The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-14

ginia Beauty. Lowery, Albemarle PIP
pin, C;ano. Delicious. York Imperial.
Crimes Golden and other varieties
grow To perfection. On account Of the
altitude II is especially desirable for
fruit since the temperature is very
cquable; is practically free from late
frosts ia the spring, and carly frosts
In autumn; many bHght sunshiny
days. cool nights. thus giving crispness
and color 10 the fruit.
The Valley Region.
The VALLEY region comprises the ter
ritory lying between the almost par
nliel rangcs 81 the Blue Ridge on the
southeast and Allegheny Mountains ou
The northwest which iraVcrscs the
STATE from it's northern Z. It's southern
border The VALLEY ranges in width
from on" - fifty miles and is divided
into several minor sections by spurs
connecting tho two mountain ranges
The northern end OF the VALLEY IS
drained by the Potomac ana Shenan-
doah. in the middle by the James
thence comes the Roanoke, New ana
liolston Rivers. respectively. This
land IS for tho most par, of limestone
formation. and contains some Of the
best agricultural, stock-raising and
truit-grow!ng land in the State The
altitude Of this territory varies from
800 10 $500 feet. Nearly every county
Of tho VALLEY region is traver.sd by
tho Norfolk ana Western Railway,
which is the main artery of transpor-
tation west Of the Blue Ridge Noun
may be mentioned tho Hayerstown
Loan Hagerstowu stony Loan.
iIaeerstowu sandy Loan. found
throughout the valley. and bordering
the Piedmont foothills on the south
east. This land is well adapted to
general fruit culture. particularly
where the elevations ar. such as TO
give 4 good air and water drainage.
This soil, in most instances Is under
laid with Il good clay subsoil. which
!nsurcs pernancncy Of fertility and
moisture. 50 necessar; FOR fruit-erow-
ing. There Is a notable difference in
the Valley and Piedmont region. the
latter being about two weeks earlier
than tho former, but the rainfall OF
these divisions is nearly the same.
Among the counties in the Valley
where fruit growing has developed into
considerable industry arc Frederick,
Clarke. Shenandoah. Warren. Page.
Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge
I5otctourt and Roanoke. All OF these
i; counties with the exception OF Shen-
. andoah are tributary TO the Norfolk
: and Western Railway Lands may be
, purchased in these counties suitable
for orchardng at prices ranging from
= SO 10 500 an acre Other counties,
TO the southwest, we'll adapted TO the
Q apple industry are Montgomery. Pu-
iaski Wythe. Smyth Washington and
, Bland. but the last nam cd counties have
/ W to the present tim" made very lit
l tie progress In orchard development
However. during the past year NUM-
, Der Of individuals and com panicS have
become interested in horticulture. and
Q now there are several hundred thoua-
e and trees (app!es and peaches) planted,
1 the variety being the fruit best adapt
4 cd TO the higher attitudes.
+.
p Passing westward from tho Valley.
f, We reach the crest OF the Allegheny
: Mountains and fnd numerous valleys
running from northeast to southwest
a paralicling the many mountain ranges.
: These valleys vary in width from one
= half TO five miles. having an altitude
! ranging from l,20c 10 1000 feet, afford
I ing fine air and water drainage. Fer
= tile soil and general Topographic con-
ditions make this an ideal region for
! the growing Of the red apple. Among
i these counties may be mentioned
t Craig. Giles, TazeweN Dickinson,
Russell and Wise number of or
! clards have been planted in Giles and
b Tazcwell Counties. and the orchards
i which are nov in bearing give evil
{ dencc Of the superior quality OF such
n varieties as the Northern Spy, Rome
e beauty, Delicious. Gano. Grimes Golden
Z and others. Until tho present very
: orchard line. However, during 1913
:. fully 100000 trees have been planted
: 10 commercial orchards in these coun-
6 ties, and the Indications are that this
+ will become one of the great apple
] orchard sections of Virginia
FrOsts.
Virginia. as every other State where
fruit growing has developed to large
proportions. has protited by the eX-
perience OF the pioneer. The first or
chards were planted low in the foot
hills and ON the level lands of the
valleys near streams OF flowing water.
AS a result the humidity was found TO
4 be greater and the possibility of dam
age by frost at maximum. After
these orchards came into bearing. many
r, | others became interested in fruit cul-
ture, and observing the uncertainty OF
crops In these low lying orchards. de-
n cided to plant their fruit trees on the
g highlands or mopntain and hill slopes,
where both air and water drainage
were Ideal Consequently the orchards
\. planted In recent years have been we'll
I located. and in but very few instances
a is it necessary to resort to the smudge
I pot or other means of protection
against frosts. 1t is not for me to
: say that such Il thing as absolute free
:. dom from damage by frosts may he
n found but do know from observation
: and experience that there are thous-
J
s mont. Valley. Plateau and Appalachian
4 regions adapted to the growing OF the
c highest grade Of apples and peaches
n where the possibilities OF damage by
n frost are reduced to a minimum. In
t fact, there are records OF orchards
where they have produced annual
crops for a period Of twenty-five years
q or more, which Is sufficient evidence
q that we have in Virginia many sections
"a where we can conscientiouSly say
II that the orchardist may be immuned
81 from late frosts without the protection
n OF smudSing or other artificial methods
~ Longevity OF Trees.
Fl a question that frequently is asked
n Is: What about the life of the orchard
Il in Virginia? Our trees when prop.
81 erly cultivated and fertilized begir
bearing at the age OF five years. and
= we have many instances on record
81 where orchards planted seventy-fvt
81 and more years ago. with only ordinary