The Van Buren press., 1867-08-09
The Van Buren Press.
VAN BUREN,, ARKANSAS.
Western Arkansas-What it Produces
. What ii May.
CRAWFORD Co, August, 3, 1867.


CRAWFORD Co, August, 3, 1867.
EDIroR PREss-Dear Sir: Whilst the
the great majority of the masses would
seem to voluntarily exclude themselves
and live as it were under ban Of eXpul.
sion from the rights and privileges OF
eating or ordrinking from natures vast store
house of luxuries, yet thereare few who
seem wide awake to the full importance
and advantages of fruit raising, in this
grand Pathological zone of the great
West. At the head of this list stands
pre- eminent. the indefatigable proprietor
of the VaR Bursa Nurseries aad Fme-
yards In visiting this fine establishment
| cordially confess my astonishmcnt in
witnessing the progress already made by
that seeming untiring and intelligent
horticulturist, Dr. Thruston His or.
chards are extensive and contain num-
erous assortment Of choicest varieties of
almost every nameable fruit-Apples,
Pears, Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines,
Plums, Cherries, etc. Then comes small
fruits-Goosberries, Strawberries, Rasp-
berries, Blackberries and last, but far
from least, Grapes for tie million. The
Doctor has planted the past spring three
acres of Vineyard. The ground having
been deeply subsoiled and the vines
planted 10 by 10 feet-whole number
planted on three acres about 1900 vines,
consisting of the following varieties as
per list furnished me; Con
cord, Nortons Virginia, Clinton, Ives
Seeding, Delaware, Dianna, Northern
Muskadine, Iden, Crevvelling, Poschels
Mammoth, Bloods black, Herbemont,Iona
lsraella, Maryann, Union. Village, Cataw-
ba, Isabella, Taylors Built, Tokalon,
kentuckywine, Anna, Perkins, Post Oak
and Mustang of Texas, as also two fine
Natives of Arkansas. In such collec-
ton of distinguished American wine and
table grapes there can be no question of
perfect success. A large majority of the
above named are wine grapes from which
thousands of gallons of pnre and nn
adulterated wines are annually being
made in almost all the Western States,
and sold by the cask, at prices running
from S3 to SO per gallon, an acre pro
ducing from 700 to 1900 gallons. Three
acres being considered work for one in
dustrious man The land required for
grapes must be dry but nonein Arkansas
is too poor even without manure to come
up to the above lowest estimate. Wine
making is as simple as the process of
making vinegar from pressing cider out
of apples and allowing it to ferment into
vinegar The character and quality of
the wine depending on the excellence and
high quality Of the grapes from which
it was expressed The cultivation of the
vine in Arkansas must unquestionably
soon become fixed fact and a'business
far more lucrative with less labor than
that Of any other pursuit. The last ten
years has opened new era to our work
inc classes and instead Of clearing whole
forests and opening great plantations Of
broad acres to plant cotton to raise
which can only be. done at the expense of
every drop of sweat in our land and
when raised goes to enrich yanlleedom
and run the cotton mills Of Massachusetts,
who in return tax us three cents for the
privilege of working for them, etc. Will
we not turn our attention then to those
pursuits that are more lucrative, whilst
they are far less laborious.
(7o be contiaued.)