The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1889-11-01

Editor UNION:-ln your criticism OF
the county fair you overlooked one *
hibit OF great merit. When in SO new a
country, and with climatic conditions
believed by many to forbid the pro-
duction OF fruit, a firm can make such a
showing as Thompson & Hale, OF the
Black Hills Nursery did, it deserves
special mention. All their small fruits
were finely represented in canned goods,
put up in tempting style. On account
OF dry season their show OF grapes did
not coal that Of two years ago, but the
pile OF Concords shown would convince
the most skeptical that grapes may be
successfully grown in the Hills. The
large c%rabapples shown, Of the Martha,
Trancendant, Hyslop and Siberian
varieties, make one tired to think OF
time spent in "rustling" wild fruit. But
look at the pile o~flarge, richly colored,
wealthy apples, consisting by Duchess
OF Gutenberg and other varieties should
make every land holder, who has not
already set out at least a few trees,
ashamed OF himself. Next to the health
fitness Of a country the first inquiry OF
every prospectoris, "can we raise fruit?"
this question Messrs. Thompson & Hale
have answered in the affirmative, and
the result OF their efforts will do much,
if widely known, to increase migration
and that OF the very best class OF east
ern farmers. So interested are we in
this question that we gladly accepted
the invitation of Mr.. Thompson to visit
their grounds, examine their stocks and
witness the ground work OF fall delivery.
It's a pleasant drive OF only five miles
north from Rapid City, the road wind
ing among the foot hills and past many
pleasant residences until reaching the
last divide and looking down upon the
small portion OF the Box Elder here
visible, we behold one OF natures land.
scape paintings. Hills on every hand
but at your feet q small valley OF scarce
q mile in width and apparently but two
or three in length, through which winds
the creek, it's banks lined with box elder
ash and elms, brilliant in their fall tint
ed foliage. In this beautiful dell, on &
claim one half mile wide and extendin.
three fourths OF a mile on the bottom
Chris. Thompson located in 1882 ant
has since given his entire attention tx
the nursery business. In 1886 he asso
ciated with him Thomas E. Hale, who's
comfortable home and broad acreI
adjoin the nursery grounds on uhe east
The firm since it's formation ha
made rapid strides and today few OF on
people are aware OF the volume of thei
business. For three years they hav
delivered stock on the western slope an,
this season have kept five men on tn
road in Nebraska and eastern Dakota
beside the number employed in the car
a Of the Hills and yet the growth {
stock has more than kept place with til
demand.
At this time the grounds present a
animated appearance with the thron
of hands at work, around the packin
house are large boxes for Nebraska d,
livery, many Of these, when filled, wi
weigh twelve to fourteen hundre
pounds. In driving through thegroune
we passed hands busy in taking U
stock and in setting out cuttings, othe'
storing in large trenches The stock 4
spring delivery. At the west end we le
the team and completed our explors
ytions on foot. Here arsfound the lar
cellars Of the firm in which 9 force VIC