Delta chief., 1884-12-17
FRUIT GROWING.
what II Being Done in Delta County
in this Direction.

this article We desire to say few words in
regard to Colorado being fruit state.
The first attempt to raise fruit was in the
valley of the st. Vrain, north of Denver, in
1866. An agent from Kansas nursery Wis.,
tied the valley taking orders at the following
prices, apples 81 80 each, cherries and pears
$3.50 each, grapes 81 80 each, &c.
The first trial in raising fruit was looked
upon by great many as an experiment, and
nearly all failed, as the stock came in poor
condition, but some would not give up with
one attempt until now many names could be
mentioned around Greeley, Boulder and
Denver who have made success in raising
fruits Of all kinds with the exception perhaps
Of peaches. And il fruit can be grown in
this locality where it is much colder and un-
favorable than west of the range, certainly
no one can raise doubt but that fruit will
do we'll the reservation, where we have n
mild climate similar to that of Utah.
Truly we have 80 much faith in the fruit
growing qualities of our section that we
would not be surprised to lie told tina, the
day is not very far distant when the Gunni-
son, uncompahgrr and Grand valleys will be
called the garden or fruit spot of the State.
And certainly this is no small matter when
We consider that over 5000, 900 30 out Of
our state every year for fresh, dried and can
ned fruit There cannot be any danger in
the years to come in regard Ia the market
becoming flooded with frui;, as we known in
many localities fruit cannot be raised on
count of altitude; but TO say that Colorado is
n
say that Colorado is not mining state. Per.
hhps greater success has been attained with
fruit at and near Canon City. Uncle Jessie
Frazier, who has an orchard Of % acres, can
honestly be called the apple king Of Colorado.
lie il one of the pioneers and has spent many
hundred dollars and much time in expert
m.nting with fruit. which experience will be
of great benefit to those who are just starting
out in fruit growing. Mr.. Frazier has over
5000 apple trees, nearly all of which are
bearing. We cannot give the exact yield of
this orchard, bat 1t ia sariously estimated that
from 81 .oJ0 to 5000 Is received annually,
which strikes us Is almost ~ profitable
cattle raising. and can he entered into with
much less capital. Since Mr. Frazier grand
success has been achieved, many Others have
launched out into the sam. lucrative aud
healthy pursuit, aud soon will be able to rest
In cas. with an independent income.
Canon City owes much of what she is and
what she expects 10 be to her fruit interests.
Land that could no, be sold for s2j per acre
u few ycnrs ago Is now bringing SlJ0 and
500: but not l., u. dwell longer on wha, has
been done or what can be done clscw here.
What has been accomplished in other place.
can be done in our own section with much
less expense and n greater assurance Of sue
ccss. We would like to mention the names
of a few who have made success with fruit
on the reservation or this side Of the range.
Mr.. Higgins, who has small place within
five miles of Ouray, has done exceedingly
we'll with small fruits especially strawberries
II our memory serves us right. he sold over
SitVo worth of straw berries from one quarter
Of an acre.
one knows. takes the lead with apple trees.
He has great number Of fine quality trees
that will soon bear him many hundred bush
els of fruit. Mr.. Wade perhaps comes next.
Mr.. Wade is of the opinion that those who
are above him will surely make success Of
small fruit as they will have snow all the
winter long To protect the fruit. Mr.. w. ;.
Coburn, near Paonia, had some peaches that
grew to be quite large but they were late
ones and did not fully mature. lie had some
apple root gratis purchased Of II. Il. Ken
ncdy last spring which grew four and five
feet during the past season; in fact all Of the
fruit put out last spring did so well that IL
encouraged many that they have ordered
quite heavily for spring delivery. Nearly
every ranchman on the North Fork has
dercd nursery stock.
The stock sent in by H. b. Kennedy gave
general satisfaction. All were in fine
healthy condition, with large bunchy roots;
they were all two year old trees and did not
have as large tops on as some that were sent
in that cost three times as much, but the cx.
pcricnce of some who tried both gives the
small trees the preference as they grow much
G,ster. The most successful truitgrowcrs and
nursery men advise small trees as they do
better and cost less.
We now come TO the ranch Of II. b. Ken.
ncdy, beautifully located ON the banks of the
Gunnisou, "a miles east Of Delta. Forum.
atcly, or unfortunately, we know more about
this ranch, and will try and be more minute
in detail, not endcavoring to be partial to nny
one. but knowing that where one makes a sue
,,x. ,ll arc Interested Mr.. l., c, Alcy, who