Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-11-01

least one commercial district the trees
have not failed to produce a crop dur
ing a period of more than 30 years.
Apples from all sections demand the
highest prices on account of their
superior size, flavor color, and keep
ing qualities; and the fact that West
Virginia growers were able 10 win five
of the seven gold medals offered by
the American Pathological Society at
Boston in 1903 testihes to the superb
GRITTY of the fruit.
West Virginia has grown to be one
of the leading peach producing states
of the Union. Many orchards already
contain from 10000 to 100000 trees,
and some Of the largest and most sue
cessful peach orchards in the world
are located in the counties ofi Hamp-
shire, Mineral, Morgan and Berkeley
Pums, pears, cherries, grapes and all
manner of small fruits can be grown
with much profit in almost every sec
tion of the state"
The Federal Agricultural Depart
ment, after an investigation of the
rich alluyial lands along the rivers
which are now devoted to the pro-
duction of corn and other field crops,
advises that more attention be paid
to trucking or raising vegetables for
the city market. The bulletin says:
During the years 1909 and 1910,
truck of various kinds, valued at a
little over $5.000,000, is annually pur-
chased from other states and distrib-
uted to consumers in the towns and
cities of Yves Virginia. Sufficient
tests have been made of the truck-pro-
ducing qualities of the soils of the
state to show that supply far in ex-
cess of the home demand might be
produced at home. Celery has already
been grown in limited way in the
glades: potatoes of quality not TO be
excelled can be grown in almost UNI
limited quantities in Preston and other
upland counties: and the marvellous
success of the few growers along the,
Ohio, the Kanawha. and other riversI
in the production of canteloupes, Wa
termelons, cabbage, sweet potatoes,
and other vegetables, shows the adapt
ability of the alluvial bottom lands
for their culture"
The bulletin deals with the dairy
situation as follows.
THE states adjoining West Virginia
have been furnishing most of the
larger towns and cities with much of
their supply of cream, butter and milk
Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania ship
large quantities of dairy products to
Pittsburg, where they are distributed
TO various points in Yves Virginia. In
1909 two towns also purchased milk
valued at $175.117. If the amount
sent annually into West Virginia from
other states were produced at home
it would mean a very great increase
in one of the most desirale occupa-
tons of the citizens of the state. With
a good climate, pure water, plentiful
supply of blue grass, and an excellent
market, dairying can succeed as well
in West Virginia as in any other part
of America.
The West Virginia hills are cover
ed with blue grass which soon grows
over them after the timber is cut
off. The hill country furnishes an
ideal rage for cattle and sheep and
stock farming may be considered the
leading type. In many sections such
grazing lands may be bought at very
reasonable prices. The northern Pan
handle is one of the leading sections
for growing fine-wool sheep Sheep
are raised throughout the state and
there is ample opportunity for develop
ing sheep-growing on large areas of
land specially adapted to that purpose
Though but little known to the general
public as such. West Virginia is an
important state in the production of
beef cattle"
Regarding the prices of farms and
inducements to agricultural settlers,
the bulletin contains the following;
THE average value of West Vir
ginia farm, including its equipment,
has advanced during the last decade
from $2,196 to $685. of this latter
sum, $2,735 represents the value of
land and buildings; $44S the value of
live stock, and S73 the value of imple-
ments and machinery. During the last
decade an average value of land and
buildings has increased $10.75 per
acre. and is now about one and two
thirds times as great as in 1900. 1t,
has increased continuously since 1870.
In average size, the West Virginia
farm decreased continuously from
214.4 acres in 1870 to 1887 acres in
1910, or 2.S acres in a year.
Seven out of every ten farms are
between 20 and ia acres in size.
Rather more than onefourth of the
total number of farms in the state are
beween so and 80 acres in size The
next largest group consists of the 20
to 40 acre farms, which constitute q
per cent of the total. Hardly less
numerous are the farms between 100
and ia acres, constituting POS per
hO