Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-11-03
Growing Apples
In Old Virginia.

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The Piedmont property is largely de-
veloped and has proven itself one Of
the finest orchard properties in the
locality and in the state. Its fruits
have taken gold medals at Paris, at
the Pan-American Exposition, and
at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition,
have won the Wilder medal of the
American Pathological Society, have
twice won the state challenge Cup in
Virginia, and have taken so many
blue ribbons-first prizes-that the
property has come to be known as
''the Blue Ribbon Orchards. - These
orchards were developed by Mr.. Muir
rell, the directing horticulturist and
pomologist of the Roanoke Valley
Orchards, Incorporated. It Was his
success with these properties that led
to bis engagement by the Roanoke
Valley Orchards for their further de-
velopment and operation. Mr.. Muir
rell has been vice president of the
American Pathological Society, presi-
dent of the Virginia State Hortcul-
tural Society, president of the Bed
ford County (Va) Horticultural So
ciety, and director of the Virginia ex-
hibits al the Louisiana Purchase Ex-
position. He also contributed to
Bailey's Encyclopedia OF American
Horticulture its articles on Virginia.
The work is an authority among
horticulturist. Mr.. Murrell has been
actively associated with the develop
ment.of Virginia in many othergways.
He has been president of good roads
soclties, lecturer before civic bodies
and active in legislative work as a
member of the Virginia Legislature.
APPLE TREES IN THOUSANDS.
In the orchard section of Virginia
there has been large investment of
capital in recent years, and with
satisfactory results. Near the plant
ings in the great Valley region owned
by the Roanoke Valley Orchards is
situated the largest orchard in the
state. 1t is just coming into bearing
and contains %, 900 apple trees in a
so id block. That section has been
long noted as leading the state in the
production and canning of peaches.
Many persons grow rich in that bran h
and it is yet the largest canning sec
ton of Virginia.
An evidence of possibilities of this
region. in apple growing appears in the
experience of Mr.. r. R. Logwood.
Hisiapple orchard has paid dividends
of per cent per annum on valua-
tion of $4,000 for between 30 and 40
years, or 1000 per cent on the yalua-
ton placed by the Roanoke valley or
chards on their raw lands before or
charGs we're planted.
The points of excellence of the APP
Piles grown in this region are their fine
flavor aad splendid keeping or ship
ping qualities. The Piedmont and
Valley sections are particularly noted
for the famous Albemarle pippins and
high-grade Winesaps from the or
chards of the Roanoke Valley Com
pany were the finest that had ever
reached it from any part of the world.
APPLES OF QUALITY.
The Albemarle pippin. yellow APP
pic, is recognized the world over as
possessed of the highest quality. 1t
has the admirable feature of retain
ing that quality as long as any of the
apple is left. 1t was given splendid
prominence years ago as the favorite
apple CT the late Queen Victoria.
There is a story, also, that before the
days of free trade in Great Britain
the import duty was removed from
this variety of apple as mark of
royal appreciation of the fruit itself
and of the gift of six barrels of them
made by number of Virginia gentle
men. There has been long a demand
in England for Albemarle pippins ard
they have sold in the markets of that
country for as high price as SIS IS
barrel. The English taste is critical
and it's people demand the best that
their means will afford
The Windsap IS the finest of all the
red apples. At the Spokane Apple
Show the prize for the best carload of
apples of any variety was won by
Winesaps.
GROWING PROFITS.
The Y ork Imperial noted for its
large size and tremendous bearing
qualities, together with the mammoth