The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-06
FACTORY OPERATIVES
GROW THEIR OWN FRUIT
Miniature Orchards That May Adorp
Cotton Factory Villages
of the south.


writcr In the Manufacturers
Record says ono OF the best forms Of
welfare work that could be done by
tho cotton mills OF North Carolina
would be to advocate and encourage
the planting of fruit trocs by the oper-
atises This is good advice and MP.
plics as we'll TO the cotton factorie.
OF Danyille and other places In .vir.
ginia
Tho writer for the Record continues
This could be done-Dy giving the tree.
TO tho operatives for them to plant and
care for. and by Offering prizes to tho
men for the best varieties of good
fruits. II desired. the interest couls
be fur'heIed by giving to tho women
prizes for the best collection OF canned
goods from the fruits raised, and In
order TO cnthuse the boys and girls
there could be clubs In cailling and
fruit-growlng
This work could be carried on very
extensively by tho country mills where
the company owns a large tract OF
land, but II could be done small
scale In the towns and villages. be-
cause tho lots Of the mill cottages are
usually large, ranging in size from
half or a little less to acre lots. There
are usually large back and side Yard.
where nothing is planted
The mil operatives are noted for
their willingness to spend money. even
10 the las; penny, for anything which
suits their appctities. They will spend
money as il 1t were just "A trinc for
strawberries and other carly fruits
when the prices are for tho wealthy
alone. Fruit OF their own would bene-
tit their bank account mucn as Il
garden. Then, too canning interest
among the women would tend 10 lessen
the use OF foreign canned goods
Fruit growing In a mill community
has been looked upon with more or less
disapproval b. many mill operatives.
although many OF them arc realizing
the benefit that will accrue TO the
operative b. having fruit. y few mills
In the State have bought trees and
given them out to be planted. az tho
operatives alawys appreciate them
more II they plant them themselves.
In some instances there are orchards
belonging to the mill of which the
operatives are given free use. but this
arrangement Is usually unsatisfactory.
There are many operatives who
have planted trees OF their own and
have produced some very good little
orchards on small lots. ono woman
planted i've peach trees Ave years ago
These trees cost 90 cents, and for the
past three years she has been getting
fruit from them. During this sum :
mcr she had much more than she could
use and can. IN case family moves
In during tho fruit season. the fruit
falls TO tho renter without much qucs-
ton But X for any reason the house
stands vacant there is usually row
among tho DciGhbors as to who shall
have the biggest share OF tho fruit.
These questions have TO be settled By
the superintendent and consequently.
rattle. than have such disagrccable
things to encounter tho management
OF many OF the mills prefers none a,
all"
However. II each family had. or was
supposed TO have, Its own supply o.
fruit there would be no cause for
wranSlluEs Another thing OF which
the mill men have been afraid Is the
small boz OF the village. The single
| fruit tree in the back yards OF house
or two is Mecca for the boys of the
| immediate neighborhood. and this
1 causes more or less contention. Sew
/ eral trees on every lot would elimi-
/ nate this contention. and, /! the boys
/ and girls were Interested In caring FOR
/ the trees and taught IN school the prin-
ciples OF pruning, as is being done in
some sections. they would exercise a
great degree OF care for every tree N
| the yard"