The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-12
VIRGINIA APPLES
ARE WORTH MORE
Commissioner Koiner Reports
One of Finest Crops
in Ten Years
RETURNS FROM VISIT
TO MANY ORCHARDS
Tells How Stock is Being I'm
proved and Gives Credit TO
Farmers Organizations
Throughout State.

After making a tour of the princi-
pal apple growing sections OF the
State, Commissioner George w koin-
err, of the Department of Agriculture
has reported that the apple crop In
Virginia this year is one OF the pest
raised in a decade; that in quality 1t
is unsurpassed. while in quantity. be
ing rated at rs per cent. normal, II
is better than any of the farmers
hoped for.
With the exception of Virginia,
which Commissioner koiner declares
will soon be the greatest apple grow
ing section, the crop over the rest OF
the country Is much smaller than last
year, though the total product or the
United States for 1909 was something
less than twenty-three million bar
rels.
Early frosts and bad weather, ac-
cording to the commissioner, killed
the fruit In other parts of the coun-
trv In this State, however, condi-
tfons were nearly ideal. resulting in a
crop the like OF which has not been
seen for many years.
Notwithstanding the excellence OF
the product and the well known short
age In other States the buyers are
holding off, attempting, II is said, to
uepTesS the pItSSSs
Get Full Value.
Since there will be less competi-
ton, however, the farmers through
out the State realize the value OF their
crop this year, and will get the full
value for IL. most OF them refusing the
offers so far submitted by the buyers.
believing their apples worth good
deal more.
The commissioner just before re-
turning to the city from his tour
of the State spent some time on one
OF the Augusta county orchards. This
orchard ne says. has between three
thousand and four thousand trees
They are bending over with APP
pies. and yet in spit OF their great
number the apples are Of the finest
quality.
This orchard viii yield 10000 bar
rels. according to conservative esti-
mates and the owner has already re
mates. and the owner has already
refused more than $4,000 for the
crop.
Commissioner DINER attributes the
phenomenal Improvement In the APP
pie crop in Virginia during the last
faw years 40 the scientific methods
which the farmers are now employ
ing. They are cultiyatng the trees
and spraying them frequently, TINS
spray particularly producing the
smooth appearance for which Viz
glnia apples are becoming noted.
While unassuming in this matter as
far as his personal efforts are con-
cerned Mr.. Kofner is enthusiastic over
the results which have been accom-
plished by his department.
Personal Efforts.
II Is weli-kuown throughout the
State, however. that the commission
err himself IL largely TO be thanked
for the improvement shown by not
only the apple crop but by all other
farm and agricultural products, as
since his first Inauguration he has
been tireIess in hts efforts for the ad-
vancement OF the agricultural In
terests OF the State
He had spoken before thousands Of
farmers, has furnished tons of litera
ture and has travelled many thou
aand miles in behalf Of the ttllers 81
the soil. and now that results are
showing the farmers ali over the
State realize that Mr., Koiner is large
~ responsible for them.
This week the commissioner OK
poets to leave Richmond for Roanoke
county. whore the State Horticulture
Society will give demonstrations In
selecting and packing. This organiza
ton In going through the applegrow-
ing sections, and lis Of incalcuable
value. the commissioner declares, te
the farmers. as many new and valu-
able methods are explained to them,
The three apple growers associa
tons In the Shenandoah, Piedmont
and Fredericksburg sections respec'
lively are also advancing the apple
growing industry in more than sat
isfactory manner. These associations
assist the farnsers IN disposing Of
their products. and by keeping II
close touch with the market are able
TO produce much better prices thar
many of the growers could receive
they went into the competitive mar
ket as individuals.
Fine Appearance.
What pIeases Mr.. Koiper more thar
anything els> however. he says 4
the appearance OF the orchards thi.
year. Formerly the trees were par
TALLY neglected. the farmers believ
ing that nature would take care o.
them and provide the crop.
Weeds and growth were al
lowed to flourish. and in many in
stances these seriously hampered TIL,
MOVING DAY HERE