent man thus writes: Although he 1 was not a scientific pomologist, yet. under l his watchful care and judicious manage l ment, the apple was brought to as great l degree of perfection as 1t then was Tn l any part of the United States. He soon l began to transport his surplus fruit 10 l the distant parts of the state, particularly l toward the south. The name and fame of 1 Fowler's apples became widely extended, | and his ready sales brought to this sue 1 cessf,,l orchardist a considerable revenue. l His success soon induced many others in the county and in the hill regions or l Jefferson to engage in the business, ana nearly all who did so reaped rich re- ward. Apples soon became one or the staple productions of the county, and In 1850 not less than 100 wagon loads of them by actual measure. were taken to south l Alabama, besides those sold in north Ala hama and to supply the large crowds at | the springs, and to be dried for sale and 1 for home use .,
 The fame of the Blount apples was well known over all the gulf states. and all or this has resulted from the well directed efforts of a single pioneer in improve | ment."
 Every acre of mountain land will yield these apples in abundance; the work re- | ouired is light and easy. Such diseases as blight mildew and rot are almost un- known Of course, there are killing frosts sometimes five and six years apart-pu' l they do not damage all the crop, pernaps | ope-fourth, rarely one-half.
 In the year 1852 my father set out an orchard of Fowler apples upon the tor and northern slope of puffee's mountain
 At that time 1t was the largest In the county of Blount. covering an area ol over 100 acres. Nearby he planted X
 acres in peach trees. He was only an amateur in this line his home being m Tuscaloosa. yet he made 1t most at- { fro cttve pIace and a financial success; 1T fact. an object lesson to all who saw It. Tn three years he had an abundance o1 I fruit. in five and six years he sold large 1 amount of apples besides giving freely te
 all visitors. They proved to be Of suci
 sound and keeping quality that we hao <, plenty all the summer. autumn and win fer indeed until the early June apples rip
 ened. He built large barns the floors heinz covered with wheat straw. upon
 which the apples were placed; and in an 1 adfo,ning room was kept supply ol
 straw to cover the fruit in extremely colo
 weather. He rarely lost any during the
 winter season. Only three varieties were
 cultivated, the Pennsylvania Wine Sap
 large. mellow apple, just acid ana ?ue' n shans end color 1t rssembasd tho 3es