The Washington herald., 1911-11-28

of barrels grown probably exceeding a
million.
Frederick COunty's Big Crop.
Frederick is one of the leading coun-
ties Of Virginia in apple culture, and in
the fall when the trees are laden with
the richly-coIored fruit, no prettier sight
could be imagined than the orchards near
Winchester. An idea OF the magniture
Of the business now being carried on in
Frederick County may be had from the
fact that reliable figures put the apple
crop this fall there at $4,000 barrels.
Part Of these have been sold and shipped
and part are in storage. The price OBJ
tained for this fruit by the orchard own
ers OF Frederick County averages over
y per barrel, making a total revenue
from the apple industry Of over $4,000
in one season.
Any number OF instances could be cited
showing that residents of Frederick
County and Winchester, who were poor
men ten years ago, are now pIentifully
endowed with this worlds goods and
able to keep the wolf from the door
with fat bank accounts and good invest
ments.
A logical and looked-for result of the
activity in apple culture in Frederick
County is the tremendous increase in the
value Of land. Farms that fifteen years
ago could have been bought for $50 per
acre are now looked upon as cheap at
from $500 to $500 per acre. Orchards have
just recently been sold in Frederick
County at over $500 per acre, and they
are a good investment at that figure.
Hundreds of acres of young orchards
have been set out in that county, and in
the next ten years Frederick and the
other valley counties will take their place
among the great contributors to the ap-
pie markets Of the world.
In the fall OF 1910 more apples were
shipped from Frederick County alone
than were shipped from the entire State
OF Oregon. The same is true this year in
that county. The difference in freight
from the Pacific Coast to New York and
from Frederick County to New York IS
just H25 per barrel in favor Of the East
ern shipper.
Industry in Clarke County.
Clarke County. which adjoins Frederick
on the east, and which Is celebrated for
its beautiful colonial homes and fine old
estates, is also forging to the front as an
apple producer. There are many hun
dred acres of fine apple land in Clarke,
and it is being rapidly planted in fruit,
while many splendid commercial orchards
are already in bearing in that county.
The apple Industry is also fiourishing in
Jefferson and Berkeley counties, w. Va.
Our Advertisers.
Virginia is represented on The
Washington Herald's special apple page
to-day, as will be seen by reading the
advertisements.
One Of the best known orchards in
Frederick County is that owned and oper-
ated by Thomas w. Steck, at Opequon.
about five miles southwest from Win
chester. Mr.. Steck has made a study Of
apple culture for years, and Is regarded
as one of the best informed men in the
county. He Is the owner Of Greenwood
Orchards comprising a tract Of 100
acres, I e trees on which are from three
to eighteen years old. His original orch
ard was set out in the spring of 1893, and
began to bear ten years later, the first
big crop selling for S1.75 per barrel, Z. o.
b. Winchester. Mr.. Steck sold a smaller
crop in 1901 at $265 per barrel. There
was no crop in 1904, the orchards at that
time bearing only every other year. In
1906 his crop was sold at S245 per barrel,
in 1906 at $40, 1907 at $780, 1908 at $40,
1909 at $3.50. and in 1910 at s..
Bell Marguerite Orchard.
Another Frederick county grower who
has made a big success is Mr.. Stewart
Bell. owner of the Bell Marguerite Or
chard, situated three miles southwest of
Mr.. Bell has 30 acres set
out in orchard, his varieties being York
Ben Davis, Stayman Winesap,
and Pippins. He acquired his
property six or seven years ago, and
since then has sold from his orchard
q. 900 barrels Of apples. This fall he mar
keted 5000 barrels from forty acres of
trees. A part OF his orchard is thirty-five
years old, and still bearing. Mr.. Bells
property has much more than paid for
Itself since its purchase, and has in
creased in value FIVE or six times. II Is
celebrated as one OF the best-producing
orchards in the Eastern States.
Mr.. Arnette's Fine Yield.
A Clarke County orchard that is attract
ing a great deal of attention is that owned
by Mr.. A. r. Annette, of Berryville, Va.
Mr.. Arnette's place is called the Dixie
Fruit Farm, and is located five miles
north of Berryville, on the West Vir-
ginia line. He has fifty acres in orchard,
\ good part of 1t eight years old and
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