The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-14
LAND OF THE APPLE.
WHICH IS VIRGINIA
Finest Orchard Lands in the
World-Transportation Facili-
ties Are the Best.
SOME FACTS AND FIGURES
The Best OF the Best Fruit
Grows Down in Old
Virginia
ny DIR. +. A. SCHUBERT.

by DIX. T.. 4. SCH bENl.
Cn,il "a very few years ago, Virginia
as an apple growing state scarcely
was recognized beyond her boundaries.
but in recent years the apple grown
in the OLD Dominion has become very
popular Now Virginia apples are
sought in every country of the world.
The soil. climate and topography are
peculiarly adapted TO fruit growing.
long with these natural conditions.
The state IL adVantageous!y situated
with respect to rho principal fruit
markets oil the East-such as Wasil-
ingtur, Bultlmoi e, Philadelphia, Pitts
bureh New Nork Boston and Cincin-
natl The transportation facilities are
OF the best: thc products OF the or
charG can be placed on the market In
most Instances within twenty four
hours. and. with Very few exceptions.
neye@ more than forty eight hours af-
ter reaching tho shipping point Eight
trunh lines OF railway do business in
Virginia aud seventy OF the 100 coun-
ties OF inc state and fully - per cent
of the fruit growing counties of the
state arc travcrsed by railways that
hit these markets quickly.
Even with these excellent Transport
tation facilities. there is still great
deal o. me fruit land that may be
had u practically every county in
Piedmont, Valley and Appalachian Nir
ginIH. ranging In price from Sl3 an
acre upward depending or distance
from transportation ANA improvements
oa tde property The cheaper lands,
wnich acc i'm NEST Instances, what may
3, t,llu. 3 - cut-over. will. when fully
,i..t. llakc last as good orchards
ia me- pe found in any section OF tn"
state
Climntr.
There - no state in the Union that
has = r.9rC equable clihnte than that OF
Virginia. There are no extremes in
temperature. such thing as zero
wcather during the winter is hardly
known. .Id 90 i'll the SHADE il seldom
reached iu the summer. This Is due
largely IL tic influence nf the ocean
on tie east and proximity OF the Gulf
Stream 10 our Virginia shore, thus
tcmperng our climatic conditions
Throughout the Year Passing west
ward, there is :, greater variation than
o., the Coastal Plain, but here the
inoun,aihs on th" west act az :; bar
ricr against the severe storms OF the
Lake regions. Thus the currents from
thc cas-. and mountain equalizc each
Other. which assists materially in maxi
ING This ia ideal climate for general
agricultural purpos es, ari peculiarly
so foi horticultural development.
q
State in which fruit OF Some Kind is
not grown. Berries OF every descrip-
ton grow wild. Everywhere we find
home orchards. but commercial or
charding is limited TO the Piedmont.
valley and Appalachian regions, COW
criug practically one-half Of tho area
OF the state.
Piedmont Region.
The Piedmont region extends from
what Is termed Middle Virginia or an
average altitude of about 300 feet
westward to the Blue Ridge Mountains
where 1t attains an altitude of from
LOCO 10 1900 feet above sea level. and
II is on the numerous spurs OF the
Blue Ridge Mountains that we find
soil and climatic conditions peculiarly
adapted To the growing OF the red APP
pie, peach and other fruits. while i'm
the covcs lying high in the mountains
where the vegetable matter has de-
caEcd for ages. is found soil known
as Porter black loan adapted to the
growing of the Albemarlc Pippin
which is known throughout the world
Among the principal varieties OF red
apples is the Virginia WncSap, Stay
man Wincsap, York Imperial, Gano.
Ben Davis, Delicious and other varic-
ties. II may he said that this is the
home of the Virginia or old fashioned
Wincsap nowhere I'm America does
fine flavor us on the Cecil soils of
Piedmont Virginia. Many streams rise
IN these mountains, which are the
| source Of the perennial springs which
make this division of Virginia perhaps
the best watcrcd region In the United
states; the quality Of water Is not eX-
cclled anywhere. In the counties Of
Rappahannock, Greene. Amherst. Bed
ford. Franklin. Henry and Patrick
many commercial orchards have been
planted. large per cent OF which
are now in bearing and returning to
Continued on Third Page)