Evening star., 1937-06-27
BY John l.. C00nfS.

~ IDING through the Shenandoah
- Valley IS years ago, DR.. Lu-
N cien Lupton pondered over
4 y the destruction that greeted
him on every side. The iron hoofs OF
wars horses. from 81 to 65. had
trampled ruthlessly into the red Vir-
ginia clay, the life Of the valley. Farms
lay submerged in ruin; homes were
desolated walls: the people were
heavy hearted, impoverished.
Yet the valley itself, as DR.. Lupton S
eyes drank In its fertile contours that
exquisite Spring morning, held a
promise of fruitfulness and abun-
dance that was inspiring The war;
ring armies of the North and South
may have trodden its life beneath
their feet, but nature they had not
crushed. Creeping up TO life again,
after five years of peace. few apple
orchards, scattered here and there
throughout the valley, were asserting
their supremacy over war and death
showering this morning around the
feet OF DR.. Lupton's lanes, their pink
and white blossoms In the warm sun
shine
The showering apple blossoms from
the broken and decaying orchards
touched sympathetic chord in DR..
Lupton's heart. Used to dealing with
life and death. he understood their
problem and, at the same time, he
saw in them the fulf1llment of his
dream-a fruitful land again. and a
happy, contented and prosperous peo-
pie dwelling in its midst. He went
home and Immediately, began to Law
out an apple orchard on his farm west
OF winchester. He set out 10 acres
in trees. This was in 1871.
IF TAKES 20 years for an apple tree
to come into full bearing. 1t was
not, therefore. until the early 9os
that DR.. Lupton's rehabilitation idea
for his beloved valley began to bear
fruit. But what is more important,
others, catching from DR.. Lupton the
vision Of blossoming valley and re-
stored fortunes, began to set out apple
orchards. Notable among these pio-
neers were w. S. Hiewt and John
Thwaite, friends and nejghbors of DR..
Lupton. BY the late COS orchards
were springing up all through the
beautiful Shenandoah, and between
1900 and 1910 most of the trees that
today make the valley the Land of
the Apple Blossom" and Virginia the
leading apple State of the Union,
were planted.
Tributary to Winchester are some
100000 acres of 100000 apple-bear-
ing trees. In Frederick County alone.
in which Winchester is located, there
are approximately 400 strictly COM
mercial apple orchards, embracing
nearly 100000 trees and representing
an investment of close to 10000 900.
Virginia grows her apples for the
world. Over IS per cent OF her total
annual crop Is exported abroad. And
her chief customer is England, once
the mother country Of the Colony
that now has conquered her with
Plppins and Yorks.
For the Englishman dearly loves
the apple, and those that come from
Virginia lead all the rest In the market
stalls OF London. Here, polished and
FURNISHED, like some Lancelot's shield.
they repose, tempting the clerk of
Ihreadneedle street or Pail Mall to
top off your lunch with me-
But England does not buy all Of
the huge bulk OF the Virginia fruit.
Other European powers buy in GUAM
tlty the juicy globes-especially France
and those Southern European coun-
tries that lie around the rim Of the
Mediterranean.
For good reason, countries like Ar
gentina in South America do not
buy Yorks and Pippins. Here the
weather is warm and such eating ap-
pies as these two varieties do not keep
we'll in warm weather. Hence the
good old reliable Ben Davis finds its
way into the Argentine and countries
brooded over by the sun. In other
words. the Ben Davis is "high- tenn
perature" apple, one that can stand
tropical shipment and storage.
CONCERNING the apple crop of
Virginia has grown up a UNIQUE
custom Of trade for this side of the
Atlantic. Selling abroad, 1t might
be supposed, samples Of the apples
would be sent abroad by the growers
in the hands Of travelling representa-
tives. who, introducing their product
to prospective customers; would be In
q position to take orders for imme-
diate delivery.
But not SO. The good old American
custom Of the drummer and his sam
pies, appearing on the scene at stated
times, is wholly dispensed with in
selling Virginia's apple crop. And in
its stead is this custom:
AS the season opens In the valley
for picking and shipping, representa-
tives of houses from abroad. intent
VA AAAo mig PoA SAAocCc, dAIAFc III VIII.
chester and take quarters. From here
they work out through the valley,
buying crop after crop, which is
processed and delivered overseas to
the purchaser
These are big times in Winchester,
with the representatives of CONNER
cial houses from abroad flying up
and down the valley. getting in on
the ground floor, and getting the
choice fruit Of the countryside 4 IA
the competitive bidding route.
DOMEST1C buyers also maintain
Offices In Winchester and buy
mary Thousands Of barrels d applsa