The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-17
PLAN COMMUNITY
70 GROW APPLES
Unique Idea Conceived by Mary
landers to Build Up Fruit
Raising Section.
IN GREEN RIDGE VALLEY
Elaborate Scheme to Build Model
Town for the Orchard
lists.

Probably one of the most unique
and novel plans Of it's nature ever at
tempted Is now under way in the
western part of Maryland. not far
from the head waters OF the Potomac
river, where capitalists have perfect
ed project TO build town and
develop what they intend to make one
Of the greatest apple producing sec
tons Of America
For several years past experts from
the United States Department OF Ag-
ricuiture and private institutions have
been examining the soil and have
studied carefully the climate. air and
water drainage. They pronounce II the
equal of the best orchard properties
In America, including the Albemarle
district of Virginia.
Having determined the value of the
land and found II to be ideal for fruit
production. II has been laid off in ten
acre orchards and young trees are be-
Ing set out and thriving spiendidly.
They will not bear. however. for sew
eral years, five years being the ear
lest
Natural Requisites.
This property. consisting of approx
inately $4,000 acres. lies In Allegheny
county. In the Green Ridge valley.
and is about eighteen miles east of
Cumberland. II il owned by f. Mer-
tens Sons, capitalists. of Cumberland.
who have already expended thous-
ands Of dollars In ascertaining the nat
ural requisites for the cultivation OF
apples upon the most successful scale
The intention Is to build up pros
porous fruit growing community. With
each ten acre orchard sold will be
included a villa site and building
lot in the business section OF the town.
For the purposes of shipping this
section will have the Baltimore and
Ohio and Western Maryland railways
and the Chesapeake and Ohio canal.
Carefully Planned.
The town site has been carefully
planned with a view OF embracing
every commercial and social advan-
tage in the belief that 1t should ulti-
mately develop into a place of large
Importance.
1t is designed that all owners of
apple orchards In Green Ridge VAL
ley shall also participate as property
owners in the town of Green Ridge.
with an opportunity to maintain a
home in the, town.
This idea was conceived by the in
creasing demand for good apples both
at home and In foreign markets. The
prices are already high, and in COM
mon with other food products, are
steadily Increasing BY authorities
generally II Is not believed that the
supply can keep pace with the de-
mand, as the fundamental features
OF increasing population and no cor
responding increase of available land,
absolutely safeguards against overpro-
duction in the future.
CO-OperatioN Assures Success.
The orchardist who is isolated does
not have an opportunity to cultivate
or dispose OF his product under the
most favorable conditions, and his
profits therefore are curtailed. On the
other hand, the orchardist who is a
member of an apple growing COM
munfty, where practically co-opera-
ton exists. Is assured OF the great
est success.
The determination to make this q
section OF independent and prosperous
people engaged in commercial apple
orcharding has been brought about
with view to the advantage of Green
Ridge valley. The State fruit inspec-
tor, director of this Maryland agricur-
tural experiment station and other au-
thorities have been lavish in their
praise OF the country. and there il
apparently no doubt but that in five
years Green Ridge valley win be com.
peting with Albemarle county, Va,
and the famous apple producing States
Of the Pacific coast.