Smyrna times., 1922-07-12

Robinson Which contains about 3OO
acres of apples. Alfalfa was also
found growing very luXuriantly in this
orchard and the trees were also primed
! close to the ground Mr.. Robinson is
one of the growers interested in a
large cold storage plant in Winchester
where 100000 barrels of apples may
be stored at one time. This large
plant is reputed to be the largest ap-
pie cold storage plant in the world. /
1t is electrically equipped throughout
and is constructed of hollow tile
During the harvest season this place |
is the busiest spot in Winchester as
there are approximately 100000 bear |
ing apple trees in that county and |
several of the growers make use of |
this wonderful storage plant.
Practically Every Grower Sprays
One of the striking features of the
orcharding in the Shenandoah Valley
is that practically every grower makes
his own lime-sulphur spray solution.
On every farm you will find the COM
plete water system and all necessary
equipment for making this kind of
spray material. The majority of the
trees are planted from 80 to 80 feet
apart and a few growers have peach
trees interplanted, but the peach
growing industry is not practiced in
that region to any great extent and
number of these peach trees have
been cut out. All of the fruit is put
up in barrels and large percentage
of it is sold in the various mining
: towns scattered all through the noun
famous regions at a very profitable
: price. One of the best apple orchards
visited in the vicinity of Winchester
: was the Green Orchard which is con-
= sidered the best cared for orchard in
the State of Virginia. 1t consists of
100 acres and the trees are about
twenty years old and in excellent con-
dition. There was not much aphis in
jury in this particular orchard, but in
u some of the orchards in other sections
of the county these insects have been
doing considerable damage to the
trees. The apple scab was also very
\ prevalent in some of the orchards
throughout this section.
Frederick County Rich in Orchards
Orchard land in Frederick county,
e Virginia sells at a premium as indi-
Gated by the prices obtained for a few
of the bearing orchards around Win
d chester. The Greene Apple Orchard
+ sold for $3.50 per acre four years ago;
f and some of the fruit land has sold
a for as high as $1,5OO per acre. An
: other interesting and instructive fea-
p ture of this tour was the visit to the
r large apple packing house located at
# lnwood, West Virginia. This large
: packing house was built by the State
It of West Virginia as a model for the
e fruit growers of that state. At pres
l. ent there are about twelve large apple
n growers who pack their product at
l. this place and every grower is well
y pleased with the grading and packing
r which is supervised by an expert in
it that line. In the future it is the hope
n of the organization to get other grow
lie ers interested in this uniform packing
at and grading which will add greatly
e. to the sale of the fruit on the markets
d. which are now becoming crowded with
c. keen competition from all parts of the
n country. Near the town of Inwood 3
Mt large commercial orchard of 12,00(
v apple trees was visited and planting
IN of York Imperials, Grimes Golden anC
es Old Virginia Winesaps were noted tC
be the chief varieties.
( Orchard at Martinsburg best Equipped
ny Of all the orchards visited on thi:
d. tour the one belonging to Mr.. John w
ne Stewart, near Martinsburg, was con
n sidered to be the best equipped anC
ne most thoroughly managed. In thii
p large orchard was found a complete
o. arrangement of spraying apparatu
ne and water system, and full set O.
ey buildings for taking care of extra la
ry Dor during the harvest season. Tn
1g Fordson Unit Power Sprayer attracte,
ac a great deal of attention as this at
nd tachment saves the use of the engin
ne on the sprayer and the cost of opera
nd tion is much less than for the regula
In spraying outfit. The pump is geare
ou TO the belt pulley on the Fordson an
rd vacuum tank on the. spray tan
OF takes care of the pressure while tn
IT. gears on the tractor are being shifted
on The agitator is operated by sproke
ke wheel arrangement on the rear of tn
ue tank and the running of the outf
ne keeps the agitator in motion. In al
ms the tour was quite a success and a
en who went agreed that it was we
on worth the time and money expended
m Our only regret is that more of tn
his Delaware fruit growers could not hav
the opportunity to see the system {
lty Orcharding in that section of the couI
by try. Some time in the future we hoI
a that the growers from over there wi
eX- come over to Delaware and let us sho