The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-20
FRUIT IN HENRICO COUNTY;
HOW ORCHARDS WILL PAY
Orchards Close to Richmond Would Pny
mcIy-Mlstakcn Ideas Of
: Farmers.
Dl y, q. HUNTER,
Demonstration Agent for Henrico.

decentralization agent Tor hcnrtcO,
About year ago l wrote for your
paper letter about the advantages
that might accrue from fruit growing
In the vicinity of Richmond. because of
the scarcity of good fruit and the high
prices that such commanded.
AT that time there were several
things that / could not understand in
sefce OF home orchards on the farms
and the almost total absence OF com
mcrcial orchards in the vicinity of
Richmond. In going among the farm
crs, tried to find out the reason for
this condition. One farmer. and II very
good farmer he liz, told me that the
land here was not suited for fruit. and
that. moreover, the heat in this imne
dIate section az was very hot day)
was SO intense that fruit could not be
grown to perfection ] was sure that
he WAS wrong about the land. because
j had seen a very similar quality Of
soil in other sections Of the state where
fruit can be. and is, grown Success-
fully. AS regards the Intense heat
some of the finest fruits arc grown In
regions where the heat is very murn
more intense than il lis here. Before
the State Fair took place last October
| went over almost the whole county
trying to procure perfect specimens of
apples and other fruits for exhibition
found II exceedingly difficult To obtain
satisfactory products. as almost every
specimen that was good enough in
other ways was cure to HAY. a worm
or some other defect.
! found one man I'm the county y,bo
vas trying to raise good fruit and
got specimens from him. in fact al
most all had In the exhibit came from
his orchard. but II was not up To the
mark This nan was one OF my dem
onstrators In growing certain garden
crops This spring went 10 him and
ASKED what crop or crops, he would
IKE to take up to demonstrate in the
way he did last year, tlN.t Is to be cul-
tvated according to Instructions from
the agent and to keep AN account OF
the expenses and then TO show the pro-
nj He replied that the only crop he
cared to demonstrate was the fruit
crop. BECAUSE" he said. Il End that
II ] give that tho attention which IL
should have. can make more clear
moucy from It than from any other
rrop. lie said that the cost Of labor
~ connection with all other crops was
greater In proportion than for fruit
in fact. he says, ~ can manage my
NUT crop almost entirely with the
Ia S7r ] have In my own fainilv and IL
Is not disa grcenblc work: wc all on
Joy it"
Now. Mr. Editor. would like to have
YOU and any farmer who lives near
Richmond. or ia IIcnrico County. TO 49,.
TIC result of this mans seasons work
with his orchards. Ills crop Is a splen-
"'d ono. and there is not II single spcci-
hlcn In his orchard that Ia infested with
WORMS. lie has sprayed his trees
regularly and at the proper time i'm an
Intelligent manner The result, is tina,
his fruit L. just about az clean and
ncffect AS YOU would care Ia nav" f.
am depending on his fruit for my ca
h'bit at the State Fair this year
apples
Any one wishing to see This frui,
demonstration farm can do so by com
'nunicatinR with the writer They viii
nave 10 take a short trolley ride. and
Then a brief run with me In my car
The trip to the farm ana back does
not take over two hours from Rich
mond. and shall be pleased t1 convey
any one who Is sufficiently Interested
in fruit growing to care TO see this
crop. Ny address ~ al West Broad
street Trips must TIC made very soon
- apples must soon now be picked
WITH your permission. Mr Editor
'n"uid IKE TO continue this subject In
Your paper. as consider the fruit
growing Industry NJ an adjunct to
farmers resources. m The vic,,t,v ~
Richmond ana throughout Iicnricu
county, most important issue
would discuss the growing Of The ire,
iruits-"ppl"s. pears. peaches, plums
ana cherr'cs-and also the cultivation
al the small frults-Grapes. ra Su..rrics
blackberries. Strawberries currant.
So"seDerries. etc.-which later become
prohtablc one year after planting
am aware that farmers often hcsi-
tate 10 plant apple and pear trees. he
cause they have To wait four OF uv.
years before they even begin to bear
ANA "a longer period before they com
incnce to become profitable. In answer
10 this, would sag that cultivated
crops as we'll as small fruits. may l..
Grown between the rows OF tree. i,u,il
they begin TO bear and the cultivation
"i the crops is of great benefit To the
y"ung trees.