The Washington herald., 1910-10-30

Reports received by freight traflc Of
ficials OF the Southern Railway indicate
that shipments OF apples from points
along It's lines in Virginia viii, at least.
double last years shipment when 47.797
barrels were handled from stations on
its main line, running through Piedmont.
Virginia, and 1908 from stations on the
Harrisonburg. Manassas. and Bluemont
branches. lying mainly In the Shenandoah
Valley.
The apple growing industry has now
reached a high state in Virginia, and
through the productivity Of its orchards
and the excellent reputation which its
fruit enjoys Virginia is reaping hundreds
OF thousands or dollars annually. In many
cases growers are making from 5000 TO
$500 per acre annually, and as a result
there has been a great Increase In the
value OF fruit lands, particularly In the
Valley OF Virginia. where growing apples
FOR market is comparatively a new in
dustry. one grower IN this section from
a ten-aCre orchard gathered 1850 barrels.
which he sold at a price averaging above
s. a barrel
nun WILTON heEurus
Growers in the Valley Of Virginia pre-
diet that this year they viii market very
nearly 10000 barrels and many carloads
Of culls, which Will mean net revenue
Of half a million dollars In I'VE years
they expect a return three times as
great. Within that period It is estimated
that 100000 young trees wiz be added to
the present bearing trees IN Shenandoah
County alone Five years ago only Np0
barrels were marketed from this section
and ten years ago the sale OF twenty
barrels by any farmer would have been
regarded as a wonder The rapid advance
OF the industry 20 its present magnitude
has come from results obtained by proper
care Of orchards AS soon as il was seen
what spraying and cultivation would do
for orchards, the planting OF new or
chards commenced and has continued az
a greater rate each year
study Modern Methods.
While this wonderful development has
recently taken place In the Valley OF
Virginia, il IS the Piedmont section OF
the state that is the home OF the apple
industry. The famous Albemarle pippin
is peculiar 70 this section. but red apples
are also grown IN large quantities. a
handsome profit being realized By the
growers Of either variety. The ample
growers Of the Piedmont are most pro-
gressive in their methods Of caring for
their orchards and the splendid attention
which they have given their trees is now
bringing them a magnificent return.
The study OF the most improved
methods Of apple culture is greatly stimu-
lated by the associations OF growers
which are being formed everywhere and
which pay as much attention % the
growing Of the fruit as they do 70 mar
keung the crop. A notable case is Tie
North Shenandoah Fruit Growers Ass0-
citation. composed OF 70 growers of the
northern section Of Shenandoah County
It's headquarters are at Strasburg. where
monthly meetings are held for the dis
cussion of fruit growing problems and
an annual apple show which has become
one OF the best In the country.
Crop Sold on Tree.
The demand for the Virginia apples is
so great that the buyers come 10 the
orchards, crops being frequently sold on
the trees. This year buyers were on the
ground from all parts Of the country
Formerly practically all the product Of
Virginia orchards has been shipped Il
New York. but this year Southern and
/ Western buyers are actively in the field
The great success Of the apple growers
OF Virginia is a matter Of interest 70 the
entire South, since il is declared H. ex-
perts that there are sections Of other
states. notably the mountain and foot.
hill country in North and South Carolina.
3 o.
ideal for orchard sites. Growing apples
for market is carried on successfully in
North Carolina, but there are large area.
In 1t and in other Southern States II
which conditions are suitable for apple
culture and where excellent trausporta-
ton facilities insure the moving Of the
product TO market at a handsome profit