Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-07-13
Warning Against Fake Orchard
investments


BY JOHN ]. CoRNwELL. President West
Virginia Horticultural Society.
In every community where success
full BUSINESS suddenly develops there is
always danger Of it being carried to an
extreme, not SO much overdone as half
done. There is soon grown q crop of
persons who seize what they conceive
to be the opportunity to get rich out of
the business by taking short cuts. The
fruit business is no exception to the
rule.
That some persons, through good
judgment and good management, have
succeeded in the fruit business to a phe-
nom email ext ent in this section OF the
country. is true. That no other section
is so well adapted to fruit growing, all
things considered, as the belt just east
of the Allegheny mountains, which in-
cludes the eastern part of West Vir-
GINA and small portion of western
Maryland, we verify believe. But that
money can be lost instead of made in
the fruit business here none but fool
would deny, and that some is likely to
be- lost is almost equally certain.
Why Because the speculator, the
man with the gambling instinct, is
breaking into the business, taking the
short cut to get rich, not by the legiti-
mate method of production by growing
fruit and selling it, but by finding suck
ers and taking them in out of the wet.
It is marvellous how many people part
with their money on painted pictures of
possible profits. How easy the oily
tongHed stranger can get our money
on Plausible schemes that look like sure
things. Few there are who have not,
at some time, fallen q victim for few
hundred or few dollars, at least. And
just now the horticultural artists are
abroad, in the land Thousands of dol
lars are being gotten out of people, for
supposed investments in this fruit belt,
not in legitimate orchard enterprises,
but in schemes rugged up to yield profit
to the promoters.
The newspapers of the country could
render no better service to the public
and no better service to this communi-
ty than in warning the public against
such schemes. The people in other
sections. who get faxed out of their
money, are quite sure to blame it on
the country. partially at least Not
only that, but a lot of half cultivated,
half-cared for orchards are menace
to the prosperity Of the legitimate, in
dustrious, and successful orchardist.
These abandoned and poorly cultivated
properties are breeding grounds for in
sects and pests that spread onto other
properties
We are not advising the public against
acquiring stock in legitimate orchard
companies or to refrain from investing
their money in orchard properties. Not
by any means. We would call atten-
ton. however, to the fact that not
every locality in the best fruit belt on
earth will do for fruit. The soil
and air drainage are all important.
One spot may be ideal. and another,
less4han half q mile away, may be
worthless for fruit purposes. The man
who will plant an orchard or invest his
money in one without the judgment
and advice Of an expert or . practical
man is taking . foolish and unnecessary
risk. That is just what l5t Of peo-
pie are doing and some of them are
certain to regret it. There is not a
real horticulturist in the country that
does not deplore that such Is the case
or that there are persons who are in
vesting money in orchards without any
practical experience ii the fruit busi<
ness and without the advice or guidance
Of an experienced Or practical person
to manage the property. Failure may
not be tie result in all these cases,
but it il certain to be IN some Of them.
The world must learn sooner or later,
that horticulture Is science. just as
much &c kw Or medicine or surgery.
The state has stepped inand forbid the
utterly Incompetent person to practice
medicine or surgery or law. The one
who IS admitted must have attained
come degree Of proficiency, at least,
but any one can engage 10 fruit grow
ing who has the nerve and the price
Buthear II mind. also. that the degres
Of success obteined win depend upon