The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-15
THEFARM ORCHARD
A REAL BUSINESS
Requirements for Successful
Fruit Growing in Virginia.
Brains and Work Essential.
A COMMERCIAL PROPOSITION
Features and Peculiarities OF
What Is Becoming a Great
Virginia Industry.

The farm orchard has many attrac-
tions Tor those who grow up on the
farm and learn in their earlier years
to appreciate the luscious fruits pro-
vided b. nature with such LAVISH
he nd. Nothing can be more attractive
than an amateur fruit plantation
ripening its delicious peaches, pears,
plums. apples. etc. etc. from early
summer to late autumn. ana then not
satisfied. producing an abundance FOR
storage and use during the more OF
less dreary winter season To such
the call back to the soil is very strong
indeed.
The city dweller is beginning 10
realize the bounties Of nature. bounties
20 be had for "A little Kindness TO tie
soil. and a little forethought. How
ever. fond anticipatiOns Of either VIII
be sadly disappointed. especially at the
present time. If that one does not Keep
fully abreast of the times and learn
10 give the best OF care 10 planting
cuItivating. spraying. pruning. etc.
etc. While our soils have not been
perrnanently injured. they have in
many cases been worn so baaly that
they will not respond as readily as IN
the past With the advance OF CIVIL
izatlon. insects and diseases nave De-
come more generally distributed also.
and the greatest care Is necessary TO
bring about the best results. Neither
should one be misled by the prices
one is accustomed to pay for fruits III
the city, for the retailer and the
wholesaler must both be rcckoneo
with in the distribution of these pro-
ducts. and at times. II IL strikes the
ione market. these, with the express
or freight charges. will leave a mere
pittance for the producer.
Overcoming Old Troubles
All this means that. contrary 10 tue
ordinary idea of the farm. one who
would succeed there needs the Ners
best OF training and experience. ON
erwise the ledger vii show AT the enc
of the period a balance on the wrong
SIDE
These and many other troubles
should, how ever. not deter any one
from attempting orchard work. Every
business has its dra backs and trou-
bles. and in this line the government
has taken care that one can have the
best advice on many lines for The
asking. OF course the actual expert
ence must be gained and advice Sc
cured from persons actually In tho or
chari work and making a success OF
IL but his is not difficult or eXpen-
sive.
more forcibiy than ever a few econo-
mic features OF orchard work. and we
would do we'll TO ponder them care
FUZZY in connection with any wofk
along this line
The san Jose scale has not been
treated as carefully as formerly. pos
sibly because the people nave become
more accustomed TO this insect ana
lost their dread OF it to some extent
A a result. the fruit in many or
chards is found quite badly infested AT
harvest tImE and consequently 10"
Drices for the fruit or It's entire re-
lection By the buyers. Every orchard
man knows. or should know. that
neglect of this one factor alone means
failure The insect can be contToiie"
r.adilv. ana any orchardist worthy oil
IN. name should take pride IN CON
trolling 1T.
Hard Work and Brains Necessnr'-
The ,wo dry seasons We have Just
eNDerienced over large part OF tne
state have brought TO our attchtio"
more forcIbly than ever the necessary
OF cultivatinE The orchard tnOFooS''iS
e. conserve the moisture against the
season Of scarcity. In this connection
,b@ thinning OF the fruit IS also a most
innorts1t factor have seen fruit
harvested this season. and last as well.
n, some of our very best growers nat
was so small that at least one-ha'i OF
II was unmarketable. \ little tineN
thinning and cultivation. coupled win
IN. other attention given the orchard.
would have turned this into good sna
profitable crop
We must have good labor III oIue'
90 handle an orchard proposition sue
cessfuIly BY good labor We mean "'ei'
IN, h.1T 81
,;over,s business and have inteli-
ccrco enough to learn the work OF
soraving. pruning. thinning and pach-
ing the fruit. such men can 'only De
secured an held by paying Wen TO-