The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-31

and best known. Within five years
the annual output of Patrick
orchards will be 100000 barrels OF
apples--barrels of three bushels
apiece That will mean more than
million and half dollars added
TO the production OF wealth of the
State and county. 1t will be, too. a
permanent addition. An orchard is
not like corn field, which yield its
crop and then is finished until the
planting and cultivation are done all
over again the next year An apple
tree must be watched and tended. Of
course, but ounce well started 1t is
there good for twenty. thirty forty
or more years, and becoming better
and richer as II becomes older. The
orchardists must wait long. seven.
eight, ten years, for his returns; but
when they begin they live and in
crease beyond the limits of any bonds
obtainahle.
The following taken from the six
teenth annual report OF the Virginia
State Horticultural society speaks for
itself:
Docs 1t Pay to Grow Apples In
Virginia."
Mr. Ephrain Pickett Of Patrick
county. Va. has an orchard Of three
and one-fourth acres During the
past fifteen years he has succeeded in
setting aside ten thousand dollars
from the proceeds OF this small or
for his family and educating his sons
and daughters. This Is an instance of
what can be accomplished by inten-
sive methods in an orchard.
The Great Trees OF Patrick County,
Va.
The reference in the foregoing
article to the Pippin tree In Nelson
county. Va, bearing over 800 worth
of apples at a single crop is eclipsed
by the Adams apple tree in Patrick
county, standing. seven miles east of
Stuart, which bore at one crop 220
bushels OF apples. one-half OF the
choice ones bringing $40, and the
other half, being OF a lower grade,
were sold to q distiller for $27.50.
This tree Is now over 100 years old
and has probably borne six to eight
thousand bushels OF fruit The old
Cannon Pearmain tree. four miles
distant. has a record OF IT'S bushels
at one crop and 23s aggregate in two
other years The Hall apple tree has
a recorded crop of 100 bushels in
one year and the Handy tree 1872
bushels The latter Is the largest
apple tree in the world. being over
IL feet in girth. so feet In high and
10 feet spread of branches. 1t is six
miles from Stcart. lis years old. and
in fairly thrifty condition May.
1918. Notwithstanding the fact that
two heavy frosts. accompanied by
ice. swept over Virginia on April 21st
and May 18th OF this year. 1918. there
will be thousands OF trees In Patrick
county laden with luscious apples to
be exhibited at the various fairs in
the autumn and sold at the fancy
prices which they SO justly merit.
Patrick county never knows a com
piete fruit failure. The six large
commercial orchards now planted
with some $4,000 trees and which
will soon be augmented by fully u.s.
600 more are simply an earnest OF
the large inflow Of wealth In few
short years that Ia as sure to come
as mathematics can make It. The
combination OF brains, energy and
capital are bringing results 50 tangi-
BILE that he who runs may read. The
lands that sold at So per acre ten
years ago are now bringing $50 and
are advancing steadily. Hood river
lands are bringing hundreds OF dol
sars per acre and are inferior to lands