Fruit production in central Virginia, 1820-1860
Dickinson CR. 1989. Fruit production in central Virginia, 1820-1860. Richmond, Virginia
The purpose of this research paper is twofold. It examines fruit production and orchard maintenance practices used in central Virginia, 1820-1860. The work is not intended to be a history of orchard fruit production during this time frame; rather it seeks to discover basic principles and techniques employed by the majority of yeoman farmers who raised small plots of fruit trees. Lacking both the financial capital and available labor supply of the larger wealthier planters, their methods of fruit production, as well as their orchards, would certainly have exhibited some differences. Secondly, the report represents part of the historic scenerestoration project for the Watt House farm site at Richmond National Battlefield Park's Gaines' Mill unit. It offers documentation to substantiate what the orchard on the farm owned by Sarah Watt may have looked like prior to the critical engagement that occurred on the property June 27, 1862. The research will be used in part to justify selection of fruit treevarieties and methods of orchard maintenance slated to commence in the fall of 1989. For specific details regarding the original orchard site, the reader is referred-to the historic base mapand report.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Dickinson, Clifford
- Date of Issue
- 1989
- Units
- RICH
- Keywords
- Agriculture, Climate, Fruit, Richmond, Soil