Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-09-23

fruit on commission. But it would
be mistake to think that Berkeley
county growers are holding out for
extravagant prices; as a matter of
fact, present values are reasonable in
view of the prices at which fine fruit
is now selling in the city markets.
and considering the quality. But it
is natural that buyers should be tim
id this year, and the growers here
are broadminded enough to consid-
er both sides of the proposition. But
the fruit has an intrinsic value and
should bring commensurate prices
The cost of labor here is Csc higher
than ever before; barrels are high
er priced than in the past. and more
money and time have been expended
this past season-all of which have
contributed to the excellent quality.
Berkeley county fruit consigned so
far has sold in the markets at prices
justifying fully the asking prices now
prevailing here.
A great proportion of the orchards
of this county are owned by the bus
mess men OF Martinsburg-m
lawyers. doctors, bankers, etc These
men have developed their properties
as a purely business enterprise and
have invested literally in their devel-
opment This is prime reason for
the uniformly high state of cultiva-
ton of the orchards. Illustrating the
quality. one orchard owned by a
prominent grower. at $275 straight,
and ran only seven barrels of No. IS
to the ear.
The group of orchards. Gold, Me-
Kown. Busey and Buck Hill. already
mentioned, contain as fine fruit as is
to be found in the country. A number
of buyers are after these apples be-
cause of the quality. Y. Poole, sales
agent for the fruit. is a prominent
lawyer of Martinsburg, and Walter
w. Trout, treasurer of the companies,
is assistant cashier of the Peoples
Trust Co., known as the orchardists'
bank. Most of its directors and rs
per cent of its depositors are inter
ested in fruit growing George NJ.
Bowers is president of the bank
The largest amount of fruit in this
section is controlled by the Martins.
burg Fruit Exchange. OF which Her
bert L. Alexander is president and ].
Tab bJanney treasurer and sales man
ager The exchange was organized
only last fall, but it now has enrolled
over so growers in Berkeley Morgan
and Jefferson counties. West Vir
ginia, and Washington county. Mary
land. These growers will market up
ward of 10000 barrels through the
organization. They are now shipping
Grimes, Jonathan, Maiden Blush,
York, Ben Davis and Black Twig.
Staymen Winesap will be ready in a
few days. The exchange is stand
ardizing its pack and growers can re-
ly absolutely on the grading and
pack. None but clean. we'll cult
waited apples will be shipped At
least IS per cent will be No. l. The
loading stations are Martinsburg, In
wood, Bunker Hill, Ridgeway, North
Mountain, Kearneysville, Shepherds
town, Berkeley Springs and Charles
Town, all on the Pennsylvania and
Baltimore & Ohio roads The ex-
change has its own packers. all ex-
perienced men. About 10000 barrels
already have been shipped, and he
consigned fruit is making excellent
returns The exchange is selling (.
o. b. at reasonable prices. No deal
er need fear he can't get the fruit
except at prohibitive prices.
G. B. Wiltshire, one OF the most
successful growers here, has about
1000 barrels of extra fine Grimes,
Yorks, and Ben Davis. He had some
fine Northwest Greetings and Wolf
Rivers, which, OF course. are all gone
Gray Silver, who has the Silver Hill,
Apple Pie Ridge, Cherry Run, Fair
view and Boyd orchards. win market
about 1000 barrels, largely Yorksand
Ben Davis.
l. w. Wood at Hedgesville. has
| about $500 barrels OF Yorks. Ben Da-
Wis, Staymen Winesaps and other win
ter varieties. His shipping station
is North Mountain, w. Va.
Crutchfeld & voolfolk, OF Pitts.
burgh. maintain an office here. in
charge Of Mr.. W. II. Hudgins. They
are among the largest operators in
this section. Free Bros. Co, Pitts
burg, are represented by S. Porter
House, q veteran in the business,