The Washington herald., 1912-03-11

It's WIDEST part, where the valley is about
thirty miles WIDE. and Is at an elevation
of about Loo feet.
There. are certain characteristic feat
rres of tie location. BY the Blue Ridge
Mountains on the east, ii is protected
from the damp winds OF The Atlantic
Ocean, and by the range Of the Alle-
ghenies on the west 1t is guarded to a
measurable extent from the storms
and great atmospheric changes which
are bred in the Northwest. -5
It Is far enough south to have compar-
atively short winters, with long and de-
iightful springs and falls; and its eleva-
ton is such as to insure cool and dry
atmosphere. The results are that during
the summer months the temperature
during the daytime is tempered by
qIiite constant breezes. which find an
easy passage along the trough of the
valley. and in the hottest weather evap-
oration is sufficiently rapid to make the
nights cool and pleasant.
Il is therefore peculiarly attractive as
an all-the-year climate in which the
out hardship and can labor TO the great
est advantage through the summer
months. g.. ..-.
The rainfall averages about thirty-six
inches per annum and is very well dis
tributed. b.. '.=....- .s. -
There are no fogs or long periods an
nually OF rainy and cloudy weather, and
clear sunshine is Characteristic of the
climate for the greater portion of the
time N
II is characteristic Of the difference in
the climate Of the Valley of Virginia and
OF the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge
which has practically the same eleva-
ton. that passengers on the Chesapeake
and Ohio trains passing through the tun-
mel piercing the Blue Ridge in either direc-
tion are promptly conscious of this DIFF
ference, the air of the valley being cooler
and more bracing in the summer time,
and. as a rule. less damp in the winter
time.
The Apple Industry.
When one enters community and for
a while talks with its citizens, 1t Is soon
a very easy matter TO discover what is
the principal industry OF its people, and
so' after my arrival in the Queen City
OF the Valley soon discovered the chief
theme Of interest among the county and
city farmers is apples.
From the top OF Betsy Bell, which in.
colonial times derived its name from a
pretty girl who was supposed TO have
been. stolen. by Indians, can be
seen most beautiful country of
orchards and green ields-to the
north, 10 the east. to the south, to the
west, orchards and orchards. from which
apples go out TO the four corners OF the
earth, from where roll back to the farm
ers of Augusta a stream OF golden coin.
In the spring its>apple orchards make
Augusta. County blossom like the rose,
and in the fall these orchards are things
Of beauty laden with their rich crimson
fruit.
! had not been long in the city of
Staunton before l was told that a story
about Staunton, Va. would be very in
complete without a story OF the apple in
dustry. which in the past few years has
attracted so much attention throughout
the country.
Wanting to learn something about the
wonderful apple industry of Augusta
County. called at the Offices OF the Vir-
ginia Fruit Growers, Inc, in the New
County Building, for a chat with Mr..
Clarence W. Moomaw, general manager
Of the association The Virginia Fruit
Growers, Inc, is a cooperative organ
ization of Virginia fruit growers, organ
lied several years ago for the purpose of
advertising Virginia apples and finding
the best markets for the output of the
Virginia orchards. During the past two
years # has spread to a number of
ped apples from some thirteen counties
to the larger markets east of the MissIs-
sippi River as well as to London. Glas-
cow. Liverpool, and Hamburg. The or
ganization has for the past two years
had its Offices, at Staunton and is very
strong in Augusta County. where 1t con-
trols the output OF the majority OF the
and so considered II head
quarters for information of interest
about the apple industry.
When. asked about the proportions of
The apple industry in Augusta County
Mr.. Moomaw stated the district in any
year produces more apples than
he whole of Hood River. the principal
Lruit section Of the State of Oregon, and
hat the, county, is the second producing
apple district in the State, and that the
,ity Of Staunton Is the second largest
shipping point Of apples in the State.
s. The Normal Crop.
In normal crop year Augusta County
ihips some 100000 barrels of apples, and
I is predicted that with the tremendous
Increase In planting the output in five
fears' time will be some 800 900. barrels,
r YY-HIr