Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-25
APPLES
Considered From a Scien-
tific Standpoint.
A VOICE FROM ARKANSAS.
What a Prominent HOrtsculturiSt
and Journalist Predicts for the
California Fruit Industry.

Among the noted members of the Amer
lean Horticultural Society who were late
visitors in California was Hon. w. 8.
Thomas of Little Rock, Arkansas, prac-
tical fruit grower and editor of one
of the most popular rural papers
in his State. The varied and elab-
crate display at Riverside of fine apples
of sixty distinct and marked varieties at
tracted, perhaps, as much attention as the
finest exhibit of world-renowned Washing
ton Navel oranges. The apples were not SO
large as many Of the California varieties,
but 1t was noticed that they were frmer,
more compact and of much finer colOring.
In fac, it is acknowledged throughout the
United States that no other State produces
This was settled in August, 1857, when
Arkansas carried Off the Wilder medal, the
highest gift within the power of the
American Pomological Association. The
most striking quality of the apples exhib-
tied at Riverside was the deep coloring.
Some were golden yellow, others so dark
red as to appear almost black, and be-
tween the two were couple OF score sim
gularly marked. With view of Obtaining
prOpagating these popular and successful
varieties, ana also to call out the exhibit
Or's opinion of California as an apple
State HERALD representative called upon
Hotel, at Riverside. Mr.. Thomas i5 a
typical Southern gentleman, which means
clear-headed, unassuming, whoie-souled
and a man who, once met, is always re-
pressed himself as perfectly willing to
discuss the apple question. "In TACT" said
he, ut is one of my favorite themes, and
for fifteen years l have experimented in
my own orchard with the fruit, and for a
much longer period have been close OBJ
server OF its progress in my State"
every successful variety now grown in
the State Of Arkansas is Seeding or devel-
Oped from Seeding. I attribute our sue
cess to this fact alone. 1t seems to be the
result Of accident rather than careful cuiti-
walton. Until recent years very little care
has been bestowed on orchards except to
plant them. When the war broke out, our
fences were burned and orchards were
turned into commons and allowed to
grow up in berry and sassafras bushes.
What we considered choice grated apple
their stead sprang up sturdy and hardy seed.
lings which We'd with the young oaks and
other forest trees for supremacy. When the
bloody struggle was over our people returned
rebuilt their humble dwellings, and as they
found the sturdy seedlings almost their only
hope for fruit, they were allowed to grow,
and the brambles,, weeds and brush were
in few years. to find that many
OF the trees supposed to be al
most worthless produced fruit equal
and in many instances far superior to that
of the original orchard. profting by this,
we have been experimenting ever since
with seedlings, and think we have cause
to be proud.'
"But you have asked my opinion of your
State and its possibilities in genealogical
pursuits; will give you my opinion in
full. and wish to say that notwithstand
ing the fact that think enough OF Arkansas
to spend the remainder Of my days there, l
am not SO much welded to her and en-:
numbered with prejudice as to allow myself
to be Prejudiced against the beau
tiful country we have been travelling
through during the. last few wseks.
From all the boom advertisements which
have been SO widely circulated, received
no real conception of the facts. A descrip-
ton of California could hardly be over
drawn. II is my opinion that no country IN
the world can produce the varied fruit
cessfully. To say you have great future
before you, viewed alone from a fruit-stand
point, is only reiterating the opinion of
every horticulturist in our party"
criticisms on our apples by eastern persons,
claiming that the California apple has not
the fine flavor of those grown In the East
what has b en- your observation on this
"Well, sir. feel confident the criticisms
are well taken. l find you grow on an aver
age larger apples than we do in my own
state, but they are generally OF coarse
texture, and in many instances, especially
with large varieties, the flavor is very Inferior.
However, have found the apples grown
IN the mountains and higher latitudes to be
much better than valley apples. A number
of parties have told me that 1t was, and al
ways would be an impossibility to produce
a fine apple here, but l am sure that Is
mistake. believe that between apples
and oranges there will be ten dollars to one
in favor Of the former in the near future
Apples can be generally grown almost all
over the State, but oranges can only be
grown at profit in limited and tircum-
scribed localities. AS for the quality, there
Is no reason why as fine apples
as are grown in any State in the
Union can not be produced here.
/ do not believe, however, that you
will ever be able to produce them from the
varieties now being gown. 1t Is my opin-
ion you, should profit by the experience of
Aarkansas and like her produce seedlings
which are perfectly adapted to the climate.
There Is not the least doubt but this can be
done though 1t may require several years to
propagate prolific hardy and desirable va
rieties. AS for peaches, plums, pears, april
cots, grapes, small fruits and berries, 1t ap-
pears you have all that is necessary to in
sure the success of any one of them though
they might and doubtless will be greatly
improved by cultivation and experimental
growing"