Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-04-01
WEST VIRGINIA,
THE FRUIT STATE
This state Possesses Certain Natural
Advantages Which Are Bound to
Make II a Great Fruit state.

I
ciety is Of interest TO residents oil
this vicinity:
West Virginia possesses certain
natural advantages which are bound
to make It a great fruit state. The
famous "Apple-pie Ridge" OF Berke-
ley Co, is noted for the high quality
apples 1t produces. The ebert
lands Of the mountains CT Hampshire
and Hardy counties produce peaches
that beat the world for firmness, col
or and favor.
The fertile alluvial soils CT its riv-
er valleys and gladelands and the
sandstones. llmestcnes and shsles OF
its hills. furnish perfect conditions
for producing the finest pears. plufns,
cherries, grapes. ounces, melons and
cranberries
West Virginia's range Of latitude Is
three and half degrees. Its range
of altitude Of from 260 to $500 feet,
however, is equivalent to range of
not less than twelve to fifteen de-
grees. This makes possible wider
range OF varieties and longer picking
aad shipping season. Apples Of the
Winesap and York Imperial type
grow in one part Of the state to per-
lection while in the higher portions
Of the state we find the Baldwins, r.
I. Greening and Northern Spy Of the
Nsw England States.
The shipping season OF Georgia
Peaches lasts only about a month,
while from the mountains OF West
Virginia peaches are shipped during
two and a half months of the year.
The topography OF West Virginia
Is enc OF its most valuable assets as
fruit producing state. The slopes
On It's hills, and rolling lands offer
every possible choice Of exposure; af-
important, good air drainage, They
make thing unnecessary and protect
from injury. from frcsts and fungus
diseases.
The climate OF West Virginia is
healthful and agreeable. We have 40
eyclou S, no great extremes OF tenn
rerature. Our wide range of altitude
affords a range OF choice as to the
mean annual temperature one pre-
rers from that OF southern Virginia
10 that OF the New England States.
Our annual rainfall is from 35 to so
inches and is well distributed through
ont the growing season. We have no
"wet' and dry" season except as
these terms apply to the license
question.
The rapidly growing cities and
towns and the mining and lumber
camps OF the state afford splendid
home markets which are never over
supplied with good fruit. Our state
is traversed by three trunk lines, the
II, & o.. G. & o., and n. &, W., besides
many other connecting lines, all OF
which afford excellent transportation
facilities Our largest producing cen
tiers are within half days travel
from dozen or more of the largest
cities of the country, and the seacoast
the gateway to the markets OF the
w vi III. wv are HOb hdaiNlNhpt0h ~ q
5000 mile haul to our markets.
A man seeking a new home or a
place to invest his money is interest
cd in the citizenship and institutions
OF the locality to which he goes. West
Virginia has the largest percentage of
rative born citizens of any state n
the Union They are thrifty, intelli-
gent hOspitable The institutions
of learning and religion are numerous
and efficient
Since the ability to dispose of ones
product is the greatest single factor
in determining the location OF any in
dustry, We naturally find the great
est development in fruit growing in
the countries which have the best
transportation facilities, Our largest
producing sections on a commercial
scale are the Northern and Eastern
Panhandles.
The former has long been a profita-
BILE apple growing region. In Han
cock Co, alone there are $4,000 bear
ing trees and 25,000 young trees with
in its HUNDRED square miles of area.
The orchards vary in size from a few
hundreds to many thousands OF trees.
Many growers have private store
houses which hold from three to thir-
ty-five thousand barrels.
One orchardist received over $780,
600 for his apples; several received
over 100000 each, and a large num-
Der over $4,000 each The returns
per acre in many cases exceeded $500
and went as high as $4,000 an acre in
a few instances Berkeley County has
not missed a profitable crop during
! the past IS years. This years crop
/ Is estimated at 125, 600 barrels OF fine
quality fruit While the apple is the
/ principal fruit grown in this section,
all other sorts thrive well here. q
In all OF the counties bordering the
Ohio and KanaNha rivers are orch
ards OF from one TO several thousand
trees. In most of the central counties