THE
Southern States.
AUGUST, 1894-
TI-IE FRUIT INDUSTRY OF PIEDMONT VIRGINIA.
By James Blake y.
The Piedmont section — one of the
great divisions of the State of Virginia —
is very properly termed the “fruit belt”
of the State. It has been aptly de¬
scribed as the “fifth step” of the great
stairway ascending from the coast to the
west, extending from the Potomac to the
North Carolina line, about 250 miles in
length, with an average width of about
twenty-five miles along the base of the
Blue Ridge. These mountains rise from
2000 to 4000 feet above the level of the
sea, while the lands west of the coast
ranges are generally from 300 to 500
feet above the sea : they rise to the
west until at the foot of the Blue Ridge
the altitude of 12,000 feet is frequently
attained. This Piedmont section is one
in which the mountains present them¬
selves in their grand as well as their
diminutive forms, gradually sinking into
the smaller foot-hills and plains, giving
great diversity and picturesqueness to
the landscape. The soil is usually
fertile.
The fruits best adapted to the soil and
climate of the sunny eastern slopes and
base of the Blue Ridge mountains,
which are sheltered from the cold North¬
ern and Northwestern winds, are the
apple, grape, peach, pear, cherry, plum,
strawberry and raspberry. These are
most profitable to the cultivator, and so
easy of cultivation that every farmer
should have a choice selection of them.
The Southwestern Mountains of Pied¬
mont are also noted for their fine fruits.
These mountains form a range parallel
to the Blue Ridge and are separated by
a distance, varying from fifteen to thirty
miles, while the mountain slopes are
very fine for the cultivation of fruits ;
any common field or pasture which pro¬
duces good crops may be chosen for an
orchard for most varieties.
The peculiar light soil on the Blue
Ridge and the outlying hills, kept con¬
stantly fertile by the decomposition of
rocks furnishing potash and perennially
moist by numerous springs, yet thor¬
oughly drained of stagnant moisture by
the rock debris, furnishes conditions un¬
surpassed for the successful cultivation
of the apple.
The world-renowned Albemarle pip¬
pin, however, which grows in this region
only, thrives best, and only arrives at its
full perfection on the mountain sides.
It requires the rich soil found in the
mountain hollows and caves and a good
elevation to come to perfection. This
apple lias and deserves a reputation sur¬
passing that of any other grown. It is
especially a favorite in England, and in
competition with the apples of the world
on the London and Liverpool markets
it brings the highest price. At the time
England imposed a tariff' on apples the
Albemarle pippin, by special act of Par¬
liament, was admitted free of duty, on
account of its superior excellence. The
pippin crops are generally bought up
in the orchards by shippers, unless
exported by the owners. In 1887, for
instance, these pippins sold on the trees
for $4.50 per barrel, the buyer furnishing
the barrel and gathering and packing.
The average price, in the orchards, paid
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